Proclamation 9389-Religious Freedom Day, 2016
Issued 2016-01-15 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
On January 15, 2016, President Obama issued a proclamation designating Religious Freedom Day. This is a ceremonial observance that draws national attention to religious freedom as a fundamental American ideal. The proclamation commemorates the adoption of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786, which Thomas Jefferson drafted and which became a blueprint for constitutional protections of religious liberty.
The proclamation does not create new laws or impose legal requirements. Instead, it reaffirms the government's ongoing work to protect religious freedom both domestically and internationally. At home, this includes enforcing civil rights laws against religious discrimination in employment, protecting the rights of religious communities to establish places of worship, and safeguarding students and incarcerated persons from faith-based discrimination. The proclamation also addresses recent increases in threats and violence against houses of worship.
This matters to all Americans because it publicly reinforces the principle that people of all faiths—or no faith—should be free to practice their beliefs without government interference, fear, or coercion. The proclamation also highlights U.S. efforts to promote religious freedom globally by working against violence targeting religious minorities and calling on other governments to eliminate restrictions that suppress religious practice.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This proclamation designates "Proclamation 9389-Religious Freedom Day, 2016" — a ceremonial observance that brings national attention to religious freedom. Presidents have issued ceremonial proclamations since George Washington, and they fall squarely within the executive tradition. They do not create new law, direct federal spending, or impose legal obligations on citizens.
Ceremonial proclamations like this one are purely declaratory. They express the sentiment of the President on behalf of the nation, drawing public awareness to causes or communities. They require no congressional approval and face no constitutional challenges.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2016 Proclamation 9389—Religious Freedom Day, 2016 January 15, 2016 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Since our country's founding, religious freedom has been heralded as one of our most cherished ideals. The right to practice religion freely has brought immigrants from all over the world to our shores, often in the face of great adversity, so they could live their lives in accordance with the dictates of their consciences. Some of America's earliest settlers, the Pilgrims, arrived at our shores in search of a more tolerant society, free from religious persecution. Since that time, people of many religious traditions have added their own threads to the fabric of our Nation, helping advance a profound and continuous vindication of the idea of America. When the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was adopted on January 16, 1786, it formed a blueprint for what would become the basis for the protection of religious liberty enshrined in our Constitution. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the statute proclaims that "all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capaci