President Obama, administration officials pay tribute to religious freedom
January 20, 2014
Amid numerous lawsuits asserting that the Obama administration’s HHS mandate is an unconstitutional attack on religious freedom, President Barack Obama paid tribute to religious liberty in a presidential proclamation for Religious Freedom Day.
The day, observed on January 16, commemorates the anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s landmark Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
“America embraces people of all faiths and of no faith,” said President Obama. “We are Christians and Jews, Muslims and Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs, atheists and agnostics. Our religious diversity enriches our cultural fabric and reminds us that what binds us as one is not the tenets of our faiths, the colors of our skin, or the origins of our names. What makes us American is our adherence to shared ideals -- freedom, equality, justice, and our right as a people to set our own course.”
“America proudly stands with people of every nation who seek to think, believe, and practice their faiths as they choose,” he continued. “In the years to come, my Administration will remain committed to promoting religious freedom, both at home and across the globe. We urge every country to recognize religious freedom as both a universal right and a key to a stable, prosperous, and peaceful future.”
“As we observe this day, let us celebrate America's legacy of religious liberty, embrace diversity in our own communities, and resolve once more to advance religious freedom in our time,” he added.
In addition, two Obama administration officials -- Melissa Rogers, Special Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and Eric Treene, Special Counsel for Religious Discrimination -- paid tribute to the religious freedom in a post on the White House blog.
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Further information:
- Presidential proclamation (White House)
- Protecting Religious Freedom (White House)
- Today Is Religious Freedom Day (Religion Clause)
- HHS Mandate Information Central (Becket Fund)
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Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
Jan. 20, 2014 7:14 PM ET USA
This man has proven himself to be unworthy of the office he holds. We pray every day as a family for God to save us and the Catholic Church from his plans.
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Posted by: unum -
Jan. 20, 2014 6:42 PM ET USA
1 John 3:18: Little children, let’s not love with words or speech but with action and truth. Our government has too many words and not enough action or truth to show love or respect for our Constitution. The Constitution is our only political protection of the rights from our Creator and men have died to defend it. We should oppose any government official who disrespects this sacred document.
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Posted by: polish.pinecone4371 -
Jan. 20, 2014 6:40 PM ET USA
Just as the fox paid tribute to the henhouse.
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Posted by: Defender -
Jan. 20, 2014 6:11 PM ET USA
A proclamation and two blog comments, that's all? Figures.
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Posted by: rpp -
Jan. 20, 2014 4:04 PM ET USA
This is a joke, right? Some Catholic satire, perhaps?
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Posted by: normnuke -
Jan. 20, 2014 4:04 PM ET USA
Cheap talk from a proven liar.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Jan. 20, 2014 9:18 AM ET USA
Vacuous words from one of the most callow and superficial men to ever live in the White House. My eyes glaze over just reading this cant.
