[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE GOVERNMENT IS THE VILLAIN AGAINST RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, religious civil liberty is the bedrock 
of a free people, but today we face an unprecedented and 
unconstitutional act of aggression against our religious liberty 
sponsored by the U.S. Government. The President's health care edict 
forces Catholic organizations to choose between either violating their 
religious faith or not furnishing their employees with health care 
coverage.
  No government has the legal or moral right to harass any religion and 
make them violate their religious convictions, especially ours. After 
all, the Constitution prevents this type of government oppression 
against religion. That's why Catholics, Protestants, and Jews are 
united in their effort to stand up against this government act of 
tyranny.
  People came to this country to flee religious persecution. Now our 
own government is a villain to religion. But people of faith will not 
submit to a government war against religion. The holy line has been 
drawn by a coalition of all religions.
  The head of the Catholic League, Bill Donahue, said it best: ``This 
is going to be fought out with lawsuits, with court decisions, and, 
dare I say it, maybe even in the streets.''
  And that's just the way it is.

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