Andre Carson: “I need no sanction from the United States Congress to confirm my abiding faith and do not need congressional authority…”

“I need no sanction from the United States Congress to confirm my abiding faith and do not need congressional authority to pray when and where I desire. The unanimous Declaration of Independence of July 1776 says that when in the course of human events, to paraphrase it, it becomes necessary to exercise a vote of solemn conscience to uphold and defend the Constitution, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires a declaration of the causes which impel the stand, that vote, in the service of the oath of this high office of our Congress. Our vote to uphold what our forefathers so eloquently wrote, that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. These are the very first words of the very first change of the fundamental document at the root, the base of our scheme of government: the first amendment to the United States Constitution. Much has been said in support of this proposal to amend, that it will redress and resolve a crisis endangering religious freedom. It is also urged that our moral decline or even school gun violence will be arrested by amending the Constitution. Yet crisis often helps faith to flower. In this time of asserted crises our citizen of all walks of life are everywhere engaged in religious pursuits, praying, worshipping, building churches, helping those less fortunate to find comfort and faith and nourishment.”