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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Our True Christian™ ally in Congress, J. Randy Forbes (R-Virginia), is at it again, and he needs your support! You may remember Randy from one or more of the following Godly initiatives:
House Continuing Resolution 274 has languished in committee since last June due to the persecution of the Democrat-Socialist Party. Here is the original press release from shortly after the Godly Congressman introduced the bill:
My heart was filled with joy today when I read that, thanks to the mandate given to Godly Republicans in the November 2010 landslide election, Congressman Forbes' bill is finally making it to the full House for a vote!
Prayer Warriors, put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-13) and pick up your swords (Hebrews 4:12). These are the spoils of our righteous victory in November, so let's not let this slip by while we have the chance! Pray for Congressman Forbes, and pray for further victories in November 2012 so we can see more legislation like this see the light of day!
Our True Christian™ ally in Congress, J. Randy Forbes (R-Virginia), is at it again, and he needs your support! You may remember Randy from one or more of the following Godly initiatives:
- Legally designating the United States of America as a Judeo-Christian nation and declaring that religion forms "the inseparable foundation for America’s representative processes, legal systems, and societal structures" (H.R. 397, 111th Congress);
- Legally declaring the "Holy Bible is God's Word" (H.Con.Res. 34, 111th Congress); and
House Continuing Resolution 274 has languished in committee since last June due to the persecution of the Democrat-Socialist Party. Here is the original press release from shortly after the Godly Congressman introduced the bill:
Forbes Introduces Resolution Reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the National Motto
Resolution Encourages the Display of “In God We Trust” in All Public Buildings and Government Institutions
Washington, May 6, 2010 - Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) announced today that he has introduced a bipartisan resolution, H.CON.RES.274, reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States. In addition, the Resolution supports and encourages the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.
“The essence of our nation is that rights belong to the individual, and that our rights are God-given and not granted by the government. The religious underpinnings of our nation are not evident merely because of the existence of a phrase ‘In God We Trust.’ Rather, the very foundation upon which our nation was built was a trust in God,” said Forbes.
“In God We Trust” has been a keystone phrase used throughout our nation’s history, from Presidential proclamations, to engravings in both the House and Senate chambers, to the national anthem, to the oath taken by all federal employees. In 1956, Congress enacted a federal law officially declaring “In God We Trust” as the national motto.
“Over the past several years, there have been growing efforts to strip references to America’s religious heritage, including our national motto, from federal buildings, documents and ceremonies across the nation. But our laws and our Constitution do not require exclusion of God from matters of government and public life. This Resolution seeks to reaffirm the foundation upon which our nation was built and acknowledges that trust in God is embedded into the fabric of society and history in the United States,” said Forbes.
The text of the “In God We Trust” Resolution is available here.
Congressman Forbes is founder and chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, a bipartisan group of over 60 members of Congress whose purpose is to protect America’s religious heritage and the right of all Americans to pray according to their faith. Forbes, along with Members of the Prayer Caucus, led efforts to ensure that “In God We Trust” was included in the newly constructed Capitol Visitor Center after it had been removed and the national motto incorrectly noted as “E Pluribus Unum.”
Resolution Encourages the Display of “In God We Trust” in All Public Buildings and Government Institutions
Washington, May 6, 2010 - Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) announced today that he has introduced a bipartisan resolution, H.CON.RES.274, reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States. In addition, the Resolution supports and encourages the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.
“The essence of our nation is that rights belong to the individual, and that our rights are God-given and not granted by the government. The religious underpinnings of our nation are not evident merely because of the existence of a phrase ‘In God We Trust.’ Rather, the very foundation upon which our nation was built was a trust in God,” said Forbes.
“In God We Trust” has been a keystone phrase used throughout our nation’s history, from Presidential proclamations, to engravings in both the House and Senate chambers, to the national anthem, to the oath taken by all federal employees. In 1956, Congress enacted a federal law officially declaring “In God We Trust” as the national motto.
