[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 2015)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 3133-3134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01112]



[[Page 3131]]

Vol. 80

Wednesday,

No. 13

January 21, 2015

Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 9227--Religious Freedom Day, 2015



Memorandum of January 15, 2015--Modernizing Federal Leave Policies for 
Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care To Recruit and Retain Talent and 
Improve Productivity
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  Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 2015 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 3133]]

                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

[[Page 3134]]

                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.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2015-01112
Filed 1-20-15; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F5