Ernest Istook: “I think it is time to restore some perspective on what we are discussing and what we are not. This is the text of the…”

“I think it is time to restore some perspective on what we are discussing and what we are not. This is the text of the Religious Freedom Amendment. ``To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: Neither the United States nor any State shall establish any official religion, but the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed. Neither the United States nor any State shall require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity, prescribe school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion.'' That is what is at issue before us, and people that do not like it seem to fall into, they say, one of two categories. Either those who say there is no problem or those who say, well, there is just no solution. Those who say there is no problem, I have gotten very tired of hearing people say, oh, they already have prayers in school; because we have got math tests, we have got prayer in school; or because we do have Bible clubs that are permitted to meet on school grounds. Ladies and gentlemen, read the law. Read what the Supreme Court said. They are permitted to meet on school grounds before school or after school.”