Posted on 12/30/2003 3:31:41 PM PST by Federalist 78
Saturday afternoon, November 22nd, thousands of Americans all across this land stood together at 48 state Capitols to participate in the Ten Commandments Faith and Freedom Rallies. They served as inspirational kick off events for the nationwide effort to secure half a million signatures and send Congress a petition for redress of grievances regarding judicial transgressions of religious liberty.
Thank you to all who were personally involved with the rallies for your leadership and commitment to preserving the religious foundations of this great nation.
God can start something BIG with just a few willing hearts filled with Christ’s love. Look at Jesus' disciples ... the growth of the early church ... the American War for Independence ... and on and on. Obviously, getting Congress to reign in the federal judges and to restore the rule of the Constitution in this nation seems like an impossible task, especially given the ignorance and hostility from so many in popular culture toward the God honoring America our founding fathers gave us. But, God plus nobody is a majority. If He wills to once again shed His grace on America because of a remnant of faithful people, then His Will will be done and the enemies of America’s Godly heritage will be confounded and confused and defeated.
The journey we began on that Saturday in November will probably not be textbook for running a political operation. But God’s ways and His timing are often NOT what man would expect and certainly not how we would plan this type of endeavor. Through the faithfulness of the believers He has called to this task, Americans have at least made a start. And that is a wonderful thing to behold!Together we can look forward to the growth of this movement of concerned citizens and to even bigger rallies in 2004, which—how wonderful for us--is also an election year!
Many of the state rallies had crowds between 100 and 200 but states in the center of the country benefited significantly from the fantastic coverage that Bott Christian Radio Network provided to promote the rallies. Thousands who ended up standing at their respective state Capitols on that Saturday heard the numerous rally spots each day and the interviews with Judge Roy Moore and his supporters that ran in the many states covered by the Bott network. Illinois reported attendance of 250-300. Oklahoma reported 600. And Missourians saw 1000 in their Capitol in Jefferson City to make their voices heard for the cause of religious liberty!The northern states had very cold and snowy conditions but still had between 100 and 150 at their rallies. In Idaho for instance, it was so cold the ink froze in their pens when they were signing the petitions! But their enthusiasm still burned brightly and people by the thousands went to their state capitols on November 22 to sign petitions and kick off the nationwide petition drive to bring an end to the judicial tyranny that is threatening our religious liberty.
Remarkably, these marvelous results were obtained with less than 2 weeks work to organize and sound the trumpet (a small trumpet at that) for God’s people to answer the call to gather and stand against judicial tyranny.To give you a flavor of the enthusiasm from around the country, here are excerpts from some of the reports of the various state rallies:
IDAHO by Mary Rutkowski trulym@msn.com
Idaho had approximately 125 in attendance on Saturday at our state Capitol, Boise, for the Faith and Freedom Rally. The weather was extremely bitterly cold with high winds. It is amazing and a tribute to all who came that they stayed for the entire event in the face of such freezing conditions.
Four state legislators came to the podium and spoke eloquently and fearlessly in support of our petition for Redress of Grievances. Two others sent letters of support and they were read to the attendees. Another well-known activist from the Boise area, spoke in support of our effort and signed the petition.
Following our presentation, we obtained signatures, probably from all in attendance. I was interviewed by the Boise affiliates of ABC and NBC but I do not yet know whether any coverage was actually aired that night. Nothing was reported in The Idaho Statesman, Boise's newspaper.
Follow-up "Support the 10 Commandments" events are already in the planning stages and were under way even before our rally Saturday, independently from our NCRC efforts. Sentiment and activity in support of our Constitutional liberties seems to be strong in Idaho. I believe the petitions will be circulated at these up-coming events and I intend to do all I can to see that this takes place.
In summary, we went to the battlefield and fired our first volley. Those who were there are indeed a group of very dedicated Americans who have much resolve.
TEXAS by Daryl Ware & Jim Phillips chago244@asapchoice.com
The Texas Faith & Freedom Rally was a testimony to what can transpire when just a few people come together to make something happen in defending principle and truth as well as recognizing, glorifying and honoring God as the Supreme Lawgiver. The crowd numbered about 150 and was excellent! Thank you Adam McManus for spreading the word on KSLR AM 630 and for addressing the crowd. Adam also organized a caravan to meet at his radio station in San Antonio for the drive up to Austin. Thanks to the local NBC affiliate for providing positive coverage of the rally.
Two street preacher/musicians, who "just happened" to be a few feet away in the capitol rotunda singing with their acoustic guitars, and who had no idea we'd be there, volunteered to lead us in a couple of praise numbers. God encouraged us. Many came up to us at the end of the rally to thank us. The folks had a good spirit and good groundwork was laid for future events. We've made a pretty good start.
