By Tyler Arnold
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 7, 2025 at Catholic News Agency
Some Christian and conservative organizations are expressing optimism that President Donald Trump may rein in “debanking” — a practice in which financial institutions have allegedly cut ties with people or groups for their religious or political beliefs.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 5 that the White House drafted an executive order that would instruct regulators to investigate financial institutions accused of ending relationships with customers for political reasons.
According to the report, the draft would direct regulators to determine whether the institutions violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, antitrust laws, or consumer financial-protection laws and subsequently issue monetary penalties, consent decrees, or take other disciplinary action that would apply.
Jennifer Morse, a Catholic who leads The Ruth Institute, told CNA she is “glad to see the Trump administration addressing the debanking issue.”
The Ruth Institute, which combats the harms of the sexual revolution, states that it was targeted through debanking as early as 2017.
“As one of the earliest victims of anti-Christian discrimination within the financial services sector, I am very relieved to see the Trump administration addressing this problem,” Morse said. “This particular sword of Damocles has been hanging over the heads of Christian organizations all over the geographic region formerly known as Christendom. I hope the Trump administration’s leadership on this issue has ripple effects around the world.”
