>>> COMING UP, A FORMER CONVICT, NOW A BAPTIST PASTOR, BISHOP DARREN FERGUSON, ON REFORMING THE U.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

>>> ALSO, MY INTERVIEW WITH CARLA POWER, AN AMERICAN JOURNALIST, ON HER NEW BOOK ABOUT ISLAM AND THE KORAN.

>>> PLUS, KIM LAWTON TALKS WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S POINT MAN ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AMBASSADOR AND RABBI DAVID SAPERSTEIN.

COMPANY.

>>> WELCOME.

I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

>>> PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS MADE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM A TOP PRIORITY, AND THIS WEEK, AFTER TOURING A REHABILITATION CENTER IN NEW JERSEY, HE ANNOUNCED NEW EXECUTIVE ACTIONS TO HELP PEOPLE GETTING OUT OF PRISON FIND JOBS.

AMONG OTHER MEASURES, HE ORDERED FEDERAL AGENCIES TO STOP REQUIRING PEOPLE TO DECLARE ON THEIR JOB APPLICATIONS WHETHER THEY HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD.

MANY PEOPLE OF FAITH HAD LOBBIED FOR THAT CHANGE IN AN EFFORT CALLED "BAN THE BOX."

>>> A BROAD AND GROWING RELIGIOUS COALITION IS URGING MANY REFORMS TO ADDRESS MASS INCARCERATION AND INEQUITIES IN AMERICA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

JOINING ME TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS IS OUR MANAGING EDITOR KIM LAWTON, AND BISHOP DARREN FERGUSON, PASTOR OF MT.

CARMEL BAPTIST CHURCH IN FAR ROCKAWAY, NEW YORK.

BISHOP FERGUSON IS A LEADER IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM MOVEMENT.

BISHOP, WELCOME TO YOU, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN HERE.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PERSPECTIVE ON ALL THIS STUFF.

YOU WERE IN PRISON YOURSELF FOR NEARLY NINE YEARS FOR STARTING A FIRE THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF A WOMAN.

HOW WAS IT FOR YOU AND HOW IS IT NOW FOR EVERYBODY COMING OUT OF PRISON AND TRYING TO FIND A JOB AND GET SETTLED?

>> 17 YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME OUT IT WAS DIFFICULT NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT, NOT KNOWING WHAT THE JOB MARKET WAS.

COMING OUT WITH SOME EDUCATION BUT NOT KNOWING HOW THAT WOULD TRANSLATE INTO THE JOB MARKET.

BUT NOW IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THE JOB MARKET IS FLOODED.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED THAT WHEN SOMEONE CHECKS THAT LITTLE BOX OFF THE JOB APPLICATION, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO EVEN GET CONSIDERED.

SO WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA MAKING THIS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, IT KIND OF LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD A LITTLE BIT SO A PERSON CAN SHOW THEIR HUMANITY BEFORE THEY SHOW WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

>> TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE GOALS THAT THIS FAITH-BASED MOVEMENT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAS IN TERMS OF REFORMING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

JUST GIVE US A SENSE OF SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED.

>> SURE, I THINK THE CHURCH HAS A VERY STRONG MANDATE BIBLICALLY, SOCIALLY TO LIVE OUT MATTHEW 25:31-46.

>> WHICH IS?

>> WHICH IS VISITING THE SICK, CLOTHING THE NAKED, TAKING CARE OF THOSE WHO CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

AND I THINK THAT EXTENDS TO BOTH THE RE-ENTRY POPULATION AS WELL AS TO OUR CHILDREN.

AND THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT THE CHURCH UNDERSTANDS THAT WE HAVE TO BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF MAKING SURE THAT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AREN'T POLICED -- OVERLY POLICED.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE SET UP FOR EVERYONE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND NOT JUST THE MOST AFFLUENT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE COMING OUT OF PRISON HAVE WELCOMING AND AFFIRMING COMMUNITIES TO COME TO WHERE THEY CAN BE JUDGED BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER AND NOT ONE MISTAKE THAT THEY MADE IN THEIR PAST.

>> BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO WELL BEYOND LAWS.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WAY PEOPLE ACT.

>> CORRECT.

AND THE WAY PEOPLE ACT.

>> AND CHURCHES.

