The Congressional Prayer Caucus

 
Closed Negotiations on Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Prompt House-Passed Amendment to Prohibit Use of Federal Funds for Dismantling the Memorial
Posted by The Congressional Prayer Caucus | July 31, 2012

Language was added to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2013 (H.R. 5856) to prohibit the use of federal funds to remove any portion of the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego, California.  The House of Representatives passed the appropriations bill, including the amendment, on July 19, 2012.  Reps. Duncan Hunter and Brian Bilbray added the language after learning that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the ACLU were negotiating a compromise to end the legal battle over the monument—without allowing the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Association to participate in the settlement negotiations.  Reps. Hunter and Bilbray sent a letter to DOJ requesting that the Memorial Association be included in all future negotiations, and asking that if it were not included, independent counsel should be appointed in its place.

The Supreme Court recently announced that it would not review the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Cross case; however, in an unusual move, Justice Alito issued a statement that the appeal may be premature and that the Court may reconsider the case after the district court issues a final order determining the fate of the memorial.  If DOJ and the ACLU reach a settlement instead of allowing the district court to issue a final ruling, the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Association may not have another chance to take the case back to the Supreme Court.  In January of 2011, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit held the cross’s presence on federal land unconstitutional.

Members of the Prayer Caucus have long worked to defend the presence of the cross at the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial.  Before assisting in the passage of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, Members of the Prayer Caucus joined the American Center for Law and Justice in submitting an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court asking the Court to reverse the Ninth Circuit’s decision that held that the cross was unconstitutional.   

Comments
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  • Linda Templet commented on 8/5/2012
    Is the cross unconstitutional? Was the constitution written for the protection of any INANIMATE piece of ART? These INANIMATE PIECES OF HAND CRAFTED ART such as a cross; the Jesus statue, a logo, a manger scene etc. have NO LIFE OR BREATH in them. They have NO SENSES--they can not see because they have no eyes; they can not speak because they have no mouth; they can not hear because they have no ears; they can not feel because they have no hands; they can not smell because they have no nose; they can not walk because they have no feet;and they can not THINK because they have NO MIND. These pieces of ART have NO SIGNS OF LIFE. in them at all. Do they have a LEGAL RIGHT to be included in the MARKET PLACE OF IDEAS? Do these pieces of ART influence the minds of people who look at them to BREAK THE LAWS of our land? Do these pieces of ART influence the people to lie, cheat and steal? Do these pieces of ART put ideas in a persons MIND to go to a theater and KILL innocent people who has done no wrong whatsoever? Do these pieces of Art put ideas in the MINDS of our young children to become SEXUALLY ACTIVE at a very young age? Do these pieces of ART put ideas in the MINDS of people to be unfaithful? Do these pieces of ART influence the way we DRESS in America? Do these pieces of ART put ideas in the MINDS of people as to how we ought to ACT? These HARMLESS INANIMATE OBJECTS are being ATTACKED in every State and are being JUDGED in our courts of law. When are we going to start using some RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT? As we can ALL SEE this INANIMATE OBJECT OF THE CROSS standing on a piece of public land is not harming our MINDS as we look at them nor is it harming our families or our family values--It is not influencing our children to go out and have sex with whomever they want to. It is not influencing weak minded people to go out and commit MASS MURDERS. It is not influencing us to do the WRONG THINGS IN LIFE--TELEVISION and movies do that. So if we want to take something out of the MARKET PLACE OF IDEAS lets start RIGHTFULLY JUDGING these INANIMATED OBJECTS.
