Charles T. Canady: “As we have discussed repeatedly throughout this debate, those of us who are in support of the underlying proposal find…”

“As we have discussed repeatedly throughout this debate, those of us who are in support of the underlying proposal find no fault with the first amendment to the United States Constitution. We believe that the framers of the first amendment were wise in the words they chose. The problem we have is with the interpretation that the courts and various other government officials have placed on those words of the first amendment. Now, the truth of the matter is, if the motion to recommit were to be adopted, it would simply endorse the status quo. It would simply endorse all of the decisions that have trampled on the free exercise of religion in this country. It would endorse a situation which we are faced with in this country today where students giving commencement addresses are faced with the prospect of being fined by a Federal court if they mention the name of God. That is what is going on. That is what courts in this land are doing, and it is not right. It is not what the Founders intended. It is not what the framers of the first amendment intended. It is wrong, it is an injustice, and we have a responsibility to correct it.”