To Restore Religious Freedoms.

Thomas Legislative Information on the Internet ^ | 8/21/03 | Wayne Allard(R-CO)

[ForGod'sSake]

S 1558 IS

108th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1558

To restore religious freedoms.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

August 1 (legislative day, JULY 21), 2003

Mr. ALLARD introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

---

A BILL

To restore religious freedoms.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Religious Liberties Restoration Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) The Declaration of Independence declares that governments are instituted to secure certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, with which all human beings are endowed by their Creator and to which they are entitled by the laws of nature and of nature's God.

(2) The organic laws of the United States Code and the constitutions of every State, using various expressions, recognize God as the source of the blessings of liberty.

(3) The first amendment to the Constitution secures rights against laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof made by the Federal Government.

(4) The rights secured under the first amendment have been interpreted by the Federal courts to be included among the provisions of the 14th amendment.

(5) The 10th amendment reserves to the States, respectively, the powers not delegated to the Federal Government nor prohibited to the States.

(6) Disputes and doubts have arisen with respect to public displays of the Ten Commandments and to other public expression of religious faith.

(7) Section 5 of the 14th amendment grants Congress the power to enforce the provisions of the 14th amendment.

(8) Article III, section 2 of the Constitution grants Congress the authority to except certain matters from the jurisdiction of the Federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court.

SEC. 3. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY RIGHTS DECLARED.

(a) DISPLAY OF TEN COMMANDMENTS- The power to display the Ten Commandments on or within property owned or administered by the several States or political subdivisions of such States is among the powers reserved to the States, respectively.

(b) WORD `GOD' IN PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE- The power to recite the Pledge of Allegiance on or within property owned or administered by the several States or political subdivisions of such States is among the powers reserved to the States, respectively. The Pledge of Allegiance shall be, `I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and justice for all.'.

(c) MOTTO `IN GOD WE TRUST'- The power to recite the national motto on or within property owned or administered by the several States or political subdivisions of such States is among the powers reserved to the States, respectively. The national motto shall be, `In God we trust'.

(d) EXERCISE OF CONGRESSIONAL POWER TO EXCEPT- The subject matter of subsections (a), (b), and (c) are excepted from the jurisdiction of Federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court.

END

The bill has a total of 10 cosponsors; they are:

Sen Brownback, Sam - 9/23/2003 [KS]	Sen Bunning, Jim - 10/20/2003 [KY]
Sen Burns, Conrad R. - 9/29/2003 [MT]	Sen Cochran, Thad - 9/30/2003 [MS]
Sen Craig, Larry E. - 10/21/2003 [ID]	Sen Enzi, Michael B. - 10/2/2003 [WY]
Sen Graham, Lindsey O. - 9/26/2003 [SC]	Sen Inhofe, Jim - 9/30/2003 [OK]
Sen Lott, Trent - 9/30/2003 [MS]	Sen Shelby, Richard C. - 9/25/2003 [AL]

[Gargantua]

"So the majority gets to tell everyone else that they are living in a state that officially recognizes one belief above theirs."

What?! No they don't. Are you ill?

"...you think other differently-believing Christians will not be saved. Now think of when this goes public, directly showing the government prefers one form of Christianity over another."

What on earth are you talking about? Are you even capable of stringing together a coherent pair of thoughts?

"Will the Jews have objection to Catholic doctrine being enshrined by their country?"

Their country? You mean Israel? Who suggested placing Catholic shrines in Israel? I didn't.

Get a grip. You're publicly losing it.

[antiRepublicrat]

Recognition is not establishment.

I believe that in this practice it is, but that's just my belief. Aside from constitutionality, it's just not conducive to the peace of the nation to go recognizing one religion or religious sect above all others in such a blatant manner.

Look at our anti-Catholic Protestant friend on this list. I believe that if the government officially recognized Catholicism as the preferred Christian sect (especially since he doesn't even believe they are Christian), he would be offended and very mad at the government. I'm sure he would consider it a direct governmental interference in religion and be fighting against it.

Apologies to Gargantua, of course, if I am incorrect. You are entitled to your beliefs.

[Gargantua]

"I'm referring to the civil unrest and challenges that can arise due to government endorsement of one religion, or even one sect within a religion."

We've certainly seen the effects on our country of government and society having turned their back upon God. You really think we have more to fear turning back to Him?

The facts argue against your suggestion herewith. As did our Founding Fathers.

"Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being, who rules over the universe, who presides in the council of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States.." "...Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency" From President George Washington's Inaugural Address, April 30th, 1789, addressed to both Houses of Congress.

