[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S4253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ROLE OF RELIGION IN AMERICAN SOCIETY

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, the State of Maryland is very 
fortunate to have many churches and religious institutions which serve 
families and individuals with special needs. I am pleased that the 
world headquarters for the Seventh-day Adventist Church is located in 
Maryland. On March 10, more than 500 community service directors and 
volunteers of the Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 
convened in Hyattsville, MD, under the leadership of Pastor Robert 
Booker. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Clarence E. Hodges, 
vice-president of the North American Division of the General Conference 
of Seventh-day Adventists. He spoke eloquently on the role of religion 
in American society. I want to share with my colleagues some of his 
thoughts. Dr. Hodges began his remarks by speaking of the freedom of 
religion which the United States enjoys.

       When freedom of religion is combined with other economic 
     and social freedoms, society flourishes and the quality of 
     life is enhanced for all citizens. The United States has the 
     model which must be protected. Religious institutions stay 
     out of government and governmental institutions stay out of 
     religion while both employ their special approaches to 
     advance the interests of society and the individual.

  In his remarks, Dr. Hodges highlighted the vital role religion plays 
in our country, not only in meeting spiritual needs, but also in 
meeting the day to day needs in our communities. As he points out: 
Where would we be without their immense contributions?

       What would it cost for government to replace all church 
     operated charitable organizations, educational institutions, 
     hospitals, nursing homes, welfare centers, soup kitchens, and 
     other services provided to individuals?

  And as he pointed out in his concluding comments, the contributions 
that people of faith and religious-based organizations are making to 
communities are needed now more than ever, in these times of declining 
spending at all levels of government.

       The family, the basic unit of society, is coming apart. 
     Divorces are at record high levels. First time marriages are 
     being delayed. Babies are born to babies. Children are being 
     raised in single parent families. Only nine percent of the 
     children who live with both parents are poor while forty-six 
     percent of the children who live with only one parent are 
     poor. Since 1970, out of wedlock births have tripled. Child 
     abuse and neglect contribute to the death of twelve children 
     each day. Three hundred fifty thousand children between eight 
     and eighteen years of age are put out of their homes each 
     year. Homeless and runaway children are exploited by 
     perverted adults for money and sick pleasures. The foster 
     care system which is designed to provide protection and hope 
     for neglected children actually feeds thousands into the 
     corrections system as felons each year. Mothers are battered 
     in front of and with their children and many see no other 
     option but to suffer through this kind of domestic violence 
     year after year. But your services are making a difference. 
     We will never know the full value or impact of your services. 
     Our governmental agencies at all levels and all tax payers 
     appreciate what you are doing in response to human needs, 
     family problems, and natural disasters. Since you serve 
     anyone in need, without strings attached, and since your 
     clients include all races, cultures and religious groups, I 
     am pleased to congratulate you for doing the work of your 
     Lord in an outstanding manner. You are ready for welfare 
     reform, changes in Medicaid, nutrition programs, and the 
     various block grant proposals. Thanks be to our founding 
     fathers for their vision of religious freedom.
       We live in a world where there is no suffering-free zone. 
     We can relocate to beautiful communities but there is no 
     comfort zone. We can run but we cannot hide. We can have 
     creature comforts and luxuries far beyond our needs but we 
     will have no comfort zone until we have reached out to all in 
     need.
       What is the value of a good neighbor? What is the value of 
     the Good Samaritan? What is the value of religion? What is 
     the value of religious freedom? The value of mankind, that's 
     the answer. May we and America forever place a high value on 
     all our freedoms and on all mankind.
  I believe all of my colleagues will find food for thought in Dr. 
Hodges' comments.

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