02/27/2002
EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-09731

BUSH ON RELIGION IN CHINA

On his recent trip to China, President George W. Bush stressed the importance of religious faith and freedom. Speaking to students at Beijing’s Tsinghua [ching-wah] University, Mr. Bush said that religious faith "points to a moral law beyond man’s law, and calls us to duties higher than material gain. Freedom of religion is not something to be feared," he said, "it’s to be welcomed, because faith gives us a moral core and teaches us to hold ourselves to high standards, to love and to serve others, and to live responsible lives."

People of many varied ethnic backgrounds and religious faiths live in America. But no matter what your background or circumstance of birth, said President Bush, "you can get a good education, you can start your own business, you can raise a family, you can worship freely, and help elect the leaders of your community and your country. You can support the policies of our government, or you’re free to openly disagree with them. Those who fear freedom sometimes argue it could lead to chaos," said Mr. Bush. "But it does not, because freedom means more than every man for himself."

Liberty gives citizens many rights, but it also expects them to exercise responsibilities. As President Bush said, "Our liberty is given direction and purpose by moral character, shaped in strong families, strong communities, and strong religious institutions."

China is also a country where people are increasingly realizing the importance of religious faith. "Tens of millions of Chinese," said President Bush, "are relearning Buddhist, Taoist, and local religious traditions, or practicing Christianity, Islam, and other faiths. Regardless of where or how these believers worship, they’re no threat to public order; in fact, they make good citizens. For centuries," said Mr. Bush, China "had a tradition of religious tolerance. My prayer is that all persecution will end, so that all in China are free to gather and worship as they wish."

"Life in America," said President Bush, "shows that liberty, paired with law, is not to be feared. In a free society, diversity is not disorder. Debate is not strife. And dissent is not revolution. A free society trusts its citizens to seek greatness in themselves and their country."