  • Linda Templet commented on 8/7/2012
    I love the TRUTH because the TRUTH CAN SET YOU FREE! Now here is some TRUTH that is written down which is a TESTAMENT as to how the CHRISTIAN RELIGION played a very big part in the civilazation of the INDIANS and guess what? There was NO WALL OF SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE in 1826. The government USED MISSIONARIES to help CIVILIZE people. Missionaries are of what type religion? Is it not CHRISTIANS? This is part of the TREATY TALKS headed as Refusal of the Chickasaws and Choctaws to Cede their lands in Mississippi: 1826 from the Avalon Project. Now is our great father THE PRESIDENT of the United States trying to protect Religious RIGHTS in our country or is he wanting US to give up our religious RIGHTS (like they wanted the Indians to give up their land) so religion like land can be controlled by government? Just read this testimony that was written down in1826. We have met you here in council, by ORDER of our great father the President of the United States. LIKE a kind and good parent, he is ever mindful of the best interest and true happiness of all his children. He has the same feelings of friendship for his red children that he has for his white children, and is always DESIROUS of promoting alike the interest and happiness of both. By his long experience and SOUND JUDGMENT, he knows what is BEST for all of us. When, therefore, he offers HIS advice and counsel, he EXPECTS ALL HIS CHILDREN to receive them as coming from their father, their friend, and PROTECTOR. He wishes all his children to prosper, increase, and be happy, until the end of time. In the same friendly spirit, he EXPECTS THEM to consider well, and in GOOD FAITH to receive, the talk he has sent them by their brothers the commissioners. We will now proceed to state to you the talk of our great father the President; after you have taken time to REFLECT upon his proposals, as explained to you by his commissioners, you will give a candid and respectful answer to them. This he EXPECTS as due from affectionate and dutiful children to a kind and indulgent father. Our government officials use a FATHER IMAGE to describe to the Indians that the President is like unto their father and they are the IMAGE of his children as far as government is concerned. Maybe we ought to take TIME OUT to reflect on these FAMILY IMAGES. Now the Indians write back this after several talks with the commissioners. As for the talk of the late President Monroe, we have nothing to reply. The OBJECT of the Government we cannot understand. It appears from what you say, that all the objections which we, his RED children, can make, will have NO WEIGHT with the policy of the General Government. You say that our neighbors and friends, the Creeks, Cherokee, and Choctaws, have secured themselves a country beyond the Mississippi, where their names may be PRESERVED forever. Have not our father the President and our WHITE brothers the same power there as they have here? We should always like to be neighbors to our brothers the Choctaws; but, thinking it would not be to the advantage of the nation to cross the Mississippi, we are resolved to remain in our NATIVE country, where we are freed from our red enemies. We have always looked up to our father the President for PROTECTION, as dutiful children; we have every feeling of gratitude that children can have to a father; we have always been in readiness to assist our white brothers as well as our own. You say, "Are you willing to sit down in delusive security, and see your nation dwindle away until the name of Chickasaw forever lost?" No, we are not; but if it be the WILL OF THE GREAT SPIRIT that we SHOULD LOSE our name and language, WE MUST SUBMIT. We know the wisdom, foresight, and abilities of our father the President are great; therefore we look up to him for his protection. You say that the country we have is greatly too large for us. We have always taken the talks of our father the President heretofore and reduced our lands to very small bounds, not more than what will support us comfortably; we, as well as our white brothers, have a RISING GENERATIONS to provide for. We have abandoned the idea of hunting for a support, finding the game will not do for a support. Our father the President INTRODUCED MISSIONARIES TO COME AMONGST US TO ADVANCE US TO A STATE OF CIVILIZATION ; we ACCEPTED THEM, and ARE MAKING ALL THE PROGRESS THAT PEOPLE CAN; we have also been providing means for the SUPPORT OF THE MISSIONARIES, to enable us to go on with the education of our children and to HAVE THEM ENLIGHTENED. Industry is spreading amongst us; population is increasing; we hope soon to arrive at that state of IMPROVEMENT that is so much desired by our father the President; we consider ourselves as the TREE of the forest, but not of the useless kind. We are a FRUITFUL TREE, and have provided means, by the asisstance of our father the President, TO CUTIVATE AND IMPROVE IT, in order that we may BRING FORTH GOOD FRUIT. You say it is right that we should be attached to the land of our forefathers, but "how seldom do we see our white brothers leave their homes in the land of their fathers!" We can only account for that IN THIS WAY: that our white brothers appear ALWAYS DESIROUS OF CHANGING THEIR CONDITION. It is NOT the case with your red children, they have NO DESIRE OF CHANGING an old friend for a new one; we are satisfied to remain here for the support of our children. Now all I got to say is that these Indians told them like it was--Now we should be following in the footsteps of these Indians--These people STOOD UP --why aren't you CHRISTIANS??? Where is the OUTRAGE?
  • Johnson Aaron commented on 8/8/2012
    Shame on the CPC! Taxpayer money should not be used to fund promotion of one religion over others on Federal Government property. This is a direct violation of the establishment clause. Either allow every religion that has died in foreign wars to also place their own religious monuments on government property, or don't allow any of them to. If they don't want to use federal funds to tear down the structure (which is the right thing to do), they also should not use federal funds to maintain it. As an Atheist, I am someone who should not be forced to pay for upkeep of a monument to a religion I do not belong to. Secularism is not Atheism, it is simply allowing ALL Americans to enjoy the view from Mt Soledad without having to also pay to "keep it Christian". Not every veteran of American wars was a Christian. CPC, please have some respect for people of other religions who serve our country.
