[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26674]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       WORD ``GOD'' CENSORED HERE

  (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, ``I will do my duty to God and my country.'' 
This is part of the Boy Scout oath. When a Boy Scout becomes an Eagle 
Scout, some Members of Congress have an official flag flown over the 
Capitol and these words are requested to be in the official certificate 
which is given to the Scout, along with the flag.
  But the Architect of the Capitol, who is in charge of such matters, 
censors the word ``God'' in these certificates and only puts the word 
``country'' in them.
  The word ``God,'' according to the Architect, violates his rules 
against religious references. The Architect is the caretaker of the 
Capitol. We have numerous references to God in these hallowed Halls. 
Our history is based upon a belief in God, whether the Architect likes 
it or not.
  Maybe the Architect hasn't even seen the phrase ``In God We Trust'' 
above the flag here in the House of Representatives.
  What's next? Is he going to sneak over here in the darkness of the 
night and chisel off the word ``God'' because he doesn't want that word 
``God'' in the Capitol?
  The first amendment right to express religious freedoms is being 
violated by the censor of the Capitol.
  And that's just the way it is.

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