The Congressional Prayer Caucus

 
Members of the Prayer Caucus Sign Brief Defending WWII Memorial Statue of Jesus
Posted by The Congressional Prayer Caucus | September 06, 2012

Eighteen Members of the House of Representatives signed an amicus curiae brief urging a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) challenging the constitutionality of a World War II memorial statue of Jesus in Montana’s Flathead National Forest.  The brief, filed by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), explains that in the lawsuit FFRF failed to identify even one individual who has been offended by the memorial.  The brief continues by explaining that even if such individuals had been identified, FFRF’s “offended observer” claims are insufficient because having hurt feelings is not a cognizable injury under Article III of the Constitution. 

The Knights of Columbus erected the statue in the early 1950s on the small plot of land and have a special-use permit that must be renewed every ten years.  In 2011, the U.S. Forest Service refused to renew the permit citing concerns about potential litigation; however, officials eventually reversed course after receiving approximately 95,000 comments supporting the memorial.  FFRF then filed a lawsuit arguing that the statue’s presence on public land is a government endorsement of Christianity and therefore violates the Establishment Clause. 

The Constitution does not require the removal of symbols that honor the sacrifice of countless Americans.  Members of the Prayer Caucus will continue working to ensure that these memorials are preserved for future generations.  

Comments
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  • JILL WOHEAD commented on 9/9/2012
    Why place the statue of Jesus at a WWII memorial? Something the athiests continue to miss. The story of Jesus as your friend, who died so that you might live. The men that fought in the battle,no matter their background ,died, so that you might live. The two stories are about love. I'm sorry to know that the athiests reject the one who truly loves them the most. This world was created in a way that teaches us about our Creator, The Heavenly Father. For this world He created families. The Heavenly Father existed before we came into being. So too, the earthly father existed before a child came into being. The Heavenly Father has a set of rules that brings joy. And likewise, the earthly Father also has rules. The Heavenly Father provides a home, food, clothing, and security.The earthly father provides a home, food,clothing and security. The Heavenly Father has infinite wisdom. The earthly father has wisdom. The Heavenly Father's words are important; the earthly father's words are important.Both teach responsibility in behavior and the wrong actions can bring heartache. The Heavenly Father speaks of good friends and bad friends. The good friend is faithful, true and is there in times in trouble and has your best interest at heart. The bad friend leads you astray from all that is good, he is the one that sits next to you in the car, encourages you to drive 120 miles an hour til you drive yourself off the cliff. That certainly is no way to live a happy life! The Heavenly Father's Word, which was manifested in the flesh, Jesus, is the best friend of all. I think I'd like to walk next to him than the other. This statue represents this good friend. I was not born at the time that Jesus walked on this earth, so I don't know what his physical appearance was, but I can accept a symbol of what a good. I see, the statue of Jesus and the men who gave their lives up that I can be free, synonymous. It shouldn't pose a threat to the athiests. The concept is much more important.
  • Pam Sparks commented on 9/10/2012
    This country is in a heap of hurt. God Bless the USA even when her people seek to take God out of everything. Will be interesting to hear the cries of those who do not believe in our Lord and Saviour when the trumpet sounds.
  • Linda Templet commented on 9/12/2012