  • Linda Templet commented on 8/9/2012
    The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to unto him, to shew unto his SERVANTS THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS--Now people we don't have much TIME LEFT. We are about to once again elect a FATHER IMAGE as our President for our UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Now do we want our FATHER IMAGE to GUIDE US down the path of destruction---- OR do we want our FATHER IMAGE to be one who will lead, guide, and direct US and our children in the right direction for our country and our LIFE? THIS is going to SHORTLY COME TO PASS!! Whether you all think I am crazy or not-- the Book of REVELATIONS IS INSTRUCTING US as to what to do! We better start LISTENING to the INSTRUCTIONS that are HIDDEN within these WORDS OF GOD--the scriptures. Pay close attention to the WORDS! They are only mentioned ONCE in the Bible--These are CODED WORDS. The church of Pergamos--what is that? It is PERG--A--MOS. We MUST PURGE--our country from this evil. It is a MUST!! Everything that is happening RIGHT NOW is predicted in this BOOK.You all just don't understand what you are reading because you can not get the IMAGES that has been SEALED IN YOUR FOREHEADS OUT!! WHY AREN'T YOU CHRISTIANS STANDING UP TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY?? That answer is Because the people have been TAUGHT to just PRAY about it. Well guess what--WE HAVE PRAYED LONG ENOUGH!! HASN'TGOD TOLD YOU WHAT TO DO YET?? Well then get in the BOOK and READ IT!! It IS the WORD OF GOD!!!! Moses told the people--GET RID OF THE IMAGES!!!! This CHRISTIAN IMAGE that you want to keep MUST LEAVE at the moment--don't worry--THIS IMAGE WILL COME BACK!! Right now it is JES---US. Do you see that--it is JUST US that GOD is using to get rid of the corruption ,evil and wickedness in our world. So people it is time to TAKE OFF YOUR RIGHTEOUS GARMENTS and put on you BREAST PLATES OF ARMOR. It is OUR DUTY which we owe to OUR CREATOR to make THIS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA into a DIVINE PROVIDENCE!! I AM OUTRAGED!!! WHY AREN'T YOU?? Our father the president of our United States now says that HE THINKS that the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA should CHANGE their standards and their WAYS of thinking and should let GAY BOYS into their organization. I AM OUTRAGED!!! This has NEVER happened in the history of our country before! Our father the President thinks that we should change our MARRIAGE FORMS so that men can marry men and women can marry women. We are suppose to CHANGE all of our ways of life for our father THE PRESIDENT. Our father the president is FORCING US TO ACCEPT HIS HEALTH PLAN which includes KILLING BABIES--STERIZATION AND CONTRACEPTION!!!! I AM OUTRAGED!! What would GOD do? I'll tell you what he would do--He'd say, GO KILL THEM". Okay Christians--the BIBLE says Thou shalt not kill. We are not going to KILL any BODY--WE ARE GOING TO KILL THIS EVIL, CORRUPT AND WICKED SPIRIT THAT IS IN OUR COUNTRY!! We MUST PURGE THIS KIND OF SPIRIT out of our land NOW! Spirit is the THINKING, FEELING, MOTIVATING part of man. Our father the President is MOTIVATING PEOPLE to REJECT OUR BIBLICAL PRINCIPALS AND STANDARDS. Christians it is TIME TO STAND UP and get MOTIVATED. GOD REIGN is comming people. YOU PEOPLE NEED TO HELP BRING THE REIGN!! The TIME IS NOW!!!!
  • JILL WOHEAD commented on 8/10/2012
    Hear is my response: Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirt, and or the joints and marrow and IS a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is hidden from his sight: but all things ARE naked and opened unto the eyes of him whom we must give an account. Our Lord has told us in Matthew 7:7-8 Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asks-recieves; and he that seeks-finds; and to him that knocks- it shall be open. Well, the Athiests want a world without God And those that worship God, want to be in His eternal presence forever. Psalm 27:14 Wait in faith on the Lord: be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Revelation 22:12 Jesus says, Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. See, every one will be happy in the end: Athiests need to be patient , The Lord will give them exactly what they want. On the other hand, God's people will get what they want. Patience is a virtue.
