[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 3 (Monday, January 23, 2006)]
[Pages 73-74]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7974--Religious Freedom Day, 2006

January 13, 2006

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    The right to religious freedom is a foundation of America. On 
Religious Freedom Day,

[[Page 74]]

our Nation celebrates the passage of the 1786 Virginia Statute for 
Religious Freedom and the protection of religious freedom in the First 
Amendment to the United States Constitution.
    Our Founding Fathers knew the importance of freedom of religion to a 
stable democracy, and our Constitution protects individuals' rights to 
worship as they choose. We reject religious discrimination in every 
form, and we continue our efforts to oppose prejudice and to counter any 
infringements on religious freedom.
    Today, we are also working to advance freedom of religion abroad. 
The Department of State's Office of International Religious Freedom 
plays an important role in these efforts, advocating for religious 
freedom and actively working against religious persecution around the 
world. In recent years, we have seen important progress, including in 
Vietnam, Laos, India, Georgia, and the United Arab Emirates, and with 
the release of many individuals in countries throughout the world who 
had been imprisoned because of their faith. By helping to secure the 
religious freedom of people in other countries, we promote the spread of 
liberty and human dignity.
    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, 2006, as 
Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to reflect on the great 
blessing of religious liberty, endeavor to preserve this freedom for 
future generations, and commemorate this day with appropriate events and 
activities in their schools, places of worship, neighborhoods, and 
homes.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day 
of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
thirtieth.
                                                George W. Bush

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 9:23 a.m., January 18, 
2006]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on January 
19. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.