Sincerity of President’s Religious Liberty Proclamation Questioned

President Barack Obama’s designation of a national Religious Freedom Day is leading to calls for his administration to show greater respect for the conscience rights of Americans.

Kyle Duncan, general counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty said “If it is not to be an empty promise religious freedom must also include acting on one’s deepest religious beliefs when one is feeding the poor, caring for the sick, educating the young, or running a business.”

Duncan welcomed the president’s proclamation but expressed regret over its failure to acknowledge the threats to religious freedom posed by the controversial contraception mandate.

January 16th is typically Religious Freedom Day and marks the anniversary of the 1786 enactment of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, penned by Thomas Jefferson.