  • L. MacKay commented on 8/10/2012
    Creator God, We bow and acknowledge You, Holy Trinity, Foundation of all diversity in unity. Please exert Your power through those who love freedom (which is a reflection of You) to preserve this Cross, erected VOLUNTARILY as a reminder of Your willingness to suffer for our sins to make us Truly FREE. ...this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
  • Linda Templet commented on 8/13/2012
    Ignorance is the lack of knowledge, education and experience. I am always looking for education. The ART and the SCIENCE of creating, forming or making a MORE PERFECT NATURE OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS is taught to anyone who will sit down and READ, STUDY and REFLECT upon the the GOOD and RIGHT WAYS of Jesus that is shown to us in the New Testament of the Bible. The NATURE OR SPIRIT OF JESUS is the MOST SUPREME, EXCELLENT, SUPERIOR, or MOST PERFECT IMAGE or MODEL OF the NATURE OF ALL MANKIND. The main object for CHURCHES all across our country is to to create, form and MAKE A MORE PERFECT NATURED PERSON. The Bible is so ARTFULLY written that IT ALONE can change a persons NATURE without anyones help. But all people don't like to read and many people don't understand what they are reading because of the LACK of knowledge, education, and experience. Why on earth would people even think about taking religious ART off of public land? Why are these people TRYING TO TURN one religion against another religion? Why are these people trying to get prayer and any IMAGE of Religion removed from our public squares? Why do these people want to take the religious EGO away from our country? All I can see is that they are trying to get THE FREEDOM OF NATURE FOR ALL PEOPLE. This will never work. Animal like WAYS does not make the most excellent, supreme or most perfect NATURE for all mankind--Jesus's NATURE and WAYS do. I found this document in the Avalon Project this morning A Decade of American Foreign Policy 1941-1949 Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, November 16, 1945--take time to read it--we NEED SOME EDUCATION people.Does this CONSTITUTION apply to our country? The Governments of the States parties to this Constitution on behalf of their peoples declare that since WARS BEGIN begin in the MINDS of men, it is in the MINDS of men that the defences of peace must be constructed; (now where did these ATTACKS ON ACCOUNT OF RELIGION BEGIN) that ignorance of each other's WAYS and lives has been a common cause, throughout the history of mankind, of that suspicion and mistrust between the peoples of the world through which their DIFFERENCES have all too often broken into WAR; that the great and terrible war which has now ended was a war made possible by the denial of the democratic principles of the dignity, equality and mutual respect of men, and by the propagation, in their place, through ignorance and prejudice, of the doctrine of the inequality of men and races; that the wide diffusion of culture, and the education of humanity for justice and liberty and peace are indispensable to the dignity of man and constitute a SACRED DUTY which all the nations MUST FULFILL IN A SPIRIT OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AND CONCERN ; that a PEACE based exclusively upon the political and economic arrangements of governments would not be a peace which could secure the unanimous, lasting and sincere support of the peoples of the world, and that the peace must therefore be founded, if it is not to fail, UPON THE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL SOLIDARITY OF MANKIND. For these reasons, the States parties to this Constitution, believing in full and equal opportunities for education for all, in the unrestricted pursuit of objective truth, and in the free exchange of IDEAS and KNOWLEDGE, are agreed and determined to develop and to increase the means of communication between their peoples and to employ these means for the purposes of mutual understanding and a truer and more perfect knowledge of each other's lives; In consequence whereof they do hereby CREATE the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation for the purpose of ADVANCING through the educational and scientific and cultural relations of the peoples of the world, the objectives of international PEACE and of the COMMON WELFARE OF MANKIND for which the United Nations Organisation was established and which its Charter proclaims. ARTICLE I. PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS 1. The purpose of the Organisation is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal RESPECT FOR JUSTICE, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations. 2. To realise this purpose the Organisation will: (a) collaborate in the work of ADVANCING the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of MASS communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the FREE FLOW OF IDEAS by WORD AND IMAGE; (b) give fresh impulse to POPULAR education and to the spread of culture; by collaborating with Members, at their request, in the development of educational activities; by instituting collaboration among the nations to ADVANCE the ideal of equality of educational opportunity without regard to RACE, SEX OR ANY DISTINCTIONS, economic or social, by suggesting educational methods best suited TO PREPARE THE CHILDREN of the world for the responsibilities of freedom; (notice that RELIGION is not mentioned here) (c) maintain, increase and diffuse knowledge; by assuring the conservation and protection of the world's INHERITANCE OF BOOKS, WORKS OF ART, AND MONUMENTS of history and SCIENCE, (regigion is the SCIENCE of forming a certain sort or kind of NATURE) and recommending to the nations concerned the necessary international conventions; by encouraging cooperation among the nations in ALL BRANCHES of intellectual activity, (this includes the BRANCHES OF RELIGION) including the international exchange of persons active in the fields of education, science and culture and the exchange of publications, objects of artistic and scientific interest and other materials of information; by initiating methods of international cooperation calculated to give the people of all countries access to the printed and published materials produced by any of them. 3. With a view to PRESERVING the independence, integrity and FRUITFUL diversity of the cultures and educational systems of the States Members of this Organisation, the Organisation is prohibited from intervening in matters which are essentially within their domestic jurisdiction. We need to put a FULL END to these ATTACKS ON ACCOUNT OF RELIGION. Will this help bring GODS REIGN?
