A 1998 law mandates that the US government have an Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom to advance religious liberty around the world as part of American foreign policy. But the Obama administration still has not appointed anyone to this post, even though in his landmark speech to the Muslim world from Cairo in June 2009 President Obama said religious freedom is an American priority. Thomas Farr, associate professor of religion and international affairs at Georgetown University and former director of the State Department\u2019s Office of International Religious Freedom, discusses his concerns about Obama\u2019s lack of action, the qualities he\u2019d like to see in the ambassador, and the importance of the office to US foreign policy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"