President Obama pays tribute to religious liberty
May 08, 2015
President Barack Obama condemned religious persecution and lauded religious freedom in his proclamation for the National Day of Prayer, which took place on May 7.
“When women and men of all backgrounds and beliefs are free to practice their faiths without fear or coercion, it bolsters our religious communities and helps to lift up diverse and vibrant societies throughout our world,” he wrote. “In America, our Nation is stronger because we welcome and respect people of all faiths, and because we protect the fundamental right of all peoples to practice their faith how they choose, to change their faith, or to practice no faith at all, and to do so free from persecution and discrimination.”
“Today, as we pause in solemn reflection, we celebrate the religious liberty we cherish here at home, and we recommit to standing up for religious freedom around the world,” he continued, adding:
Millions of individuals worldwide are subjected to discrimination, abuse, and sanctioned violence simply for exercising their religion or choosing not to claim a faith. Communities are threatened with genocide and driven from their homelands because of who they are or how they pray. The United States will continue to stand against these reprehensible attacks, work to end them, and protect religious freedom throughout the world. And we remember those who are prisoners of conscience -- who are held unjustly because of their faiths or beliefs -- and we will take every action within our power to secure their release.
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Posted by: Gregory108 -
May. 09, 2015 8:04 PM ET USA
All during the Soviet Era, all while destroying religion, closing churches, murdering priests, bishops and ministers of every church except the Russian Orthodox Church, which they controlled, Soviet leaders extolled the religious freedom their citizens (captives) enjoyed. They extolled how free elections were and how satisfied all their citizens were. "There is no land where a man can breathe so freely" they sang! Talk is cheap! Obama does not know the meaning of the phrase "religious liberty!"
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Posted by: rjbennett1294 -
May. 09, 2015 6:42 AM ET USA
"President Obama pays tribute to religious liberty"? Oh, that IS - as the Brits say - rich.
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Posted by: james-w-anderson8230 -
May. 08, 2015 8:59 PM ET USA
His words sound great but unfortunately his past words have no relation to his past actions.
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Posted by: bernie4871 -
May. 08, 2015 7:22 PM ET USA
"Religious freedom" sounds like the phrase he had been using, "Freedom of worship"? Why can't he just use the correct expression which is "Freedom of Religion"? Simply because he does not believe, apparently, that we have the right to carry our religious beliefs outside the Church doors. Double-speak is a Presidential art form