[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 2004)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 2995-2996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1426]



[[Page 2993]]

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Part V





The President





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Proclamation 7753--Religious Freedom Day, 2004
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 2004 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 2995]]

                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 founding 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.

[[Page 2996]]

                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.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 04-1426
Filed 1-20-04; 10:57 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P