James A. Leach: “few issues are more difficult for a legislative body to deal with than those that affect religion. At issue today is the…”

“few issues are more difficult for a legislative body to deal with than those that affect religion. At issue today is the question of whether the First Amendment to the Constitution should, in effect, be modified. The approach brought forward today represents an attempt to ensure that the faith which founds our lives as individuals and the religious values that bind us together as a society can have free expression. This is an honorable and most worthy motive and the only credible grounds for opposition must be based on the assumption that the First Amendment to the Constitution crafted by Jefferson and Madison is a greater protection of prayer and worship than the approach brought before us today. The question this House must answer is thus whether expressions of faith in America will be freer with or without this proposed amendment. My view is that the Constitution as it currently is written, which carries with it certain court decisions which at times are perplexing, nevertheless better protects freedom of religion than the well-meaning but potentially counterproductive language of the proposed amendment.”