In remarks delivered during the National Prayer Breakfast on February
6, President Barack Obama referred to freedom 17 times, 14 of them in
reference to religious freedom.
“Now, here, as Americans, we affirm the freedoms endowed by our Creator,
among them freedom of religion,” he said. “And, yes, this freedom
safeguards religion, allowing us to flourish as one of the most
religious countries on Earth, but it works the other way, too -- because
religion strengthens America. Brave men and women of faith have
challenged our conscience and brought us closer to our founding ideals,
from the abolition of slavery to civil rights, workers’ rights.”
“So many of you carry on this good work today -- for the child who
deserves a school worthy of his dreams; for the parents working overtime
to pull themselves out of poverty; for the immigrants who want to step
out of the shadows and become a full member of our American family; for
the young girl who prays for rescue from the modern slavery of human
trafficking, an outrage that we must all join together to end,” he
added.
We “believe in the inherent dignity of every human being -- dignity that
no earthly power can take away,” he continued. “And central to that
dignity is freedom of religion -- the right of every person to practice
their faith how they choose, to change their faith if they choose, or to
practice no faith at all, and to do this free from persecution and fear
… So promoting religious freedom is a key objective of U.S. foreign
policy. And I’m proud that no nation on Earth does more to stand up for
the freedom of religion around the world than the United States of
America.”
President Obama also discussed his own conversion to the United Church of Christ.
“In my life, He directed my path to Chicago and my work with churches
who were intent on breaking the cycle of poverty in hard-hit communities
there,” he said. “And I’m grateful not only because I was broke and
the church fed me, but because it led to everything else. It led me to
embrace Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It led me to Michelle --
the love of my life -- and it blessed us with two extraordinary
daughters. It led me to public service. And the longer I serve,
especially in moments of trial or doubt, the more thankful I am of God’s
guiding hand.”