[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14794-14795]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

  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. Madam Speaker, I was, like everybody 
else in the Congress, home during July 4 and enjoyed being back in my 
district and meeting the people and listening to the people. I could 
not help but think that July 4 has different meanings for all of us: 
Freedom, independence. We think about what July 4 means and has meant 
to the history of our Nation.
  I went back and found an article written in 1995 that was in the 
Boston Globe by Jeff Jacoby, and he had in the article about the 
Founders of this great Nation, the writers of the Constitution. I do 
not know if this is a quote from one of the leaders of that period of 
time or from Mr. Jacoby, but I want to share it: ``Religion can survive 
in the absence of freedom, but freedom without religion becomes 
dangerous and unstable.''
  In addition, I would also like to share a quote by Alexis de 
Tocqueville. Alexis de Tocqueville was a French philosopher and 
historian who traveled to America in the 1830s, and he was so impressed 
with this great Nation. He wrote, ``In the end, the state of the Union 
comes down to the character of the people. I sought for the greatness 
and genius of America in her commodious harbors, ample rivers, and it 
was not there. I sought for it in the fertile fields, and boundless 
prairies, and it was not there. I sought it in her rich mines, and vast 
world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went into the 
churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did 
I understand the secret of her genius and power.''
  Madam Speaker, I share that because our churches and synagogues in 
America are under attack. A lot of people would be surprised with me 
saying that, but recently the bishop of Colorado Springs, Bishop 
Sheridan, a Catholic bishop, wrote a three-page pastoral letter to 
every Catholic in his district. He did not say anything about Bush or 
Kerry, he did not say anything about Republican or Democrat, but being 
a Catholic, the Catholic Church stands for protecting the unborn. It is 
opposed to stem cell research and euthanasia. He said nothing about a 
party, nothing about a candidate.
  But because he used the word ``prolife,'' Barry Lynn of the Americans 
for Separation of Church and State filed a complaint because this 
bishop is following the teachings of his church and his belief in 
Christ. And yet a complaint was filed that would challenge the 
501(c)(3) status of that diocese.
  It is a sad day in America when we have men and women overseas 
fighting for freedom for the Iraqis and the American people, and yet 
the reason why Mr. Lynn filed a complaint was because of code words.
  I have introduced a bill, H.R. 235, that would eliminate the Johnson 
amendment that has put the restrictions on our churches, synagogues and 
mosques. But in addition to the Johnson law, in the early 1990s the IRS 
decided to expand the definition of the Johnson law, so now they have 
code words, and I will submit those later for the Record.

[[Page 14795]]

  Regarding code words, this is what it says. The concern by the 
Internal Revenue Service is that 501(c)(3) organizations may support or 
oppose a particular candidate in a political campaign without 
specifically naming the candidate by using code words to substitute for 
the candidate's name in its message, such as conservative, liberal, 
prolife, prochoice, antichoice, Republican, Democrat, et cetera. When 
this occurs, it is quite evident what is happening, and an intervention 
is taking place.
  What a sad commentary on the greatness of this Nation. From the 
beginning of America until 1954, there was never any restriction of 
speech on our churches, synagogues and mosques in this country, never 
until the Johnson amendment that went through the Senate on a revenue 
bill, never debated. Now ministers, priests and rabbis have the Federal 
Government through the Internal Revenue Service looking in on what they 
have to say when they are before their congregation.
  Madam Speaker, I think that is a sad commentary on America. I think 
it is a sad commentary on those who have worn the uniform for this 
Nation and fought for freedom for the American people. If this was 
1953, I would not be before this House because there would be no 
problem, there would be no restriction of speech. The first amendment 
right would be protected for those who speak on behalf of their Lord.
  Madam Speaker, I close by saying that I hope that those of us in 
Congress on both sides of the aisle will do our part to make sure that 
the first amendment right applies to those who are spiritual leaders of 
America and protect their rights for which men and women have worn the 
uniform or are wearing the uniform.
  Madam Speaker, I ask God to please bless our men and women in uniform 
and their families. I close by asking God to please bless America.

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