Joe Pitts: “the first amendment does not guarantee us freedom from religion in government or anywhere else, but freedom of religion.…”

“the first amendment does not guarantee us freedom from religion in government or anywhere else, but freedom of religion. That is an important difference. It offers the people the ability to determine the role of religion that takes place in society. But as the issue stands now, the courts, elected by no one, can determine the time, place and content of all religious displays at every level of government. They have even prevented a 4-year-old in New Jersey from giving his classmates pencils that happen to say ``Jesus loves the little children'' on them. The courts have embarked on a crusade to save us all from religion. The sad thing is that this debate is over religion in public life and has moved away from what the Founders intended. The Founders understood that religion, like all other ideas, should be thoroughly debated and considered as part of representative government. It should not be used to impose a lifestyle on anyone, but should play a role in our discussion. That is democracy. Congress can and should take action, before this country is ruled by judicial fiat instead of the consent of the people.”