[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 50 (Monday, December 18, 2000)]
[Pages 3076-3077]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Faith Leaders Initiative of the National Conference for 
Community and Justice

December 13, 2000

    Today I want to commend the National Conference for Community and 
Justice (NCCJ) on its innovative efforts to further engage the faith 
community in racial reconciliation. NCCJ's Faith Leaders Initiative 
builds on my Initiative on Race and the March 9 White House meeting 
where leaders of institutions of faith announced important new steps as 
they rededicated themselves to fight racism.
    Today's Joint Statement on Racism, drafted and endorsed by a broad 
group of faith leaders, recognizes the important role of people of faith 
in fighting racism. It states: ``Racism is a problem of the heart and an 
evil that must be eradicated from the institutional structures that 
shape our daily lives, including our houses of worship.'' Those who 
affirm this statement and make its seven pledges will indeed be part of 
transforming our society to eradicate racism.
    In addition, the directory of promising practices, guidelines for 
interreligious forums, and list of 10 actions every individual can take 
to fight racism are significant contributions toward fulfilling our 
vision of one America.
    Many groups and individuals have worked long and hard to develop the 
initiatives announced today. It will take many more groups and many more 
individuals to put these initiatives into action. When the National 
Conference for Community and Justice chose to continue the work of the 
race initiative within the faith community, I trusted this unique 
organization to bring new vision and extra vigor to that call. Today's 
announcement again attests to both its creativity and your commitment. 
It is only through work such as this that our Nation

[[Page 3077]]

will truly come to know both racial justice and racial reconciliation--
truly be one America.