[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H3619-H3620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 2003

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today is the National Day 
of Prayer. On the first Thursday of each May, people across our Nation 
gather together to pray to the God who is the very foundation of this 
great country. Without any court challenge or liberal protestors to 
avoid, praying Americans meet on courthouse steps, town squares, and in 
local parks to praise God for his blessing and ask God to continue to 
bless America.
  This year I can assure my colleagues that millions of prayers will be 
offered in appreciation for our men and women in uniform who have paid 
the highest price for our freedom. Yet even as we stand today in prayer 
for our heroes, there are those who stand against the freedom that we 
enjoy.
  Even though the Founding Fathers spoke of ``Nature's God'' and of the 
``Creator'' in the Declaration of Independence, the Federal courts are 
increasingly trying to drive every vestige of faith from public life. 
Yesterday, April 30, was the most recent example, coming from the 
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. And I will read from the Boston Globe, 
which said, ``Judges bar prayer at public colleges. In a precedent-
setting ruling against prayer at a State college, a Federal appeals 
court has barred the Virginia Military Institute from writing and 
reciting a prayer before cadets eat their evening meals.''

[[Page H3620]]

  In addition, Mr. Speaker, the Citadel, down in South Carolina, is 
reviewing its policy since that Federal court ruling. And also, Mr. 
Speaker, I hate to even mention this, but the academy in Annapolis is 
also reviewing its policy. The American Civil Liberties Union of 
Maryland is calling on the academy to review its practices of leading 
the students in prayer.
  Mr. Speaker, let me also share with my colleagues that it was just a 
few months ago that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to have 
``under God'' taken from our Pledge of Allegiance.
  How much longer will we stand by and allow others to ignore the very 
God upon whom our Nation was founded? Our Constitution demands the 
freedom to worship freely; and our future leaders, our men and women in 
the military academies across the country, are now being denied the 
very freedom that many have died to ensure for all of us.
  Mr. Speaker, it is not just sad; it is completely detestable. And on 
this National Day of Prayer, let us honor our heroes, those who have 
returned home and those who sacrificed their lives, by standing against 
those liberals who would seek to challenge their God-given right to 
pray for a living Lord.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I believe this quote says it best, and it 
comes from the days of Jefferson and Adams. And the quote is this, Mr. 
Speaker: ``Religion can survive in the absence of freedom. But freedom 
without religion is dangerous and unstable.''
  Mr. Speaker, I have three military bases in my district, Camp 
Lejeune, Cherry Point, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. I want to 
close by asking God to please bless our men and women in uniform and 
their families, and the families of those who have lost loved ones 
defending freedom in this country. I close by asking three times, 
``God, please, God, please, God, please continue to bless America.

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