Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation. Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.… Read the rest

World Magazine (Read entire article)

By Leigh Jones

Houston voters soundly defeated an ordinance that would have made gender identity and sexual orientation protected classes, a measure opponents said would trample privacy and religious liberty rights.

The measure gained national attention after outgoing Houston Mayor Annise Parker went toe-to-toe with the city’s diverse religious community over the ordinance.… Read the rest

World Magazine (Read entire article)

By Leigh Jones

The high school football coach who refused to stop praying on the field after Bremerton, Wash., school district officials ordered him to, has been placed on paid leave until his contract runs out in December.… Read the rest

by Dominic Bouck, O.P.
Published 6.25.15 at First Things — original article here

As the Supreme Court prepares to announce its decision on same-sex marriage, religious people are wondering: will we lose our tax-exempt status for our religious institutions? Justice Samuel Alito raised this question during the oral arguments, citing the 1983 Supreme Court case that ruled Bob Jones University could lose its tax-exempt status if it continued to oppose interracial dating and marriage.… Read the rest

From World Magazine

By BONNIE PRITCHETT
Posted May 22, 2015

On Thursday afternoon, the Texas House passed the Pastor Protection Bill with a 141-2 vote, a vindication for religious liberty advocates who argued the issue of conscience transcended political lines and deserved public debate.… Read the rest

Click here for a worthwhile video on religious liberty in general, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act specifically.… Read the rest