Thank you Debbie Hopper for your tremendous leadership and the example you have given us in order for our dreams to become reality. And most of all, we thank the Creator and Sustainer of life, our Lord God for His blessings.
ALABAMA by MaryAnn Crum dcrum@powernet.org
Alabama's Ten Commandments Faith & Freedom Petition Rally was a success! We had about 130 people there from all points across the State – from Mobile to Huntsville. You need to realize we’ve been about rallied to death the past 4 months and I was thrilled with this turnout! Dr. Glenn from the Foundation of Moral Law was our opening speaker.
The crowd was very gracious, receptive and enthusiastic to every part of the Rally. They were such a blessing and they are ready to put themselves into action! The Lord had changed my whole "theme" the night before and He was faithful to carry me through the entire Rally with His change! The theme was that the people who had come were "SEEDS" that God was planting and they would bring in the harvest of petitions to present to Congress by planting seeds themselves. Then those seeds would do the same.
Rev. Patrick Graham from Moulton, AL and Word Alive Church gave a personal testimony of being a teacher in the education system and his battle for Religious Freedoms over allowing the students the right to read the Bible and pray. He told how the enemy didn't succeed as he then ran for Superintendent and was elected! The local station in Montgomery, WSFA Channel 12, interviewed me.
OKLAHOMA by Thom Holmes holmesta@hotmail.com
"Approximately 1000 Oklahomans gathered today on the steps of the Capitol to voice their opposition to recent federal court decisions limiting religious freedoms" was the opening statement of the upbeat news report given by the NBC TV affiliate in Oklahoma City, thankfully with a generous estimate of the crowd size. The CBS affiliate’s morning news anchor, Ed Murray, was the M.C. for the rally and their evening news report was also very good.
Bunny Chambers, President of Eagle Forum and also the state’s GOP national committeewoman made one statement that received a huge response from the crowd. She said, "I am so excited to see this large crowd here today and I WILL deliver your message to President Bush and to Vice President Cheney that Oklahomans want the Federal Courts to leave our religious freedoms alone!"
Almost 400 signatures were collected at the rally and a realistic estimate of the attendance was 600, including all the children present. Twenty-one people signed up to be Petition Drive Captains in their communities to pass out petitions and get others involved gathering signatures. Most of the 21 volunteers were from outlying parts of the state. Apparently they believed God had called them to be more than just spectators after driving an hour or more and now are His willing vessels for extended duty. We’re looking forward to holding even larger rallies after the new year!
WISCONSIN by Randy Hamby rhino1776@juno.com
We had about 150 folks come to the State Capitol on what was a somewhat blustery day. To me, the miracle of the whole thing was how quickly and how well various individuals representing several different organizations "came together" on this rally. The winds, which had been quite strong at times, quieted down during the rally and the Lord held off the rain until we were done, packed up and driving home!
The program was simple yet powerful. Two ministers and two state legislators gave short talks on our heritage, our challenge and our hope for victory. We also read a good letter faxed from U.S. Rep. Mark Green, a member of our Wisconsin delegation in Washington. Musically, we were gifted with a solo from one young lady and also had song sheets for the crowd so everyone could sing some patriotic songs!
One of the legislators, Sen. Tom Reynolds, announced a joint resolution he's introducing this week that reads, in part, "... the Wisconsin legislature hereby memorializes Congress to make such changes to the federal laws as are necessary to restrain the purview of the federal courts to the clear language of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as well as to their enumerated constitutional duties ..." We are very pleased with this effort by Senator Reynolds! This rally was a very good beginning to what we believe will be a tremendous result.
NEW JERSEY by Cal Wortman chwort@comcast.net
With just 8 days to prepare, I contacted everyone and every organization I could in the state and began to promote the rally. The response was great. People sent me home schooling lists and the NJ Family Policy Council sent the announcement to everyone on their list. Others who helped were the League of American Families, The American Family Assn. of NJ, and the Conservative Party of NJ. A terrific program came together in a very short time. God was good!
At the last minute, someone volunteered to provide special music, which was wonderful. Gerry Wisz of Founding Fathers Forum gave the opening remarks, followed by more music. Bob Moran, a 1983 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy gave a speech entitled "Fighting for Religious Freedom-It's an American Tradition" followed by Rev. Ken Klett a pastor from Middletown who gave us scriptural justification for resisting judicial tyranny.
About 80-100 attended with homemade banners and signs that were very well done. I know crowds were bigger in many state Capitols, but none more enthusiastic and I believe we have started something that will not go away. Our job in NJ now is to nurture these contacts and build a coalition in this state to pressure our legislators to enact righteous laws.
