Religious Freedom Day, 2005

Proclamation 7864 of January 14, 2005

Religious Freedom Day, 2005

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

George Washington wrote, ``The liberty enjoyed by the
people of these States, of worshipping Almighty God
agreeably to their consciences, is not only among the
choicest of their blessings, but also of their
rights.'' On Religious Freedom Day, Americans
commemorate the passage of the Virginia Statute for
Religious Freedom in 1786, which helped set the course
for freedom of religion to be included in the First
Amendment to our Constitution.

Our Founding Fathers knew the importance of freedom of
religion to a stable and lasting Union. Our
Constitution protects individuals' rights to worship as
they choose. Today, we continue to welcome the
important contributions of people of faith in our
society. We reject religious bigotry in every form,
striving for a society that honors the life and faith
of every person. As we maintain the vitality of a
pluralistic society, we work to ensure equal treatment
of faith-based organizations and people of faith.

As the United States advances the cause of liberty, we
remember that freedom is not America's gift to the
world, but God's gift to each man and woman in this
world. This truth drives our efforts to help people
everywhere achieve freedom of religion and establish a
better, brighter, and more peaceful future for all.

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, 2005, as
Religious Freedom Day. I encourage all Americans to
reflect on the great blessing of religious freedom, to
endeavor to preserve this freedom for future
generations, and to commemorate this day through
appropriate events and activities in homes, schools,
and places of worship.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B