Rand Paul: Worldwide War on Christianity Being Waged

"The war on Christianity" waged by "liberal elites" in the United States really is a worldwide effort being funded by American taxpayers, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told a gathering of evangelicals on Thursday.

Speaking at the opening-day luncheon of the Faith & Freedom Coalition's three-day "Road to Majority" event in Washington, D.C., Paul gave examples of Christians and other freedom-lovers who have been severely persecuted by governments supported by the United States, CBN News reported.

"You are being taxed to send money to countries that are not only intolerant of Christians but openly hostile," Paul said. "Christians are imprisoned and threatened with death for their beliefs."

Urgent: Is Obama Telling the Truth on IRS, Benghazi Scandals?

Paul said he tried to introduce a bill preventing Libya, Egypt, and Pakistan from getting more foreign aid unless they turn over the killers of Ambassador Chris Stevens, pledged to protect U.S. embassies, and that Pakistan release Dr. Shakil Afridi, who was imprisoned for helping the U.S. capture Osama bin Ladin. It was voted down overwhelmingly.

"Is it any wonder that Congress has a 10 percent approval rating?" he asked. "In Egypt, in Pakistan, they burn our flag. I say not one penny more to countries that burn the American flag."

Paul noted that Iraqi Christians were relatively safe under the tyrannical, yet secular, regime of Saddam Hussein. Once the U.S. ousted Saddam, Christians fled in droves because of persucution from the newly installed Shiite-led government.

Most of those Christians fled to Syria, he said, which is why he now opposes efforts by fellow Republican John McCain and others to arm the Syrian rebels, many of whom are connected to al-Qaida or other Muslim terror groups.

"As Christians, we understand that the right to life, and freedom of religion, pre-exist all government," Paul said. "These rights are not granted to man by other men. These rights are granted to us by our creator."

Paul, seen as a contender for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, has made an effort in recent months to distance himself from the strict libertarian leanings of his father, Ron Paul.

"As a committed pro-life believer in Jesus Christ he can court evangelicals in a way that doesn't look like pandering," CBN's David Brody said.

Urgent: Is Obama Telling the Truth on IRS, Benghazi Scandals?