>> YES, AND THE WAY CHURCHES ACT, I MEAN IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE MOST OF THE CRIMES COMMITTED BY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WERE DONE IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

SO THERE'S SOME TREPIDATION ON THE PART OF CONGREGATIONS OF ACCEPTING PEOPLE BACK.

BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT FORGIVENESS IS A MANDATE OF THE BIBLE.

AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE WHO COME OUT, BUT WE LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.

WE GIVE THEM A LANDING STRIP THAT IS SMOOTHED AND PAVED SO THAT THEY CAN BRING THEMSELVES IN, AND WE HAVE TO BE THERE TO KIND OF BE THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS TO HELP THEM LAND SUCCESSFULLY.

>> AND SOME OF THIS IS, A LOT OF THIS, IS ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE PREVENTION SIDE OF THINGS, RIGHT, AS WELL?

I MEAN, TALKING ABOUT NOT JUST HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING OUT OF PRISON, BUT PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM GOING IN.

>> RIGHT, I MEAN THE GREAT THING IS THAT WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, A KAIROS MOMENT IF YOU WILL, TO LOOK AT THIS FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF NOT JUST DEALING WITH A POUND OF CURE BUT DEALING WITH AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION.

AND THE OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, IS REFORMING OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, IS REFORMING THE WAY WE POLICE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND HAVING THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE, WHITE PRIVILEGES AND BLACK LIVES MATTER THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE.

>> AND HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO IT?

>> IT PLAYS INTO -- THE WHOLE PIECE IS THAT ONCE WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ON THE FRONT END, THEN THINGS THAT END UP IN THE BELLY YY OF THE BEAST DON'T GET REGURGITATED NOUT A WAY EDD OUT IN A WAY THAT IS SMELLY AND DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.

SO IT'S A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES AND LOVE AND CARING THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE AS THE CHURCH TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

>> BISHOP, MANY THANKS.

IT'S GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

AND KIM, MANY THANKS TO YOU.

WE'LL CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> IN OTHER NEWS, IN HOUSTON, VOTERS REJECTED A NONDISCRIMINATION LAW THAT WOULD HAVE PROTECTED GAY AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

OPPONENTS, INCLUDING MANY RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES, SAID THEY VOTED AGAINST THE HOUSTON EQUAL RIGHTS ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE INFRINGED ON THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY.

THE LAW WOULD HAVE ALLOWED CITIZENS TO FILE DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS AGAINST VARIOUS BUSINESSES THAT SERVE THE PUBLIC, SUCH AS HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN EXEMPT.

ONE OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL ASPECTS WAS THE USE OF PUBLIC RESTROOMS BY TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

>>> ON THURSDAY, THE UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM, THE LARGEST JEWISH DENOMINATION IN THE U.S., PASSED A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY.

IT CALLS ON LOCAL CONGREGATIONS TO HAVE GENDER-NEUTRAL BATHROOMS AND ENCOURAGES THE USE OF GENDER-NEUTRAL LANGUAGE.

THE MEASURE GOES FURTHER THAN THE POSITION OF ANY OTHER RELIGIOUS DENOMINATION IN ADVOCATING FOR TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.

>>> MEANWHILE, THE HIGHEST RELIGIOUS BODY IN THE MODERN ORTHODOX JEWISH MOVEMENT THIS WEEK OFFICIALLY PROHIBITED THE ORDINATION OR HIRING OF FEMALE RABBIS.

THE RABBINICAL COUNCIL OF AMERICA ALSO PROHIBITED THE USE OF ANY TITLES THAT MIGHT IMPLY A RABBINICAL ROLE FOR WOMEN.

IN RECENT YEARS, SEVERAL WOMEN HAVE BEEN ORDAINED AT A MODERN ORTHODOX SCHOOL IN NEW YORK, BUT GIVEN THE TITLE OF "MAHARAT" INSTEAD OF RABBI.

THE COUNCIL SAID THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

>>> A NEW INVESTIGATION BY "THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER" HAS FOUND THAT THE PRIEST SEX ABUSE CRISIS AND COVER UP COST THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE U.S. NEARLY $4 BILLION OVER THE LAST 65 YEARS.

UNTIL NOW, THE MOST WIDELY USED FIGURE WAS NEARLY $3 BILLION.