“Over the past several years, there have been growing efforts to strip references to America’s religious heritage, including our national motto, from federal buildings, documents and ceremonies across the nation. But our laws and our Constitution do not require exclusion of God from matters of government and public life. This Resolution seeks to reaffirm the foundation upon which our nation was built and acknowledges that trust in God is embedded into the fabric of society and history in the United States,” said Forbes.
The text of the “In God We Trust” Resolution is available here.
Congressman Forbes is founder and chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, a bipartisan group of over 60 members of Congress whose purpose is to protect America’s religious heritage and the right of all Americans to pray according to their faith. Forbes, along with Members of the Prayer Caucus, led efforts to ensure that “In God We Trust” was included in the newly constructed Capitol Visitor Center after it had been removed and the national motto incorrectly noted as “E Pluribus Unum.”
U.S. Rep. Forbes' 'In God We Trust' bill sent to full House
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 18, 2011
U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes' bill to reaffirm "In God We Trust" as the national motto and encourage its display in all public schools was approved by a House committee Thursday after a sharp partisan debate.
Opponents argued it goes too far in pushing one religious belief, while supporters said it acknowledges what they consider God's role in the success of the United States.
The legislation, approved in a voice vote by the Judiciary Committee, is similar to a bill that Forbes, a Chesapeake Republican, unsuccessfully proposed in the previous session when the House had a Democratic majority. The current measure was sent to the full House, now controlled by Republicans. It has 64 co-sponsors - 60 Republicans and four Democrats.
Forbes said the legislation is needed to combat a concerted effort by some to drive all references to God out of public institutions.
"There has been a chilling effect where schoolchildren, school districts, where individuals in federal buildings didn't know if they could post 'In God We Trust' on their walls," Forbes said.
He reminded the committee that he and other legislators had to intervene two years ago when planners of the new Capitol Visitor Center didn't include "In God We Trust" as the national motto, using instead "E Pluribus Unum," Latin for "out of many, one." Within a year, "In God We Trust" was chiseled into the center's ceiling beam.
Several Republicans on the committee backed Forbes, saying God had a hand in founding the United States and is responsible for the nation's success.
"I believe the Founding Fathers were moved around like men on a chessboard put in place at that time so the world could have America," said U.S. Rep. Steve King of Iowa, a bill co-sponsor.
If references to God are discouraged in public buildings, King said, "in the end, it wouldn't be an agnostic nation, it would be an atheistic nation imposed by the minds of people who revert to the hard-core left."
U.S. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana said the "hand of providence" has guided America.
"I think God is, and he rewards those, including nations, who earnestly seek him," he said.
The most strident of the Democratic legislators who spoke out against Forbes' bill was another Hampton Roads lawmaker: U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott.
The Newport News Democrat, whose district is next to Forbes', said the bill violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion."
"First, it prefers religion over non-religion, which is a violation," Scott said. "Furthermore, it endorses a specific type of religion, monotheism, over other religions, which is a violation.
"Families entrust public schools with the public education of their children but condition their trust on the understanding that the classroom will not purposefully be used to advance religious views that may conflict with the private beliefs of the student and his or her family," Scott said.
Forbes countered that the motto has been used for generations on coins and currency and public buildings and was first approved as the national motto by Congress and President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956.
"To suggest that we should not encourage that 'In God We Trust' be on our buildings, perhaps our classrooms, at the same time we mandate that every one of those students use this dollar bill with "In God We Trust" to buy their lunches... is an argument that is just a bridge too far," Forbes said.
Scott said court cases have found that the earlier uses of the motto have proved over time to be 'de minimis' - meaning they have little impact in promoting religion. But the legislation, which forcefully promotes the use of the motto, highlighting its religious significance, will weaken that defense, he said.
"While the language of the national motto in and of itself may be de minimis, this resolution certainly is not," Scott said.
