[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11752]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            SHOCKED AND APPALLED BY NINTH CIRCUIT'S DECISION

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, like most Americans I believe in this 
country, I believe in God, and I believe in the power and importance of 
allegiance to our flag. As such, like millions of Americans, I was 
shocked and appalled by the Ninth Circuit's pledge decision.
  Mr. Speaker, we open this House in prayer to God. The walls of this 
temple of democracy bear His name, but it is unconstitutional for our 
children to name God as they acknowledge their fealty to that very same 
Nation? Sadly, Mr. Speaker, this decision is part of a 35-year effort 
by radical secularists who would twist the freedom of religion into a 
freedom from religion.
  We must reject this course of judiciary decisions. I pledge myself to 
fight every decision by the judiciary that seeks to drive expressions 
of faith, the Ten Commandants and voluntary prayer from schools, out of 
every corner of American life, so help me God.

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