  • Linda Templet commented on 8/20/2012
    Looking for some more food for this Marriage Supper that the Bible is talking about. Got this from the Avalon Project--The Fundamental Constitutions for the Province of East New Jersey in America, Anno Domini 1683 I am trying to find the KEY to open up the door to our First Amendment. I think that this IS THE KEY that the Book of Revelations is talking about--The key word is PROVIDENCE. Now at the end of our Declaration of Independence in the year of 1776 the United States of America it reads, "And for the SUPPORT of this DECLARATION, with the FIRM RELIANCE OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our scared Honor. In 1683 New Jersey was called a PROVINCE. A province is a division of territory under the jurisdiction of an archbishop. We are no longer under the jurisdiction of an archbishop--we are NOW under the jurisdiction of DIVINE PROVIDENCE since we have no National Religion to tax everyone. This is where we seperated from the Cathilic Church JURISDICTION over all states. Now a divine PROVIDENCE is the care, guardianship, and control exercised by a deity; divine direction. Congress got a DIRECT ORDER from We, the PEOPLE when they saw that religion was not protected in our Constitution. The First Amendment is Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion OR PROHIBITING the FREE EXERCISE thereof . They wanted to PRESERVE AND PROTECT THIS ---XVI. All persons living in the PROVINCE who confess and acknowledge the one Almighty and Eternal God, and holds themselves obliged in conscience to live peaceably and quietly in a civil society, shall in no way be molested or prejudged for their religious perswasions and exercise in matters of faith and worship; nor shall they be compelled to frequent and maintain any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever: Yet it is also hereby provided, that no man shall be admitted a member of the great or common Council, or any other place of publick trust, who shall not pro faith in Christ Jesus, and solemnly declare that he doth no ways hold himself obliged in conscience to endeavour alteration in the government, or seeks the turning out of any in it or their ruin or prejudice, either in person or estate, because they are in his opinion hereticks, or differ in their judgment from him: Nor by this article is it intended, that any under the notion of this liberty shall allow themselves to avow ATHEISM, irreligiousness, or to practice cursing, swearing, drunkenness, prophaness, whoring, adultery, murdering or any kind of violence, or indulging themselves in stage plays, masks, revells or such like abuses; for restraining such and preserving of the people in deligence and in good order, the great Council is to make more particular laws, which are punctually to be put in execution. Now what does our Constitution actually say about religion? It says, " The Senators and Representatives BEFORE MENTIONED --THIS INCLUDES JUDGES--and members of the several State Legislatures, and ALL EXECUTIVE and JUDICIAL OFFICERS, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be BOUND BY OATH or AFFIRMATION to support this Constitution; but NO RELIGIOUS TESTS shall ever be required as a QUALIFICATION to any OFFICE or public TRUST under the United States." One does not have to be put to a religious test in order to QUALIFY for any office or public trust. Our United States of America IS under a DIVINE PROVIDENCE JURISDICTION. Jurisdiction is the RIGHT AND POWER to interpret and apply the law. And for the SUPPORT of this Declaration of Independence with a FIRM RELIANCE OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE we can now openly declare that Americas IN---DEPENDENCE is WE DEPEND ON ALMIGHTY GOD and it is In God We Trust. Now our Supreme Court Justices can intrepret and apply laws as long as they LINE UP WITH DIVINE PROVIDENCE JURISDICTION. Congress can make all the laws that they want as long as they line up with DIVINE PROVIDENCE JURISDICTION. Now if I am right--we are about to Fulfill that last part of the Book of Revelations. There are alot of laws which are made that is NOT protecting the JURISDICTION OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. You see Divine Providence has jurisdiction over all mankind and all laws being created, formed or made. If the laws or bills do not line up equally with the WORD OF GOD than they can not have any right or power to rule in our Divine Providence. They must be BURNED!! Revelations says, And the BOOKS WERE OPENED-- One is the Book OF LIFE; the BIBLE and the other is The Book OF LAW. The Laws of NATURE and NATURES GOD. These my dear friends have to UNITE TOGETHER AS ONE BODY in order to have rule over ALL PEOPLES actions and ways of LIFE. Is it time for the Marriage Supper yet? Gods REIGN IS COMMING People.
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