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Obama makes religious freedom pitch in Prayer Breakfast remarks

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President Barack Obama speaks at the 62nd National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014. The president told the non-denominational gathering of political leaders that freedom of religion across the world is important to national security and is a central tenet of U.S. diplomacy.

Charles Dharapak, Associated Press

WASHINGTON President Obama on Thursday declared global religious freedom is "under threat" and he called on North Korea and Iran to release Americans jailed for practicing their Christian beliefs.

Speaking at the annual National Prayer Breakfast, Obama also denounced abuses in the name of religion that discriminate and oppress minorities.

"We sometimes see religion twisted in an attempt to justify hatred and persecution against other people just because of who they are or how they pray or who they love," he said at the private event that draws hundreds of members of Congress, national leaders and foreign dignitaries to the Washington Hilton ballroom.

His remarks drew both praise and skepticism from human rights advocates and a religious freedom scholar.

"I hope this is not another example of a splendid speech followed by no action whatsoever," said Thomas F. Farr, who directs the Religious Freedom Project and the Program on Religion and US Foreign Policy at Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs.

Obama singled out Americans Kennth Bae, a Christian missionary who has served 15 months of a 15 year sentence of hard labor in a North Korean prison, and Saeed Abedini, jailed in Iran for 18 months after being permitted to enter the nation for charitable activities.

He said his administration is working for the release of both men.

"Today, again, we call on the Iranian government to release Pastor Abedini so he can return to the loving arms of his wife and children in Idaho, Obama said.

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Obama makes religious freedom pitch in Prayer Breakfast remarks

Obama Prods Nations on Religious Freedom

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Feb 6, 2014 11:32am

Speaking at the annual National Prayer Breakfast this morning, President Obama vowed to promote religious freedom around the world, arguing that freedom of religion matters to our national security.

Around the world freedom of religion is under threat, he told the non-denominational gathering of political leaders. We see governments engaging in discrimination and violence against the faith. We sometimes see religion twisted in an attempt to justify hatred and persecution against other people just because of who they are, how they pray or who they love.

History shows that nations that uphold the rights of their people, including the freedom of religion, are ultimately more just and more peaceful and more successful. Nations that do not uphold these rights sow the bitter seeds of instability and violence and extremism, he said.

The president said that in meetings he has urged the leaders of China, Burma, Nigeria, and others, to protect the rights of religious minorities.

Ive made the case that no society can truly succeed unless it guarantees the rights of all of its peoples, he said. So promoting religious freedom is a key objective of U.S. foreign policy.

Obama went on to call for the release of prisoners being held for their religious beliefs, including Kenneth Bae, the Christian missionary being held in North Korea, and Pastor Saeed Abedini, who is imprisoned in Iran.

As we pray for all prisoners of conscience, whatever their faiths, wherever theyre held, lets imagine what it must be like for them. We may not know their names, but all around the world there are people who are waking up in cold cells, facing another day of confinement, another day of unspeakable treatment, simply because they are affirming God, he said. Despite all theyve endured, despite all the awful punishments if caught, they will wait for that moment when the guards arent looking and when they can close their eyes and bring their hands together and pray.

Reflecting on his own faith, the president noted that the event is a chance to put aside party labels and recall what we are first: all children of a loving God, brothers and sisters called to make his work our own.

Here we give thanks for his guidance in our own individual faith journeys. In my life he directed my path to Chicago and my work with churches who are intent on breaking the cycle of poverty in hard-hit communities there. And Im grateful not only because I was broke and the church fed me, but because it led to everything else, he said.

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Obama Prods Nations on Religious Freedom

Obama: Freedom of Religion Is Under Threat

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President Barack Obama said religious freedom is under threat, and highlighted the plight of two American Christians held in North Korea and Iran.

In his address to the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual gathering of lawmakers and numerous faith leaders, Mr. Obama said its clear that around the world freedom of religion is under threat. He said the U.S. works with countries that dont live up to Americas standard of religious tolerance and pointed to China as an example. He said Americas relationship with the Chinese is important to the world but said that he stresses in meetings with Chinese leaders the need to uphold universal rights for Christians, Tibetan Buddhists and others.

Nations that do not uphold these rights sow the bitter seeds of instability and violence and extremism. So freedom of religion matters to our national security, he said.

He cited North Korea, where Christian-American missionary Kenneth Bae has been held for more than a year because of his and was recently sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for unspecified hostile acts. The U.S. has sought his release and Mr. Obama vowed the United States will continue to do everything in our power to secure his release, because Kenneth Bae deserves to be free.

Mr. Obama also mentioned Pastor Saeed Abedini, who was arrested in Iran for his efforts to spread Christianity and sentenced to eight years in prison on national security charges. As we continue to work for his freedom, today, again, we call on the Iranian government to release Pastor Abedini, so he can return to the loving arms of his wife and children in Idaho, the president said.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R., N.H.) was quick to tweet her approval. Appreciate POTUS prayers this AM for Americans Kenneth Bae & Saeed Abedini imprisoned in North Korea & Iran-we pray for their release.

On the Mideast, Mr. Obama said the U.S. has made clear to Israelis and Palestinians that lasting peace will require freedom of worship and access to holy sites for all faiths.

Mr. Obama, a Christian, told the gathering that Gods teachings led him to do community service in Chicago and to his wife, Michelle. His faith, he said, led me to public service, and the longer I serve, especially in moments of trial or doubt, the more thankful I am of Gods guiding hand.

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Obama: Freedom of Religion Is Under Threat

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