Mark Souder: “it is kind of ironic we have this religious debate from time to time here, and when we stand in the House well the only…”

“it is kind of ironic we have this religious debate from time to time here, and when we stand in the House well the only lawgiver facing us is Moses, whose head is turned right towards the Speaker; and above the Speaker's head it says, ``In God we trust.'' It is clear what Congress intended. We open in the morning with a prayer, and clearly Congress may need prayer more than the schools but I think it is a double standard for us to say these things cannot go on in schools but they can go on here in Congress. Prayer is not for victory. Hopefully everybody understands that in these football games it is not for victory; unless maybe with the exception of Notre Dame, God does not take sides in football games. In general, however, what is disappointing to me is that apparently if one uses our Lord and Saviour's name Jesus Christ in vain it is allowed, but if one uses it in a biblical sense it is not. If I would refer to God damning people because of their behavior, that would be wrong but if one uses it in blasphemy, that is free speech. Free speech is a one-directional thing. How can it possibly hurt the young students at a football game to acknowledge that there is a Creator; that there is someone higher than them; that hatred is wrong; that violence in an extreme way is wrong? How can the humility that comes from the Bible be wrong at any moment, whether it is a football game or in school?”