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A Thanksgiving Proclamation
Posted by The Congressional Prayer Caucus | November 23, 2010

On October 3, 1789, George Washington issued the following national Thanksgiving Proclamation:

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

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Pledge of Allegiance Upheld in Federal Court
Posted by The Congressional Prayer Caucus | November 17, 2010
The First Circuit Court of Appeals heard a case challenging the New Hampshire School Patriot Act, as being unconstitutional.  The New Hampshire School Patriot Act requires the state’s public schools to authorize a time during the school day for voluntary recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, as being unconstitutional.

On November 12, 2010, the three-judge panel affirmed the lower court’s decision and unanimously held “that the New Hampshire School Patriot Act and the voluntary, teacher-led recitation of the Pledge by the state's public school students do not violate the Constitution.”

Members of the Prayer Caucus signed onto an amicus brief in this case to affirm the constitutionality of the Pledge and preserve references that reflect our religious heritage.
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Memorial Honoring Signers of Declaration
Posted by Congressional Prayer Caucus | November 08, 2010
When most people come to Washington, D.C., they visit the Washington Monument, United States Capitol, and memorials honoring Presidents Jefferson and Lincoln.  But did you know that there is a memorial dedicated to the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence?

In 1978, Congress passed a law stating “…that the Secretary of the Interior may establish a memorial in honor of the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence, such memorial to be…in the area known as Constitution Gardens in the District of Columbia.

The memorial was dedicated on July 2, 1984, the 208th anniversary of declaring independence from Britain.  During the dedication ceremony Senator John Warner (R-VA) said, “We sometimes forget the magnitude of their action, the courage and moral strength needed to take that first great step.”

On September 17, 1986, on the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, President Reagan issued a Proclamation stating “the framing of the Constitution was an arduous task accomplished…with dedication to the ideals of…unalienable God-given human rights that gave transcendent meaning and inspiration to the American Revolution.”  Since the Declaration of Independence was so foundational to the Constitution, Reagan proclaimed Constitution Gardens to be a “Living Legacy” commemorating the United States Constitution.

The next time you are in Washington, D.C., visit this “living legacy” to pay tribute to the men who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honors to birth freedom in America.
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‘Under God’ Upheld in Texas
Posted by The Congressional Prayer Caucus | October 25, 2010
Texas law states that “The board of trustees of each school district shall require students…to recite the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag…and the pledge of allegiance to the state flag…”  In 2007, the Texas pledge of allegiance was amended to include the phrase ‘one state under God.’  Today, the state pledge reads “Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.”  Due to this change, the pledge has been challenged in court.

Recently, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a March 2009 decision issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas affirming the constitutionality of the words ‘under God’ in the Texas pledge of allegiance.  In its opinion, the district court held “If reciting the pledge is truly ‘a religious act’ in violation of the Establishment Clause, then so is the recitation of the Constitution itself, the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, the National Motto, or the singing of the National Anthem. Such an assertion would make hypocrites out of the Founders and would have the effect of driving any and all references to our religious heritage out of our schools and eventually out of our public life.”
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Where Do You Put Your Trust?
Posted by The Congressional Prayer Caucus | October 18, 2010

“But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.” – Franklin Roosevelt

The religious heritage of our country is being attacked by a small minority who want to remove faith and religion from the marketplace of ideas.  For example, two current billboard campaigns feature the slogans “In Good We Trust” and “In Reason We Trust,” instead of “In God We Trust.”  These attacks demonstrate that, despite rulings this year affirming the constitutionality of our national motto, the sanctity of the phrase “In God We Trust,” continues to face challenges. 

 
 

The Congressional Prayer Caucus is working to protect our religious liberty and preserve our Nation’s spiritual heritage; two principles that were woven into the tapestry of freedom by our Founders more than two centuries ago.
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Mississippi Leading America Back to the Founders
Posted by The Congressional Prayer Caucus | October 12, 2010
“And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?” – Thomas Jefferson

In 2001 Mississippi passed a law requiring the National motto “In God We Trust” to be displayed in every school room within the state of Mississippi. More recently Governor Haley Barbour designated September 19, 2010 as “Bless Our Schools Sunday,” to encourage pastors and churches to pray for students and schools.