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible" President George Washington, September 17th, 1796

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports . . . And let us indulge with caution the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion . . . Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail to the exclusion of religious principle." President George Washington

"...The Smiles of Heaven can never be expected On a Nation that disregards the eternal rules of Order and Right, which Heaven Itself Ordained." President George Washington

"I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- God Governs in the Affairs of Men, And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, Is it possible that an empire can rise without His aid?" Benjamin Franklin

"Except the Lord build the house, They labor in vain who build it." "I firmly believe this." Benjamin Franklin, 1787, Constitutional Convention

"The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His Apostles.... This is genuine Christianity and to this we owe our free constitutions of government."Noah Webster

"Whether this [new government] will prove a blessing or a curse will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings which a gracious God hath bestowed on us. If they are wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable. Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation [Proverbs 14:34]. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this, and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself and encourage it in others." Patrick Henry

"The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed." Patrick Henry

"Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." President Thomas Jefferson

"The reason that Christianity is the best friend of Government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart." President Thomas Jefferson

"Of all systems of morality, ancient or modern, which have come under my observation, none appear to be so pure as that of Jesus." Thomas Jefferson, To William Canby, 1813

"We have no government armed in power capable of contending in human passions ubridled by morality and religion. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other." John Adams, address to the militia of Massachusetts, 1798.

"I hold the precepts of Jesus as delivered by Himself, to be the most pure, benevolent and sublime which have ever been preached to man..." President Thomas Jefferson

"The highest story of the American Revolution is this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." President John Adams

"Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe. And to the same Divine Author of every good and perfect gift [James 1:17] we are indebted for all those privileges and advantages, religious as well as civil, which are so richly enjoyed in this favored land." James Madison

"We've staked the whole future of American civilization not on the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us . . . to Govern ourselves according to the commandments of God. The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded." President James Madison

"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers. And it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest, of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." First Chief Justice of Supreme Court John Jay

"Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is divine....Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants. Indeed, these two sciences run into each other." James Wilson, a signer of the Constitution and an original Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court

"Let the children...be carefully instructed in the principles and obligations of the Christian religion. This is the most essential part of education. The great enemy of the salvation of man, in my opinion, never invented a more effectual means of extirpating [removing] Christianity from the world than by persuading mankind that it was improper to read the Bible at schools." Benjamin Rush

"It is no slight testimonial, both to the merit and worth of Christianity, that in all ages since its promulgation the great mass of those who have risen to eminence by their profound wisdom and integrity have recognized and reverenced Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of the living God." President John Quincy Adams

"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were.... the general principles of Christianity." President John Quincy Adams

"a true American Patriot must be a religious man...He who neglects his duty to his maker, may well be expected to be deficient and insincere in his duty towards the public" First Lady Abigail Adams

"The Bible is the Rock on which this Republic rests." President Andrew Jackson

If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend, the credit is due to my parents for instilling in me an early love of the Scriptures. If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity." Daniel Webster

"It is extremely important to our nation , in a political as well as religious view , that all possible authority and influence should be given to the scriptures , for these furnish the best principles of civil liberty , and the most effectual support of republican government. The principles of all genuine liberty , and of wise laws and administrations are to be drawn from the Bible and sustained by it's authority.The man therefore who weakens or destroys the divine authority of that book may be accessory to all the public disorders which society is doomed to suffer...." Noah Webster

"The Bible must be considered as the great source of all the truth by which men are to be guided in government as well as in all social transactions...." Noah Webster

"The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws...." Noah Webster

"All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice , crime , ambition , injustice , oppression , slavery , and war , proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible...." Noah Webster

"The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and his apostles , which enjoins humility , piety and benevolence ; which acknowledges in every person a brother , or a sister , and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity , and to this we owe our free constitutions of government...." Noah Webster

"It is the sincere desire of the writer (Noah Webster) that our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the Bible , particularly the New Testament or the Christian religion." Noah Webster

"I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior (Jesus) of the world is communicated to us through this book. Abraham Lincoln

"Our laws and institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teaching of the Redeemer (Jesus Christ) of mankind. It is impossible that is should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian . . . this is a Christian nation." US Supreme Court, 1892

"The fundamental basis of this nation's law was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teaching we get from Exodus and St. Matthew, from Isaiah and St. Paul. I don't think we emphasize that enough these days. If we don't have the proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in the right for anybody except the state." President Harry S. Truman.

"History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration to ultimate national disaster" General Douglas MacArthur

[ForGod'sSake]

This is tantamount to establishing that religion. If they broadened it to religious statements and documents in general they would be safer, but then the states would have a problem when they tried to stop other religions (which they would).

Thank you for playing. I won't even rebutt your reply since I disagree with just about everything you posted. There are so many if's, and's, and but's in your reply, it becomes meaningless.

FGS

[Gargantua]

"You are entitled to your beliefs."

Indeed. As are you.

