[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9946]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES

  (Mr. EDWARDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, in today's Washington Post, President Bush 
was quoted as saying those who disagree with his faith-based 
initiatives ``do not understand the power of faith.'' He then referred 
``to the skeptics of faith in our society.''
  Mr. Speaker, I personally respect the President and his right to 
offer his proposals. However, I do not think it is fair to question the 
religious faith of decent Americans who happen to disagree with his 
policy proposals. Challenging people's religious faith because of 
public policy differences is not a way to bring Americans together; 
rather it is a prescription for religious divisiveness.
  Numerous groups such as the Baptist Joint Committee and the American 
Jewish Committee differ with the President on faith-based initiatives, 
not because they question the power of faith, but because they want to 
prevent government from regulating our faith.
  As we proceed in the debate on faith-based initiatives, I urge all 
sides to focus on the specific issues at hand and not to challenge the 
religious faith of those with differing views of conscience.

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