....As part of a campaign organized by open internet activists at Faithful Internet, 12 American religious leaders -- Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Humanist -- spoke up to defend the new rules. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also chimed in on behalf of Pope Francis.

Valarie Kaur, co-founder of Faithful Internet, said that net neutrality is vital for religious leaders who use the Internet to advocate for social justice.

“Today’s moral leaders are using the Internet to meet the needs of new generations, speak truth to power, and minister to the underserved,” Kaur wrote in a statement. “They are using online tools to help us hear the call of wisdom traditions, not to violence and exclusion, but to love and service.”

Here's why these leaders believe an open Internet is essential for religious life and interfaith activism......