Documentary Is Streaming Now Across CBS News’ Digital Properties

March 4, 2021 — As the country continues to grapple with political polarization, the newest CBSN Originals documentary, “The Right's Fight to Make America a Christian Nation,” examines the fusion of faith and politics that experts call Christian nationalism.

Religious leaders from across the spectrum weigh in on the fight to prioritize Christian values above others, including Franklin Graham, son of the late Billy Graham, who says, “I believe Christians are being persecuted...I believe religious liberty is under attack and we have seen that.” Michael Walrond Jr., Senior Pastor of the First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, says, “the problematic nature of this country and Christianity begins in 1619 when the first slaves arrived in this country.”

The documentary features Ken Peters, pastor of Patriot Church, a network of “Pro-America” non-denominational congregations, who says, “America was founded based on Christianity. Our DNA is Christian. Our roots are Christian. We aren't Muslim. We aren't atheist. America is the greatest country that's ever existed / and it's because of Judeo-Christian values.”

The documentary examines the impact of what is called Christian nationalism on non-Christians and on Christians who want to preserve the separation of church and state.

Dr. Su'ad Abdul Khabeer, Arab and Muslim American Studies, University of Michigan, says, “the thing about the Christian right and their claims of religious liberty is that they're not advocating for everybody's religious liberties, they're advocating for theirs, and they're advocating for theirs to be the norm, to be what is dominant, to be what's in power. And I think that's a really important distinction.”

“The Right's Fight to Make America a Christian Nation” is available now across all CBS News digital properties. The documentary will also stream live on CBSN on Sunday, March 7 at 8pm ET.

CBSN Originals documentaries, launched in January 2016, deliver immersive reports that take a deep dive into some of the key issues driving national and global conversations. To date, CBSN has streamed 72 Originals on a range of topics including the spread of conspiracy theories like QAnon, coronavirus in Navajo Nation, social media’s role in the violence against the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, gender identity, and the dangerous journey to America through the Darien Gap, among others.

“The Right's Fight to Make America a Christian Nation” is the first episode in the third season of the CBSN Originals series “Speaking Frankly,” which dives into the cultural conversations that society as a whole has grappled with in the modern era. In 2021, America is at the center of a clash between fundamentally different visions of who we are as a nation. This season of Speaking Frankly examines the arguments -- as well as the double-speak, hypocrisies and contradictions -- emerging from all corners.

Catch up on the entire slate of CBSN Originals: https://cbsn.ws/2T1NRug

CBSN is available live 24/7 via CBSNews.com/live and on all CBS News mobile and connected TV apps.

Press Contact:

Annie Rohrs 860-559-6875 annie.rohrs@cbsinteractive.com