SEPARATE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT BECAUSE OF OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS LOST MEMBERSHIP AND DIVERTED GIVING, THE CRISIS HAS COST THE CHURCH AN ESTIMATED $2.3 BILLION ANNUALLY FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.

>>> ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY RELEASED BY THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER, WHILE AMERICANS AS A WHOLE ARE GROWING LESS RELIGIOUS, THE FAITHFUL ARE AS COMMITTED AS EVER TO THEIR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES.

RESEARCHERS SAID THAT DESPITE THE RISE OF PEOPLE WHO CLAIM NO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION, THE UNITED STATES REMAINS A NATION OF BELIEVERS.

77% ARE STILL RELIGIOUSLY AFFILIATED, AND NEARLY 9 IN 10 ADULTS SAY THEY BELIEVE IN GOD.

>>> NOW, AN AMERICAN WOMAN'S STUDY OF THE KORAN, THE SACRED TEXT OF THE WORLD'S 1.6 BILLION MUSLIMS.

CARLA POWER IS A JOURNALIST WHO USED TO LIVE IN OXFORD, IN ENGLAND, WHERE SHE ARRANGED TO BE TUTORED FOR A YEAR BY A RENOWNED MUSLIM SCHOLAR, SHEIKH MOHAMMAD AKRAM NADWI.

THE RESULT IS POWER'S BOOK, "IF THE OCEANS WERE INK," WHICH IS A FINALIST FOR THE 2015 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD.

RECENTLY, POWER WAS IN WASHINGTON LECTURING AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND TALKING WITH US AT THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, WHERE SHE RESPECTFULLY WORE A SCARF.

SHE SPOKE OF HER SHEIKH'S TOTAL SURRENDER TO ALLAH AND ETERNAL LIFE.

>> HE VERY MUCH SEES THIS WORLD AS A PLACE HE IS PASSING THROUGH, AND THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING IS WHAT COMES AFTERWARDS.

HE SEES HIMSELF SORT OF AS, HE SAID, "A SLAVE OF ALLAH."

THIS IS A MERCIFUL GOD, AND AS LONG AS ONE IS PIOUS AND KEEPS GOD IN ONE'S HEART, THERE'S MERCY.

>> MUSLIMS SAY THE KORAN WAS DICTATED BY ALLAH TO THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD OVER 23 YEARS IN THE SEVENTH CENTURY.

MANY SAY THEY WEEP AT ITS CLASSICAL BEAUTY AND REVERE ITS MESSAGES OUTLINING EVERYTHING NEEDED TO LIVE ALLAH-CENTERED LIVES.

IT IS SAID TO BE THE MOST RECITED SCRIPTURE IN THE WORLD.

SOME MUSLIMS MEMORIZE EVERY WORD OF ITS 6,342 VERSES.

OVER THE CENTURIES, THE ORIGINAL KORAN WAS JOINED, FIRST, BY THE HADITH -- THE SAYINGS AND TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET -- AND LATER BY VAST AMOUNTS OF SCHOLARSHIP ON LAW AND PHILOSOPHY.

UNDERSTANDING THE KORAN REQUIRES INTERPRETATION.

>> OVER AND OVER THE SHEIK WOULD SAY TO ME IT'S ALL ABOUT CONTEXT.

I MEAN, YOU COULD FIND ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING YOU WANT, AND IF YOU GO LOOKING FOR VIOLENCE IN THERE, AND YOU WANT TO RIP A COUPLE OF VERSES FROM THEIR CONTEXT AND CLAIM THAT, THAT'S FINE.

>> CARLA SAID HER SHEIK THINKS ISLAM HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED BY THOSE WHO WANT TO FIGHT IN ITS NAME.

SHE CITED A VERSE FROM THE KORAN WITH THE WORDS "KILL THE IDOLATER."

>> IT'S CALLED THE VERSE OF THE SWORD, AND IT WAS A FAVORITE OF BIN LADEN'S.

IT'S A FAVORITE OF JIHADIS WHO WANT TO FOMENT RELIGIOUS WARS AGAINST NON-MUSLIMS.

