[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 7249]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      PROTECTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

  (Mr. ROTHFUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, in contrast to the religious persecutions 
in Europe between the 16th and 19th centuries, America increasingly 
became a safe space for people to exercise their faith in accordance 
with their conscience. Religious freedom was woven into the fabric and 
constitution of our country from the beginning, and faith has played a 
big role in forming the character of our Nation.
  From efforts to abolish slavery, secure civil rights, and protect 
human life, to providing health care, food, shelter, and hope to 
countless millions, religious organizations have been indispensable to 
the progress we have made. Indeed, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 
recognized the extraordinary contributions of religious organizations 
when it preserved their right to hire individuals who shared their 
beliefs.
  Today we see clouds encroaching upon the sunshine of religious 
freedom and the freedom of conscience. These attempts to crush 
conscience must be resisted. It is conscience that convicts us of our 
own shortcomings, and it is that conviction that allows us to correct 
course and to seek what is good, beautiful, and true. That is why 
protecting religious freedom is vital.
  Mr. Speaker, let us together join forces against the growing 
intolerance that threatens it.

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