Orrin Hatch: “last week families across the Nation gathered in gratitude to celebrate Thanksgiving--the holiday we commemorate in…”

“last week families across the Nation gathered in gratitude to celebrate Thanksgiving--the holiday we commemorate in remembrance of our Pilgrim ancestors. With humble appreciation, we venerate the sacrifice of America's early settlers. We remember their fortitude in leaving family and home to colonize a new wilderness. Facing disease, starvation, and even death, these brave men and women endured tremendous hardships to secure the blessings of religious liberty. Freedom of religion--so precious and so prized by our Pilgrim forebears--is the legacy we enjoy as a result of their sacrifice. Today, I wish to honor the Pilgrims' legacy by speaking once again on the topic of religious liberty. Over the past several weeks, I have addressed this subject at length. In so doing, I have explained the critical importance of religious freedom and its centrality to our Nation's founding. I have also debunked the erroneous notion that religious liberty is primarily a private matter that has little place in the public domain. More recently, I have detailed the many ways freedom of conscience is under attack--both at home and abroad. You might wonder why I devote so much time and attention to this vital subject. After all, this is the seventh in a series of speeches I have given on the topic of religious liberty. When there are myriad other issues facing our country, why do I feel so compelled to speak out about religious freedom? Because, Mr.…”