Mississippi’s actions have countered a debate concerning religion in public schools.  The United States Supreme Court held, that students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the school house gate.” In a later opinion, the Court reemphasized that “nothing in the Constitution . . . prohibits any public school student from voluntarily praying at any time before, during, or after the school day . . . .”  Mississippi should be commended for affirming the constitutional rights of students in our public school systems.
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HARPER APPLAUDS JUDGE’S DECISION TO TOSS SUIT CHALLENGING “IN GOD WE TRUST”
Posted by Gregg Harper | October 05, 2010
Congressman Gregg Harper, member of the Prayer Caucus, issued the following statement after U.S. District Judge William M. Conley dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of engraving “In God We Trust” and the Pledge of Allegiance in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Harper was one of 50 Members of Congress to sign an amicus brief in opposition to the case filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

“Our country’s first national document, the Declaration of Independence, spoke to unalienable Rights given to American’s by our Creator. Numerous sources point to our founders’ collective reliance on God for direction and wisdom as they drafted the United States Constitution.

“I had the honor of managing the bill that directed the Architect of the Capitol to engrave our country’s official national motto, ‘In God We Trust’ and the Pledge of Allegiance in the Capitol Visitor Center. The clear intent of this law is to install these two important reminders of our country’s foundation.”
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Forbes Applauds D.C. Circuit Court Decision Affirming “In God We Trust” on Currency
Posted by Randy Forbes | July 28, 2010

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) released the following statement after the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia affirmed that having the words “In God We Trust” on United States currency does not violate the Establishment Clause of the Constitution:

“The phrase ‘In God We Trust’ has been an integral part of American society, and the very essence of those words is reflective of the principles upon which our country was founded.  This Circuit Court of Appeals has rightfully recognized that our Constitution does not require the exclusion of references to God from the laws governing this nation, but rather gives us the freedom to affirm our national motto by its use on our currency. I applaud their decision.”

Congress passed and President Eisenhower approved a law designating “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States in 1956.  This motto first appeared on the two-cent coin in 1864 and was first used on paper money in 1957.

Congressman Forbes has introduced a resolution (H.Con.Res.274) to reaffirm “In God We Trust” as our national motto.  This bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties and has bipartisan support with 109 cosponsors.

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Prayer Caucus Founder’s Resolution Receives National Attention:
Posted by Randy Forbes | July 13, 2010

Renewing American Leadership (ReAL) recently highlighted Congressman Forbes’ bill (H.Con.Res.274) to reaffirm ‘In God We Trust’ as our national motto.  Renewing American Leadership is a national organization dedicated to preserving America’s Judeo-Christian heritage, whose honorary chair is former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.  To read a copy of the bill and a personal note from Congressman Forbes, visit ReAL’s website.

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Prayer Caucus Member Named Christian Statesman of the Year
Posted by The Congressional Prayer Caucus | June 28, 2010

Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) was awarded the 2010 Distinguished Christian Statesman of the Year Award by the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship.  This award is annually given to a national Christian political leader and is defined as an award for a public servant whose commitment to Christ and love of country compel him or her to stand for truth and righteousness in government.

After receiving the award, Congressman Aderholt said, “I am humbled and extremely honored to be the 2010 Christian Statesman of the Year.  I am very thankful that I can serve in the government of a country that allows all Americans to discuss faith freely and boldly. This is an important right that our nation was founded on and it’s important for elected officials to remember that.”  The Center for Christian Statesmanship was created by Dr. D. James Kennedy in 1995, with the first Christian Statesmanship Award being first given in 1996.
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Members of the Congressional
Prayer Caucus

Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Founder
& Co-Chairman

Congressman Mike McIntyre, Co-Chairman


For a complete list of Members of the Congressional

Prayer Caucus, click here.


Contact the Congressional Prayer Caucus Sarah Seitz, (202) 225-6365