For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 16, 2004
Religious Freedom Day, 2004
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
America is a land of many faiths, and the right to religious
freedom is a foundation of our Nation. On Religious Freedom Day,
Americans acknowledge the centrality of their faith and reaffirm that
the great strength of our country is the heart and soul of our
citizens.
Religious Freedom Day celebrates the passage of the Virginia
Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. Thomas Jefferson,
drafter of the legislation, considered it one of his three greatest
accomplishments, along with writing the Declaration of Independence and
founding the University of Virginia. Recognizing the importance of
faith to our people, our Founding Fathers guaranteed religious freedom
in the Constitution.
Protecting our religious freedom requires the vigilance of the
American people and of government at all levels. Within my
Administration, the Department of Justice is acting to protect
religious freedom, including prosecuting those who attack people or
places of worship because of religious affiliation. The Depart-ment of
Education has issued new guidelines that allow students to engage in
constitutionally protected religious activity in public schools. These
guidelines protect, for example, students' rights to say a prayer
before meals in the cafeteria, to gather with other students before
school to pray, and to engage in other expressions of personal faith.
Through my Faith-Based and Community Initiative, my Administration
continues to encourage the essential work of faith-based and community
organizations. Governments can and should support effective social
services, including those provided by religious people and
organizations. When government gives that support, it is important
that faith-based institutions not be forced to change their religious
character. In December 2002, I signed an Executive Order to end
discrimination against faith-based organizations in the Federal grants
process. In September 2003, in implementing this order, my
Administration eliminated many of the barriers that have kept
faith-based charities from partnering with the Federal Government to
help Americans in need. Six Federal agencies have proposed or
finalized new regulations to ensure that no organization or beneficiary
will be discriminated against in a Federally funded social service
program on the basis of religion.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2004, as
Religious Freedom Day. I urge all Americans to reflect on the
blessings of our religious freedom and to observe this day through
appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of
worship.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day
of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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