Political Quotes

“it is my belief that prayer is nothing less than heartfelt communication with our Creator. I believe in the power of prayer and the reverence for prayer and the sanctity of prayer. That is why I believe any debate on prayer and religious freedom deserves more than a 40-minute debate on a suspension calendar after no committee hearings and with so few Members of this House even present. Mr. Speaker, I have great respect for my colleagues, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bonilla) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), and their genuine concerns, but it is the process of handling this resolution, however, on which I wish to comment. In my opinion, the subject matter of prayer and religious freedom deserves a full and open debate and Committee on the Judiciary hearings and on this floor. To do any less potentially undermines the importance of the first freedom guaranteed in the first 16 words of the Bill of Rights, the freedom of religion. Let us also recognize that the Constitution, in Article III, makes it clear that the Supreme Court, not the Congress, has the power to determine what is or is not constitutional.”