[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 118, 108th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Proclamation 7753 of 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 found

[[Page 4100]]

118 STAT. 4100

ing 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 Department 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

PROCLAMATION 7754--FEB. 2, 2004