Political Quotes

“The first freedom mentioned in our Constitution is the free exercise of religion. The Founders understood the universal right to seek God in accordance with one's conscience and, also, that many sought refuge on these shores because of religious persecution. Pilgrims, Puritans, Quakers, Catholics--these were just some of the groups who fled persecution. In the old country, in the old days, exercising one's faith could result in lost business opportunities and other forms of discrimination. Some faced imprisonment and even death. The Founders knew that history and sought to guarantee that this new Federal Government would not allow such injustice. Regrettably, Mr. Speaker, today we are seeing laws, rules, executive orders, and court rulings at different levels of government force some people to choose between following their consciences and pursuing their livelihoods. Such a choice is exactly what the penal laws of 18th century Ireland presented to Catholics in that country: abandon your faith or face severe hardship. Forcing such a choice is at odds with explicit, fundamental, constitutional liberties and basic human rights. The intolerance of religious freedom will not--cannot--stand in our Nation. ____________________”