Sanford Bishop: “I have to point out in response to the gentleman from Florida that it is clear from the wording of the first sentence of…”

“I have to point out in response to the gentleman from Florida that it is clear from the wording of the first sentence of this amendment that everything that follows is prefaced as its purpose upon securing the people's right to acknowledge God. This is a technical amendment. I am trying to help the committee's amendment and the Istook amendment by at least making sure that no one is discriminated against, that any religious tradition or belief is protected, not just those people who want to acknowledge God, whom I would want to acknowledge, but there are Muslims, there are Taoists, there are Shintos, there are Hindus, there are Buddhists, there are Zoroasters. All of these religions deserve the same protections if they are practiced by people who have the protections of our Constitution. Unless this language is changed, I believe that this amendment will be fatally flawed, because it is targeted solely at those people who believe in God. All I want to do through my amendment is to broaden it to the point where it protects the freedom of religion, whatever that religious tradition might be, whether it is the practice of worshiping God, as I do, or Allah or any of the other of the world's recognized religions.”