President Trump proclaimed January 16, 2018 “Religious Freedom Day.”
“Faith is embedded in the history, spirit, and soul of our Nation,” the president noted in his proclamation. “On Religious Freedom Day, we celebrate the many faiths that make up our country, and we commemorate the 232nd anniversary of the passing of a state law that has shaped and secured our cherished legacy of religious liberty.”
“Our forefathers, seeking refuge from religious persecution, believed in the eternal truth that freedom is not a gift from the government, but a sacred right from Almighty God,” he added.
The president went on to warn that government has no place in forcing Americans to choose between their faith and the law.
“Unfortunately, not all have recognized the importance of religious freedom, whether by threatening tax consequences for particular forms of religious speech, or forcing people to comply with laws that violate their core religious beliefs without sufficient justification,” the president said. “These incursions, little by little, can destroy the fundamental freedom underlying our democracy.”
American’s now face a host of threats that seek to undermine those fundamental freedoms.
Trump said the Religious Freedom Day should remind all Americans that “people of all faiths can follow their hearts and worship according to their consciences.”
“The free exercise of religion is a source of personal and national stability, and its preservation is essential to protecting human dignity,” the president said in the proclamation. “Religious diversity strengthens our communities and promotes tolerance, respect, understanding, and equality.”
“Faith breathes life and hope into our world. We must diligently guard, preserve, and cherish this unalienable right,” he added.
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