President Bush has proclaimed today, January 16, 2009 as Religious Freedom Day.
The proclamation states in part:
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.
The first settlers came to this country to be free to worship according to their conscience. Our founding fathers guaranteed us freedom of religion, and our military has defended this freedom throughout the history of our nation. Today we pause to reflect on the blessing of religious freedom with gratitude for those who have made it possible.
O God, who art the giver of all good gifts; We bless thy Name and give thee thanks for the religious freedom guaranteed to us in these United States. Grant that we worship thee, the one true God, faithfully and reverently, and that we protect this freedom for future generations, ever mindful that we enjoy liberty that many have not. We offer supplications for thy children around the world who do not enjoy the freedom to worship thee openly and freely without fear of persecution. We beseech thee to remember them in thy mercy and spread religious freedom around the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, who liveth and reignth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.