WHAT OFTEN GETS WRITTEN OUT IS THE SECOND PART OF THE VERSE, WHICH SAYS, "BUT IF THEY REPENT AND DO GOOD AND GIVE ALMS AND PRAY, THEN LET THEM GO ON THEIR WAY, BECAUSE ALLAH IS MERCIFUL."

>> CARLA SAID HER SHEIKH STRONGLY OPPOSES THE VIOLENCE OF ISIS.

>> HE SEES THE WARS THAT ARE BEING FOUGHT OSTENSIBLY IN ISLAM'S NAME AS VERY EARTHLY SQUABBLES.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT POWER OR MONEY OR CONTROL OF LAND OR RESOURCES, AND ISLAM IS A CONVENIENT MANTLE TO WRAP YOURSELF IN.

WHERE PEOPLE ARE ARGUING FOR AN ISLAMIC STATE, SAY, OR LET'S PUT IN SHARIA LAW, HE'S LIKE, NO, WE HAVE TO REFORM OURSELVES FIRST.

WE HAVE TO START FROM THE INSIDE.

>> ISLAM'S TREATMENT OF WOMEN IS ALSO A MAJOR ISSUE, ONE ESPECIALLY TROUBLING FOR CARLA, WHO IS A STRONG FEMINIST.

>> WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION ON HOW AND WHEN IT WAS LEGAL TO STRIKE ONE'S WIFE.

THEN HE WOULD SUDDENLY SURPRISE ME WITH HIS THINKING ON POLYGAMY, WHICH WAS FINE, HE SAID, AS LONG AS YOU TREAT YOUR WIVES EQUALLY.

>> CARLA SAYS SHE ALSO SAW HER SHEIK MODIFY HIS VIEWS ON SOME ISSUES, SUCH AS CHILD MARRIAGE.

>> SADLY, I THINK CHILD MARRIAGE IS STILL VERY PREVALENT.

THERE ARE SOME HORRIBLE STATISTICS IN INDIA AND YEMEN.

CLASSICAL ISLAMIC LAW HAS UPHELD THE NOTION THAT A FATHER COULD MARRY OFF A DAUGHTER WHEN SHE IS QUITE YOUNG.

>> AND WHO RUNS THE FAMILY?

>> THERE IS A VERSE, 4:34, WHICH TRADITIONALLY SCHOLARS HAVE SAID READS AS MEN ARE IN CHARGE OF WOMEN.

MY SHEIKH THOUGHT THAT MEN BEING IN CHARGE OF WOMEN DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE SUPERIOR OVER THEM.

IT MEANS THEY HAVE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HOUSEHOLD AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF WOMEN IN THAT SENSE.

>> CARLA SAYS MANY MUSLIMS ARE REDISCOVERING THE KORAN.

>> ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON NOW IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO THE BASIC TEXTS, AND THEY'RE STRIPPING AWAY CENTURIES AND CENTURIES OF CULTURE AND TRADITION AND LOOKING FOR WHAT THEY SEE AT THE HEART OF THE RELIGION RATHER THAN WHAT GREW UP AROUND IT.

>> FOR INSTANCE, CARLA'S SHEIK HIMSELF HAS MADE IT HIS LIFE WORK TO COMPILE THE HISTORY OF 9,000 WOMEN WHO PLAYED DOMINANT ROLES IN ISLAM SINCE ITS BEGINNING.

AND CARLA SAYS ISLAM'S WIDESPREAD PRACTICE OF HEAD COVERINGS FOR WOMEN IS BASED MORE ON LOCAL TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS THAN ON THE KORAN.

>> THERE IS A VERSE THAT SAYS WOMEN SHOULD DRAW THEIR CLOAKS AROUND THEM, AND THERE IS A REAL SENSE THAT BOTH MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD BE VERY MODEST.

THERE IS REAL DEBATE IN BOTH TRANSLATIONS OF THE KORAN AND THEN IN INTERPRETATIONS OF IT AS TO WHAT THIS MODESTY MEANS.

>> I ASKED CARLA ABOUT THE SHEIK'S THEOLOGY, BEGINNING WITH WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT SUFFERING.

>> HE FEELS THAT IT'S PART OF LIFE.

>> DID IT WEAKEN IN ANY WAY HIS TRUST IN GOD?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

HE SAW IT AS A TEST.

>> A TEST?

>> A TEST THAT ONE HAS TO ENDURE.

