[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 11, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H15233-H15234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTMAS AND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 847) recognizing the importance of
Christmas and the Christian faith, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 847
Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to
Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is
celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United
States and the world;
Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in
the United States, making Christianity the religion of over
three-fourths of the American population;
Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians
throughout the world, making Christianity the largest
religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of
the world population;
Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed
greatly to the development of western civilization;
Whereas the United States, being founded as a
constitutional republic in the traditions of western
civilization, finds much in its history that points observers
back to its Judeo-Christian roots;
Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American
Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the
birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;
Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a
recognition of God's redemption, mercy, and Grace; and
Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the
United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas
as a time to serve others: Now, therefore be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great
religions of the world;
(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the
United States and worldwide;
(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical
importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;
(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians
and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in
the formation of the western civilization;
(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against
Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and
(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians
and Christians throughout the world.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Meeks) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.
Let me first thank our colleague from Iowa, Steve King, for
introducing this important and timely resolution.
Mr. Speaker, along with people of other faiths, our Christian friends
and neighbors around the world mark this time of year as a special
festive season. As Kwanzaa approaches and Hanukkah draws to a close, it
is notably the Christmas season. We are in the midst of Advent, and
this discussion today is bracketed by two holidays observed by many
Catholics who make up the majority of Christiandom: the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception, and Our Lady of Guadalupe. There are
approximately 2 billion Christians, making Christianity the largest
religion of the world and the faith of about one-third of the global
population.
On December 25, Christians will celebrate Jesus the Christ, whom they
have embraced as their savior. For believers, this holiday is a
recognition of God's redemption, mercy, and grace. For Christians and
non-Christians alike, Christmas is also a time to serve others. The
celebration of Christmas requires devotion to faith, community, and
family, truly universal values we all can share.
It is both fitting and important for the United States House of
Representatives to mark this event. This legislation expresses the deep
respect we feel for Christians in the United States and throughout the
world. The House must reject bigotry and persecution directed against
Christians, both in the United States and worldwide. We must affirm the
values of religious freedom in this country and abroad. I strongly
support this legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased, as original cosponsor, to rise in support
of this
[[Page H15234]]
timely resolution recognizing the significance of Christmas and the
contribution of the Christian faith to the United States and to other
nations throughout the world. While Christmas does not have the same
religious meaning for all citizens, it nevertheless invokes the values
of friendship and goodwill that are common to all nations.
December 25, or Christmas, as we say, commemorates a birth that
influenced the world in an unmatched way. Christ's life, his teachings,
his example, his sacrifice, and his death brought to life one of the
great religions of the world, one which underpins the foundations of
democracy in our own United States of America and even other countries
throughout the world.
Even in complex times such as those in which we live at this time,
the simple central message of Christianity endures: ``love thy neighbor
as thyself.''
For many, Christmas invokes the images of Santa Claus and exchanging
of gifts. This comes from the patron St. Nicholas, who helped poor
children hundreds of years ago by giving them presents. But
Christianity is more. It is the birth of the Christian religion and
commemorates the birth of its founder, Jesus, on Christmas day.
At its core are the fundamental important ideals of ``Peace on Earth,
Goodwill toward men.'' The poor, the suffering, those left alone or far
from their families, and those departed who were dear to us whom we
remember from time to time are all recognized in this great religion of
Christianity, and, through it, all have been offered hope.
At this time of year in this season of Christmas, I ask my colleagues
to join in supporting House Resolution 847 introduced by our colleague,
Mr. King of Iowa, recognizing the importance of Christmas and the
Christian faith.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS of New York. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Gingrey) such time as he may consume.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I
rise today in support of House Resolution 847, which recognizes the
importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.
While there may be some who bristle at the idea of the House of
Representatives considering this resolution or any similar resolution,
I would note that though the first amendment states that the Congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, the first
amendment also states that the Congress shall make no law prohibiting
the free exercise thereof.
Mr. Speaker, our Founders had the foresight to realize that a state-
run church of America would do more harm to the perseverance of faith
and the hearts of our citizenry, and it would certainly lead to
irreconcilable division. However, at the same time, the Founders and
writers of the Constitution also recognized that the success of this
great American experiment, this historic social contract, was
contingent upon a moral and a religious people and the recognition that
we had inalienable rights, because those rights are given to us by our
Creator. If these rights are given to us by a Creator, then no human
being can take them away. And this is the foundation of our system of
justice, the foundation of our American society.
And so today we take just a few minutes to consider this resolution
which respects the faith and the beliefs of a vast majority of this
country and a plurality of the world, stating that, and I quote:
``Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the
salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their
savior, Jesus Christ, the son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the
gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in
accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible.''
So I hope that no Member of this Congress, no individual anywhere
takes offense to this debate and this resolution, because none is
intended. This resolution simply offers recognition to a faith and the
values of that faith which has sustained hundreds of millions of people
throughout the world, not just the United States. And after more than
two millennia, we once again approach the commemoration of a birth that
many recognize as holy but all recognize as historic.
Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that just this past weekend I took
my granddaughters, 9-year-old, almost 10 they would want me to say,
identical twin granddaughters with my wife, and we were in
Representative Meeks' great City of New York and we had an opportunity
to take our grandchildren to the Radio City Music Hall to see that
annual Christmas performance. That 1\1/2\ hour performance, Mr.
Speaker, was absolutely wonderful and a great tribute to the city, a
great tribute to Representative Meeks and all of our colleagues from
New York.
In that performance, Mr. Speaker, they had a nativity scene, the most
beautiful nativity scene that I have had the opportunity to witness.
And it meant so much to my granddaughters for me to explain about our
Christian faith and heritage. So if it is good enough for New York City
and Radio City Music Hall, it is good enough for this Congress. And, by
golly, I want to encourage all my speakers to support the resolution of
Representative King from Iowa. He was detained because of inclement
weather; otherwise, he would be on this floor. But I commend and thank
my colleague from New York, Representative Meeks, and also my colleague
from Texas, Representative Poe, for allowing me time.
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, the author of this resolution, Mr. King from
Iowa, is already having a white Christmas. He is stuck in Iowa because
of the snow. He could not be here.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, this just shows how great our
Nation is as we celebrate holidays, as we indicated Hanukkah, Kwanzaa,
we look at other religions, Islam and Ramadan. It shows the diversity
and it shows the tolerance that we have for all. And as we enter this
great holiday season, this is the example I think that we show around
the world, that we celebrate each other's religion in great joy here,
recognizing with respect whom they worship.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 847, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________