Religious Freedom Day, 2015

Proclamation 9227 of January 15, 2015

Religious Freedom Day, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

From many faiths and diverse beliefs, Americans are
united by the ideals we cherish. Our shared values
define who we are as a people and what we stand for as
a Nation. With abiding resolve, generations of patriots
have fought--through great conflict and fierce debate--
to secure and defend these freedoms, irrevocably
weaving them deep into the fabric of our society.
Today, we celebrate an early milestone in the long
history of one of our country's fundamental liberties.

On January 16, 1786, the Virginia Statute for Religious
Freedom was adopted. It was one of the first laws in
our Nation to codify the right of every person to
profess their opinions in matters of faith, and it
declares that ``no man shall be compelled to frequent
or support any'' religion. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson
and guided through the Virginia legislature by James
Madison, this historic legislation served as a model
for the religious liberty protections enshrined in our
Constitution.

The First Amendment prohibits the Government from
establishing religion. It protects the right of every
person 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 fear. This religious
freedom allows faith to flourish, and our Union is
stronger because a vast array of religious communities
coexist peacefully with mutual respect for one another.
Since the age of Jefferson and Madison, brave women and
men of faith have challenged our conscience; today, our
Nation continues to be shaped by people of every
religion and of no religion, bringing us closer to our
founding ideals. As heirs to this proud legacy of
liberty, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to
safeguard these freedoms.

We must also continue our work to protect religious
freedom around the globe. Throughout the world,
millions of individuals are subjected to
discrimination, abuse, and sanctioned violence simply
for exercising their religion or choosing not to claim
a faith. Communities are being driven from their
ancient homelands because of who they are or how they
pray, and in conflict zones, mass displacement has
become all too common.

In the face of these challenges, I am proud the United
States continues to stand up for the rights of all
people to practice their faiths in peace. Promoting
religious freedom has always been a key objective of my
Administration's foreign policy because history shows
that nations that uphold the rights of their people--
including the freedom of religion--are ultimately more
just, more peaceful, and more successful. In every
country, individuals should be free to choose and live
their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind--and
of the heart and soul. Today, let us continue our work
to protect this tradition and advance the cause of
religious freedom worldwide.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2015, as
Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to
commemorate this day with events and activities that
teach us about this critical foundation

of our Nation's liberty, and that show us how we can
protect it for future generations at home and around
the world.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.