Barack Obama on Religious Freedom at Saddleback Civil Forum

Well, I think the first thing we have to do is to bear witness and speak out, and not pretend that [abuse of religious freedom] not taking place. You know, our relationship with China, for example, is a very complicated one. [...] and so having an administration that is speaking out, joining in international forums, where we can point out human rights abuses, and the absence of religious freedom, that, I think, is absolutely critical. Over time, what we are doing is setting up new norms and creating a universal principle that people's faith and people's beliefs have to be protected. And as you said, it's not just Christians, and [...] one thing I think is very important for us to do on all of these issues is to lead by example. That's why I think it's so important for us to have religious tolerance here in the United States.