As were America's Founding Fathers, who emphatically and repeatedly insisted that America is a Christian Nation... that to stray from that truth would be to destroy our Republic.

[ForGod'sSake]

Thanks Meek. Your efforts are always appreciated ;^)

FGS

[ForGod'sSake]

Yes a wonderful law, but I doubt it will pass constitutional muster. They are already writing the lawsuits.

I honestly have mixed emotions about this law. The constitution only put in writing what to the founders were/are certain inalienable rights possessed by by American citizens. The gummint generally, and the courts in particular, are stomping on our inalienable rights set out in the constitution. These rights were not to be made law by statute, but were to be broadly understood as givens from God.

FGS

[ForGod'sSake]

I should have known this would turn into a spitting contest. Great rebuttals to antirepublicrat. His atheism is showing. To me it's pretty simple; I can't cite where, but somewhere in the Bible God made it pretty clear, we're either with Him or against Him. The arguments become clearer in that context.

FGS

[MeekOneGOP]

:O)

[Noachian]

To restore religious freedoms

The operative word here is restore

A bill of this type is necessary only when the Congress has failed in its constitutional duties to the American Republic.

Hopefully this bill will make it past the congressional liberals and a left-leaning High Court, and if it should then what? Of what use is a "restoration" bill if the rot is left behind? How many "restoration" bills will future Americans need if the rot in Congress is not excised?

I'll start having faith in Congress again when I see the congressional Judiciary Committees holding the feet of the Judicial Branch to the fire when they accept cases that have anything to do with religious matters. If the High Court continues to accept cases involving religion, which they are strictly forbidden by extension of the First Amendment to do, then we'll all be back here in a few years asking that another "restoration" bill be passed.

[Dave S]

But don't be fooled people. This is yet another grandstanding law. They are wasting time on something they know won't stand constitutional muster just to curry favor with the voters.

That it is. It is a waste of time devoted to getting out the looney base for one more election. You would think that "World Class" legislators would know "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

[Barn Owl]

Thanks,
Barn Owl

[Dave S]

The Ten Commandments are the widely acknowledged foundation of all Western Law, and are intrinsic to Judaism (non-Christian), the Coptics, Gnosticism, the Mormons, Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Church of Scientology, and Christians.

Any particular reason why you left out Islam? And why do you differentiate between Catholics and Christians? While I'm not Catholic myself I could see how some might take offense at that.

[ppaul]

So, how did this turn into a Catholic-bashing thread?

[ForGod'sSake]

...then we'll all be back here in a few years asking that another "restoration" bill be passed.

Just so. Hence my mixed emotions about the bill. Once our inalienable rights are reduced to legalese they may become easier targets for the future king and princes of the realm. They are working diligently at peeling away our inalienable rights, thwarting statutes could be a piece o' cake for them. Tough call for an ol' east Texas country boy ;^)

FGS

[Dave S]

I am obedient to God's Biblical Word, and whether I use my life to fulfill God's command that I help my fellow man to hear the Gospel [good news] of Jesus Christ.

Excuse me if I barf!!

[Dave S]

Recognition is not establishment.

Are you going to recognize the Church of Satan and the Scientologists and others of similar ilk?

[ForGod'sSake]

You would think that "World Class" legislators would know "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"

So, just which way are you going with this? It's obvious to me the courts, in particular, can't read and interpret the constitution on a 2nd grade level...choose not to, actually. But we're supposed to be cowed by the complexity of the law, so it becomes the realm of legal eagles. Spare me.

FGS

[NutCrackerBoy]

Excuse me if I barf!!

You are being disrespectful of someone's sincere expression. Are you sincere about anything, such as patriotism? or loving your family? If you express it, you think it is appropriate for other people to trash it??

[Dave S]

"...you think other differently-believing Christians will not be saved. Now think of when this goes public, directly showing the government prefers one form of Christianity over another."

What on earth are you talking about? Are you even capable of stringing together a coherent pair of thoughts?

Made perfect sense to me. You live in such a dream world you cant even understand what you are saying. You are basically saying that those that dont believe exactly as you do are goign to Hell and to make sure you are enforcing Gods laws by use of government force. Before you object, Christians rioted in middle ages when the King/Pope (?) decided that the calendar was inaccurate and they switched to todays calendar. In doing so they "lost" something like ten days in the switchover. Thousands were killed in rioting because these Christians wanted that part of their life back.

"Will the Jews have objection to Catholic doctrine being enshrined by their country?"

Their country? You mean Israel? Who suggested placing Catholic shrines in Israel? I didn't

Are you that much of a bigot that you dont even recognize that Jews live in America and they consider this their country too. You ought to get out more often. Maybe then you would notice Jews, Moslems, Hindus, Sikhs and others.