THE POINT WAS PIETY.

FOR HIM AT THE CENTER OF THE KORAN IS PREPARING YOURSELF TO AVOID HELLFIRE.

>> AND AVOIDING HELLFIRE REQUIRES EMBRACING ISLAM.

>> HE NEVER PRESSURED ME TO CONVERT.

HE UNDERSTOOD -- HE KNEW MY MOTHER WAS JEWISH, AND MY FATHER WAS A QUAKER, AND I WAS RAISED SECULAR.

BUT I DID CALL HIM, AND I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME?

I THINK I AM A GOOD PERSON, BUT I CAN'T EMBRACE ISLAM."

HE WAS TOO POLITE TO SAY IT POINTBLANK.

BUT, YEAH, YEAH, HE THINKS I'M GOING TO HELL.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, CARLA SAYS SHE WAS DEEPLY MOVED BY HER YEAR OF SPIRITUAL LISTENING.

>> THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL ABOUT IT AND EXTREMELY MOVING.

THE SHEIK REMAINED EXTRAORDINARILY INSPIRATIONAL.

TO HANG OUT WITH SOMEONE WHOSE LIFE IS GENUINELY GOD-CENTERED AS OPPOSED TO SELF-CENTERED -- I GREW UP ON THE "SESAME STREET" JINGLE THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE WORLD IS YOU.

IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY TO BE WITH SOMEONE WHO REALLY GENUINELY FEELS THAT EVERYTHING HE HAS IS GOD-GIVEN.

>> "IF THE OCEANS WERE INK" IS A LINE FROM THE KORAN REFERRING TO ALLAH'S ABUNDANCE.

>>> AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE U.S. AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM HELPS LEAD AMERICA'S RESPONSE TO RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION AND DISCRIMINATION WORLDWIDE.

RABBI DAVID SAPERSTEIN ASSUMED THE POSITION EARLIER THIS YEAR.

KIM LAWTON SPOKE WITH SAPERSTEIN ABOUT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES TO INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND WHAT HE HAS LEARNED AS THE AMBASSADOR.

>> THE CHALLENGES SPAN THE GLOBE.

IN IRAQ AND SYRIA, ISIS IS ATTACKING RELIGIOUS GROUPS INCLUDING CHRISTIANS, YAZIDIS, AND MUSLIMS WHO DON'T AGREE WITH THEM.

THE BUDDHIST MAJORITY IN MYANMAR IS PERSECUTING THE ROHINGYA MUSLIM MINORITY.

SECTARIAN VIOLENCE BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC HAS DISPLACED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

IN PAKISTAN, BLASPHEMY IS A CAPITAL OFFENSE.

ACROSS MANY PARTS OF EUROPE, ANTI-SEMITISM IS ON THE RISE.

AS THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, RABBI DAVID SAPERSTEIN IS THE POINT MAN ON THE U.S.

RESPONSE.

SAPERSTEIN'S STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICE MONITORS RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION AND DISCRIMINATION WORLDWIDE, RECOMMENDS AND IMPLEMENTS U.S. POLICIES, AND DEVELOPS PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

HE SAYS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS CENTRAL TO THE AMERICAN IDENTITY.

>> FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE UNDERLIES ALL OTHER RIGHTS.

IT'S WHY OUR BILL OF RIGHTS BEGINS WITH THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION.

AND WITHOUT THE FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE, TO LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR CORE VALUES, ALL OTHER RIGHTS ARE IN PERIL.

IT FURTHERS OUR VALUES, AND IT FURTHERS OUR INTERESTS TO PURSUE IT ASSERTIVELY ACROSS THE GLOBE.

>> SAPPERSTEIN IS THE FIRST NON-CHRISTIAN IN THE POSITION WHICH WAS CREATED IN 1998.

FOR 40 YEARS, HE LED THE RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER OF REFORM JUDAISM IN WASHINGTON, WHERE HE ADVOCATED FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

IN JULY 2014, PRESIDENT OBAMA NOMINATED SAPERSTEIN TO BE THE NEXT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AMBASSADOR.

HE WAS CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE LAST DECEMBER AND SWORN IN AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.