MONTANA by Rick Jore rickjore@hotmail.com
Even though it was quite cold with icy and snow packed roads, we enjoyed the company of approximately 160 people from all across Montana. With the cold weather we decided to have the rally inside the capitol building in the rotunda.
We had Governor and Leut. Governor candidates, Sen. Tom Keating and former Rep. Matt Brainard with us to speak. Also, I read a letter of support from Governor candidate Ken Miller. Pastor Harris Himes was bold yet kind in his challenge to Pastors and the need for them to teach the totality of Biblical principles and lead in the fashion of the preachers before and during the revolution of 1776.
Prof. Rob Natelson, law professor at the Univ. of Montana, 2000 candidate for Governor and founder of Montana Conservatives for the Rule of Law, provided us with a powerful written statement in support of the petition and Judge Moore. Rob conveyed to me over the phone and in his letter that he has the Ten Commandments on the wall of his office at the U of M and has publicly challenged anyone to sue him to take them down. Thanks to Judge Roy Moore for being faithful to God, his oath, and the people of Alabama and America.
TENNESSEE by Joan Castle DLC2586@aol.com
The highlight of our rally was that for about 90 minutes the "every day people" of Tennessee expressed themselves on the subject of Freedom of Religion (5 minutes or less per person). We learned that Tennessee now has 85 counties that are posting the 10 commandments in the council chambers!
A 7-year-old home-schooled boy had memorized and quoted Judge Roy Moore’s speech. The attendees were amazed and touched that he had placed in his heart the words of Judge Moore just like earlier generations put the words of George Washington in theirs. We were very excited about the turn out of 125-150 people given the short time we had to organize. They came from all over and they were very enthusiastic. A lot of volunteers offered to help in the future.
It was a touching afternoon with song, prayer and a group of women led prayer around each side of the capital. We were blessed by the people themselves and by their constant reinforcement that together we would stand in the gap until the others come to their senses. It was a great day in Tennessee!
PENNSYLVANIA by Jim Clymer jim@clymer.net
Approximately 90-100 people participated in the Faith and Freedom Rally on the steps of the Capitol in Harrisburg. We sang, prayed and heard a series of inspiring speakers. A Christian school association was holding a concert in the Capitol at the same time and many of them came to join us when they finished, increasing our numbers and signature totals beyond 100.
One of the speakers, evangelist Ron Susek, brought with him the Governor of the country of Chuuk in Micronesia, along with a couple of officials in his government. They are in the process of forming a government based on Christianity, seeking to establish the type of government we once had but have now largely lost. It was a beautiful lesson.
The largest of the area TV stations covered the rally and interviewed me. They included it on their 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM broadcasts. Although the turnout could have been better, it was a very successful event.
MISSOURI by Bev Ehlen cliftonehlen@hotmail.com
By the time the rally began inside the Missouri Capitol rotunda it appeared that the crowd, who filled the rotunda floor, lined the spiral staircases and the surrounding balconies would have to spill outside onto the capital steps! The final count totaled roughly 1000 Missourians who gathered to speak with a united voice that our religious liberties are no longer to be eroded away by an activist judiciary!
The atmosphere was electric. It was evident as Bob Wells, Executive Director of the NCRC, welcomed the assembly that this crowd was filled with patriotic fervor and ready for a change in this country's wayward direction. In spite of the crowd's enthusiasm the atmosphere of the rally was reverent and full of humility. Other speakers included Ron Calzone of Missouri First who spoke on States' Rights. Eric Enlow, a Missouri Attorney, spoke on Judicial Tyranny. And finally, Bill Federer, nationally known speaker, best-selling author and President of Amerisearch, Inc., enlightened the audience with a brilliant talk about the reasons why ALL Americans should desire the rule of law over the rule of judicial activists.
Each of the Missouri rally speakers was greeted with such enthusiasm and confirmation from the audience that it was difficult to complete the speeches due to frequent bursts of applause and ovations. The crowning achievement of the rally was the more than 750 signatures that were gathered on the spot. The rally was best summed by a statement overheard by one of the video tapers to the event. A woman in the balcony pointed down at the huge crowd and said to her four children: "Pay close attention to this children. History is being made!"
As you can see from these reports, God is blessing the efforts of His people as they are obedient to His Will. We encourage you to become involved in this petition drive so you too can experience some of these thrilling moments with your neighbors and friends.
Your willingness to take a leadership role in your local area to get the petition drive going strong will be greatly appreciated. With your help, together we can reach our goal of sending thousands of signatures to Congress in just a few short months.
When our country finally finds its way back to God, we pray He will bless her again like He did during the time of the founding fathers. An uplifting experience like attending these rallies makes us excited to do all we can to hasten the day that America will once again be "under God" and our nation can TRUTHFULLY say "in God we trust!"