Congress and the country face major economic and social problems that need attention, in addition to the catastrophe in Japan, Scott said, "yet instead of facing these realities or dealing with any of these difficult issues... we are debating whether or not to affirm and proliferate a motto that was adopted in 1956 and is under no direct threat of attack."
Forbes told the committee that he listened to Scott's arguments but disagrees and "didn't see that in the court decisions." Both men have law degrees and have practiced law.
If the measure passes the House, it still is subject to approval by the Senate, which has a Democratic majority.
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 18, 2011
U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes' bill to reaffirm "In God We Trust" as the national motto and encourage its display in all public schools was approved by a House committee Thursday after a sharp partisan debate.
Opponents argued it goes too far in pushing one religious belief, while supporters said it acknowledges what they consider God's role in the success of the United States.
The legislation, approved in a voice vote by the Judiciary Committee, is similar to a bill that Forbes, a Chesapeake Republican, unsuccessfully proposed in the previous session when the House had a Democratic majority. The current measure was sent to the full House, now controlled by Republicans. It has 64 co-sponsors - 60 Republicans and four Democrats.
Forbes said the legislation is needed to combat a concerted effort by some to drive all references to God out of public institutions.
"There has been a chilling effect where schoolchildren, school districts, where individuals in federal buildings didn't know if they could post 'In God We Trust' on their walls," Forbes said.
He reminded the committee that he and other legislators had to intervene two years ago when planners of the new Capitol Visitor Center didn't include "In God We Trust" as the national motto, using instead "E Pluribus Unum," Latin for "out of many, one." Within a year, "In God We Trust" was chiseled into the center's ceiling beam.
Several Republicans on the committee backed Forbes, saying God had a hand in founding the United States and is responsible for the nation's success.
"I believe the Founding Fathers were moved around like men on a chessboard put in place at that time so the world could have America," said U.S. Rep. Steve King of Iowa, a bill co-sponsor.
If references to God are discouraged in public buildings, King said, "in the end, it wouldn't be an agnostic nation, it would be an atheistic nation imposed by the minds of people who revert to the hard-core left."
U.S. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana said the "hand of providence" has guided America.
"I think God is, and he rewards those, including nations, who earnestly seek him," he said.
The most strident of the Democratic legislators who spoke out against Forbes' bill was another Hampton Roads lawmaker: U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott.
The Newport News Democrat, whose district is next to Forbes', said the bill violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion."
"First, it prefers religion over non-religion, which is a violation," Scott said. "Furthermore, it endorses a specific type of religion, monotheism, over other religions, which is a violation.
"Families entrust public schools with the public education of their children but condition their trust on the understanding that the classroom will not purposefully be used to advance religious views that may conflict with the private beliefs of the student and his or her family," Scott said.
Forbes countered that the motto has been used for generations on coins and currency and public buildings and was first approved as the national motto by Congress and President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956.
"To suggest that we should not encourage that 'In God We Trust' be on our buildings, perhaps our classrooms, at the same time we mandate that every one of those students use this dollar bill with "In God We Trust" to buy their lunches... is an argument that is just a bridge too far," Forbes said.
Scott said court cases have found that the earlier uses of the motto have proved over time to be 'de minimis' - meaning they have little impact in promoting religion. But the legislation, which forcefully promotes the use of the motto, highlighting its religious significance, will weaken that defense, he said.
"While the language of the national motto in and of itself may be de minimis, this resolution certainly is not," Scott said.
Congress and the country face major economic and social problems that need attention, in addition to the catastrophe in Japan, Scott said, "yet instead of facing these realities or dealing with any of these difficult issues... we are debating whether or not to affirm and proliferate a motto that was adopted in 1956 and is under no direct threat of attack."
Forbes told the committee that he listened to Scott's arguments but disagrees and "didn't see that in the court decisions." Both men have law degrees and have practiced law.
If the measure passes the House, it still is subject to approval by the Senate, which has a Democratic majority.
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