[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING NATIONAL NEED FOR RECONCILIATION AND HEALING AND 
                 RECOMMENDING A CALL FOR DAYS OF PRAYER

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 29, 1999

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, last week the House failed to suspend the 
rules and agree to a resolution that would have recommended that our 
nation's leaders call for a day of prayer, fasting, and humiliation 
before God. The Wichita Eagle, a leading Kansas newspaper, asked the 
Kansas U.S. Representatives to provide a statement explaining their 
votes on this proposal. I want to take this opportunity to include my 
response letter in the Record.

     Cathy Wilfong,
     Wichita Eagle.
       Dear Ms. Wilfong: On June 29, 1999, I was asked to vote on 
     House Concurrent Resolution 94, a resolution asking that 
     Congress ``. . . call the people they serve to observe, a day 
     of solemn prayer, fasting, and humiliation before God.'' I 
     voted against the resolution. Here's why:
       As a citizen, I value my own religious freedom so very much 
     that I would be insulted if Congress told me how to pray, or 
     how to honor and how to reconcile my relationship with God. 
     In fact, our country was formed by people who came here 
     seeking religious freedom and seeking to escape the tyranny 
     of a king in England who told them how to pray and what kind 
     of religion they would practice. One of the wonderful things 
     about our country is that every person has an opportunity to 
     practice (or not practice) religion exactly as he/she wishes.
       For me, religion is an intensely personal thing. I would 
     never presume to tell somebody else how to pray or practice 
     religion. And I would not appreciate anybody doing that to 
     me.
       I was struck by the language in the House Resolution which 
     stated that ``. . . it is the necessary duty of the people of 
     this Nation not to only to humbly offer up our prayers and 
     needs to Almighty God, but also in a solemn and public manner 
     to confess our shortcomings . . .''
       I invite the authors of this resolution to read Matthew 
     6:5-6. According to my Bible, Jesus said: ``And when you 
     pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to 
     stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, 
     that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have 
     received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room 
     and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; 
     and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.''
       Just maybe our founding fathers had it right. In matters of 
     faith, perhaps it is best that people have the freedom to 
     practice religion as they wish without instruction from their 
     government or from Congress.
           Very truly yours,
                                                     Dennis Moore,
                                               Member of Congress.

     

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