Contact your state’s coordinator today and become involved in this 21st Century American Revolution!
The National Coalition to Restore the Constitution (NCRC) is a nationwide grassroots network of citizens committed to restoring the original meaning and spirit of the Constitution and the biblical principles upon which this nation was founded.
The purpose of the NCRC is to provide our members with the tools, resources, training, and strategies they need to win the battle for the minds and hearts of their neighbors and hold their elected representatives accountable to their oath of office at the local level.
The NCRC is strictly non-partisan. Our loyalty is to the Constitution and the principles that informed it, not to any political party. Every elected official, regardless of party affiliation, takes the same solemn oath before God to support and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic, and without exception, we fully expect them to do so.
The projects and programs of the National Coalition to Restore the Constitution (NCRC) will focus on four core objectives:
January 2004 Our nation is in the throes of a crisis of constitutional fidelity. The vast majority of elected and appointed representatives, at every level of government, have demonstrated that they are unwilling to abide by existing constitutional restraints and instead are systematically and routinely violating their oath by passing, enforcing and upholding a myriad of unconstitutional laws, regulations and judicial decrees that strip American’s of their most fundamental God-given rights.
To address the growing threats to our liberty, the NCRC will convene a Constitution in Crisis Summit with key leaders from a broad spectrum of Constitutionally-minded organizations in late January. The summit leaders will meet in the nation’s capitol to discuss the issues that most affect our liberty and our response to the governments increasing violations of our God-given rights.
We are in the finally stages of planning for this important meeting. More information will be coming soon, so check back often.
Omein!!! Amen!!! Halleluja!!!
CAIR will be mighty angry though. So will the ACLU and other Gomorah types.
Allah and Gomorah. It's almost poetry.
Allah and Gomorah. It's almost poetry.
The NCRC is strictly non-partisan.I understand the motivation behind statements of nonpartisanship, but the reality is, this movement has no chance at all if it's going to start at the beginning with an act of self-censorship.
If you can't come out and say the truth --- that its the Democratic Party that is behind the moves to dismember religious freedom in America --- then all you're doing is organizing another church picnic.
Here's wishing y'all a happy bake sale.
nonpartisanship,
its the Democratic Party that is behind the moves to dismember religious freedom in America
And it's the Republican Party that does little to resist the dismemberment.
You have a Republican in Chief and a Republican controlled Congress who have failed to attempt the following:
Article II,
Section 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them....
Article 3, Section 2, Clause 2
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
Over the last 200 years, Congress has exercised this authority to except certain areas from the jurisdiction of the federal court system. In Turner vs. Bank of North America 4 Dall. (4 U.S.,8(1799)),the Supreme Court concluded that the federal courts derive their judicial power from Congress, not the Constitution.
In Cary vs. Curtis 3 How, (44 U.S.), 236 (1845), a statute made final the decision of the secretary of the Treasury in certain tax deductions. The statute was challenged as an unconstitutional deprivation of the judicial power of the courts. The Supreme Court concluded that the jurisdiction of the federal courts (inferior to the Supreme Court) was in the sole power of Congress.
In Sheldon vs. Sill 8 How (49 U.S. 441 (1850)), involved the validity of the assignee clause of the Judicial Act of 1789 restricting such action to establish federal court jurisdictions. The Supreme Court sustained the power of Congress to limit the jurisdiction of the inferior federal courts.
In Ex Parte McCardle 6 Wall. (73 U.S.) 318 (1868), the Supreme Court accepted review on certiorari of a denial of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus by the circuit court. Congress, fearful the Supreme Court would honor the writ, passed a law repealing the act which authorized the appeal. The Supreme Court dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.
In Lauf vs. E.G. Shinner & Co. 303 U.S. 323, 330 (1938), the Supreme Court upheld the power of Congress to define and limit the jurisdiction of the inferior courts of the United States in the form restrictions on the issuance of injunctions in labor disputes under the Norris-La Guardia Act of 1932.
In Lockerty v. Phillips 319 U.S. 182 (1943), Congress provided for a special court to appeal price control decisions under the Emergency Price Control Act of 1942. The Supreme Court sustained this restriction.
In the 107th Congress (2001-2002), Congress used the authority of Article III, Section 2, clause 2 on 12 occasions to limit the jurisdiction of the federal courts. Article III, Section 2 - The Washington Times: Editorials/OP-ED
Congress, the Court, and the Constitution contains congressional testimony presented 6 years ago, describing the means Congress has to force the federal judicary into compliance with the U.S. Constitution.
Support and Defend: How Congress Can Save the Constitution from the Supreme Court much shorter version of the above.
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