Ross Spano: “I happen to be a Christian, and I am grateful. I am grateful to have been born in a nation where my beliefs and those of…”

“I happen to be a Christian, and I am grateful. I am grateful to have been born in a nation where my beliefs and those of every other American are legally protected by our Constitution. It is no coincidence that the very First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees religious liberty. Our Nation was settled by men and women from all over the world with divergent beliefs and conviction. We were Catholics, Puritans, Lutherans, Jews, Baptists, Hindus, Anglicans, Quakers, and Muslims. This rich and diverse cultural melting pot was the soil in which the guarantees of the First Amendment were planted, sprouted, and grew very strong. And over these last 230 years, the freedom of Americans to worship and believe as their conscience and their God dictates has become deeply and firmly rooted in our Nations's heritage, laws, and jurisprudence. But although deeply rooted, I fear we have forgotten and neglected its fundamental importance. The First Amendment was adopted long ago, but freedom--freedom--is always a new idea. Coretta Scott King wisely said: ``Freedom is never really won. You earn it and win it in every generation.'' H.R. 5 is bad for freedom. You see, it would immediately expose churches, religious schools, and universities and faith-based organizations to legal liability for simply following their earnest beliefs.…”