OBSERVERS SAY HE HAS BROUGHT ENERGY AND PASSION TO THE JOB THAT HAD BEEN UNFILLED FOR NINE MONTHS BEFORE HIS NOMINATION.

FOR SAPERSTEIN, IT'S WORK WITH A STRONG MORAL IMPERATIVE.

>> IF YOU DON'T HAVE A FREE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS, AND YOU CANNOT HAVE IT WITHOUT FREE SPEECH, FREE PRESS, FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE, THEN TRUTH CAN'T RISE TO THE SURFACE.

YOU CAN'T TEST GOVERNMENT POLICIES IF YOU BELIEVE THEM TO BE WRONG, AND THEN THE CITIZENS OF THAT COUNTRY ARE HURT BY THAT, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS HURT BY THAT.

>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WAS RELEASED IN MID-OCTOBER.

THE REPORT FOUND THAT THE GREATEST CHALLENGE TO THE PRACTICE OF FAITH AROUND THE WORLD HAS BECOME ACTS OF TERROR COMMITTED BY "NON-STATE" ACTORS SUCH AS BOKO HARAM, AL-SHABAB, AND, OF COURSE, ISIS.

SAPERSTEIN PARTICULARLY NOTED THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF ISIS ON HISTORIC MINORITY COMMUNITIES IN IRAQ AND SYRIA, ESPECIALLY YAZIDIS AND CHRISTIANS.

>> THINK ABOUT IT.

THERE'S BEEN A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY THERE FOR 1,600 YEARS.

ACROSS THE NINEVEH PLAIN, CHURCH BELLS HAVE PEALED FOR 1,600 YEARS.

TODAY THEY ARE SILENT.

>> SAPERSTEIN ADMITTED THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S DIPLOMATIC OPTIONS ARE LIMITED WHEN DEALING WITH THESE NON-STATE ACTORS.

>> WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENTS OF THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THESE GROUPS.

SO BOKO HARAM, THAT HAS AN INFLUENCE IN NIGER, NIGERIA, CAMEROON, CHAD.

WE HAVE TO WORK WITH ALL OF THOSE GOVERNMENTS AND TRY AND BUILD COOPERATION WITH THEM AND EMPOWER THEM TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO THIS.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO WORK TO BUILD ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE STABLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE EXTREMISTS.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, SAPERSTEIN SAYS THE U.S. CONTINUES TO ADDRESS ONGOING RELIGIOUS REPRESSION BY GOVERNMENTS.

ONE PARTICULAR AREA OF CONCERN IS LAWS AGAINST APOSTASY AND BLASPHEMY IN DOZENS OF COUNTRIES INCLUDING PAKISTAN, IRAN, AND SAUDI ARABIA.

>> USUALLY THE MAJORITY RELIGION IN THAT COUNTRY LINKS UP WITH GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE TERRIBLY HARSH PENALTIES, INCLUDING THE DEATH PENALTY, ON PEOPLE WHO EXPRESS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS WITH WHICH THEY FEEL THREATENED OR WITH WHICH THEY DISAGREE.

>> IN THE PAST YEAR, SAPERSTEIN HAS TRAVELED TO MORE THAN A DOZEN COUNTRIES, MEETING WITH POLITICAL AND FAITH LEADERS URGING THAT GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS ON RELIGION BE LIFTED.

>> WE KEEP SAYING LOOK, IF YOU LET THIS HAPPEN, THESE PEOPLE MOBILIZE TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES, THEY MOBILIZE IN A PEACEFUL WAY TO ORGANIZE THEIR ONGOING LIVES, IT BENEFITS YOU TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.

>> IN AUGUST, HE WAS IN CHINA.

HE REQUESTED TO VISIT AN AREA WHERE OFFICIALS HAD ORDERED THAT CROSSES BE REMOVED FROM THE TOPS OF CHURCHES.

HE SAYS MORE THAN TEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS THAT HE EITHER MET WITH OR HAD PLANNED TO MEET WITH WERE DETAINED BY CHINESE SECURITY.

AT LEAST ONE, PROMINENT CHRISTIAN LAWYER ZHANG KAI, REMAINS IN DETENTION, HIS WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN.

>> DEEPLY DISTRESSING.

I WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME BACK AND REPORT ON THINGS, SOME THINGS THAT WERE POSITIVE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE CHINESE RELIGIOUS SITUATION, AND MANY OF THE PROBLEMS IN A MORE BALANCED WAY, BUT THE EFFORTS TO DO SO WERE WIPED OUT BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT'S OWN ACTION.

>> I ASKED SAPERSTEIN WHAT HE HAS LEARNED ON THE JOB SO FAR.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF.

IN GENERAL WHERE THEIR PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO BUILD THEIR TEMPLES, THEIR MOSQUES, THEIR CHURCHES, THEIR SYNAGOGUES, THEY'RE BURSTING WITH RELIGIOUS FERVOR.

>> HE SAYS HE'S BEEN ENCOURAGED BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO HAVE JOINED TOGETHER ACROSS FAITH LINES -- OFTEN AT THEIR OWN RISK -- TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION AND PERSECUTION.

AND HE SAYS HE'S BEEN INSPIRED BY THE COURAGE OF PEOPLE HOLDING ONTO THEIR BELIEFS IN TERRIBLE SITUATIONS.

>> THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPRISONED BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY WORSHIP GOD, WHO ARE TORTURED BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY LIVE OUT THEIR RELIGIOUS LIVES, WHO ARE SUBJECT TO DEATH PENALTIES FOR EXPRESSING THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

>> SAPERSTEIN ACKNOWLEDGES THE CRITICISM OF SOME WHO SAY IT'S HYPOCRITICAL FOR THE U.S. TO BE PUSHING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ELSEWHERE WHEN SOME AMERICAN RELIGIOUS MINORITIES FACE DISCRIMINATION.

>> THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, AND I KNOW HOW SERIOUS THEY FEEL TO MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING WITH THESE PROBLEMS, BUT I THINK WE ARE A MODEL OF HOW TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS.

WE DON'T HIDE ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS.

THERE ARE PUBLIC DEBATES, AND THERE ARE GOVERNMENTAL DEBATES.

THOSE DEBATES ARE OPEN, AND THE PUBLIC CAN ENTER INTO A DISCUSSION WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ABOUT HOW TO BEST DO THAT IN A FREE CIVIL SOCIETY.

WHEN I READ NEWS OF WHAT SEEMS TO BE A RISING TIDE OF SECTARIAN STRIFE, IT CAN BE QUITE DAUNTING.

HOWEVER, WHEN I LOOK OUT AT YOU, ALL OF YOU HERE, I AM STRENGTHENED IN MY RESOLVE.

>> IN OCTOBER, SAPERSTEIN TOOK PART IN AN INTERFAITH SERVICE AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL, WHERE DOZENS OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS PLEDGED TO FIGHT BIGOTRY AGAINST ANY FAITH GROUP.

>> WHETHER THEY'RE SUBJECT TO RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OR RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION, RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF TRANSFORMING AMERICA INTO A MORE JUST, FAIR, AND COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY.

>> HE SAYS THAT, INDEED, SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.

I'M KIM LAWTON IN WASHINGTON.

>>> ON OUR CALENDAR THIS COMING WEEK, HINDUS, SIKHS AND JAINS BEGIN CELEBRATING THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, DIWALI.

THIS JOYOUS HOLIDAY IS OFTEN MARKED BY GIFTS OF DRIED FRUIT AND NUTS, AND FIREWORKS AND OTHER LIGHTS.

>>> FINALLY, DESPITE ONGOING CANCER TREATMENTS, FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER IS BUILDING HOUSES AGAIN.

CARTER WAS PART OF A HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROJECT IN MEMPHIS.

HE ANNOUNCED IN AUGUST HE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN HIS LIVER AND BRAIN.

THIS WEEK THE 91-YEAR-OLD CARTER SAID, "I THINK GOD IS LETTING ME CONTINUE AS BEST I CAN.

"y >>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR NOW.

I'M BOB ABERNETHY.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND WATCH US ANYTIME ON THE PBS APP FOR iPHONES AND iPADS.

THERE IS ALSO MUCH MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, WHERE YOU CAN LISTEN TO OR WATCH EVERY PROGRAM.

JOIN US AT PBS.ORG.

AS WE LEAVE YOU, SCENES FROM LAST YEAR'S DIWALI CELEBRATIONS.

SMOTS ♪♪ ♪♪