    Pam the TRUMP--ET sounded when the vote came to take God out of the Democratic Platform. Did you hear the TRUMP--ET when they were trying to PUT GOD BACK INTO their Demoratic Platform? At first they said that GOD had no place in their PLATFORM so they took Him out hoping that no one would notice. After the uproar they thought they better reconsider what they had done if they want to get the CHRISTIAN VOTE. So they slipped up again. They took another vote to put God back into the Democratic Platform; but this vote was televised so all people could see the outcome of the vote.So we visited the CHURCH OF SARDIS just like the Book of Relelations spoke about. Don't forget--the Bible says that all things MUST BE FULFILLED. So I SAR--DIS on the televion. I SAW the vote. And DIS VOTE WAS RIGGED. If you SAR--DIS vote, Were you listening to the sound of the voices while they were taking the vote? The vote had no two-thirds majority,as a matter of fact, the man was completely dumbfounded as to what to do after the first vote. He knew he had to get it passed for the religious vote so he called for another vote. Well it failed again. These DELEGATES did not give in for the second vote as to whether or not GOD would be allowed to come into their PLATFORM. They said NO--there was no ROOM FOR GOD--the same as there was no ROOM IN THE INN FOR JESUS. The event that just took place is another fulfilling of the BIBLE. The Bible does say that all thing shall come to pass. So you see Pam, after the THIRD VOTE the TRUMP--ET SOUNDED very quickly and the officials TRUMPED the official vote to YES because their PARTY needed God at the moment to get the RELIGIOUS VOTE and that was more important to them at that very moment for their POLITICAL PARTY or PLATFORM. Their vote was kinda of LIKE when the vote was taken before Jesus's crucifiction. The people voted then also-- didn't they? They CHOSE to crucify the innocent one JESUS. Now they are trying to crucify JES---US right now. They have it all planned. Now IF President Obama wins the election, they won't need GOD'S HELP any longer. They will then CRUCIFY RELIGIOUS RIGHTS--RELIGIOUS WAYS--RELIGIOUS IDEALS AND MORALS. Obama said he believes in gay marriage so he will change our FORM of marriage. He also believes a woman should have the right to KILL THEIR INNOCENT CHILD if she chooses. He will get that job done also. This RELIGIOUS TEST should have opened everyones eyes. They rigged the vote and this party cannot be TRUSTED. We are ALL witnesses to the VOTE. They cheated and they LIED in order to get the religious vote. It was not a fair vote and everybody knows it. Now will they RIG the PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ALSO. If this can be done in right front of our eyes--just think about what they are doing behind our backs. The BIBLE is the GREATEST BOOK ever written once one understands what they are reading. But have no fear-- GODS REIGN IS COMMING. I can't wait to see the rainbow--which means REIGN BOW because we will all BOW DOWN to GOD REIGN IN OUR COUNTRY. England might have a Queen to rule their land--but we have THE KING TO RULE OUR LAND to whom we are to BOW DOWN TO. Religion is part of government. When is the MARRIAGE SUPPER going to begin? As soon as the people of all faiths begin to JOIN TOGETHER IN UNITY. To WED means to UNITE. Lets get united people. Lets get a MAN AFTER THE LIKENESS OF GOD OR JESUS running our country. Aren't we DUE for a change? Amen!
  • Linda Templet commented on 9/14/2012
    I believe the Marriage Supper is being prepared and is almost readyfor US to digest. We are looking at the Muslem Brotherhood having a million MAN march. These men are taking a stand against a film made in our country blashpeming THEIR GODS NAME. Many innocent people are being effected by the anger that this film brought. FFRF has been allowed to freely do exactly the same thing here in America. They have blasphemed OUR GOD'S NAME continously and NO ONE IN OUR GOVERNMENT STOOD UP AND STOPPED THEM. Now let us just sit back and watch how people act who TRULY LOVE THEIR GOD. We have been blessed here in America being a Christian Nation because Christians patiently sit back and wait for the LORD to do something. The LORD saith, "Vengence is mine". Now is the time for the scriptures to be fulfilled once again. This witness comming from the Muslem Brotherhood is being seen all around the world. It is being sealed in peoples minds right now that religion matters. People are gathering together. Revelations Chapter 7is being fulfilled. Follow it people it is telling us what is going to happen. The Word of God is fortelling the events that are about to happen. Now you know what IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? I'll tell you what is going to happen. Verse 3 of Chapter 7 is going to be fulfilled and come to pass. "Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, TILL WE HAVE SEALED THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD IN THEIR FOREHEADS". The earthquake is happening. People are erupting and shaking and trembleing. Temperatures are rising inside of people and people are angry over the blasphemous NATURE of other people. Now our FIRST AMENDMENT IS to protect America from going through what the Muslem Brotherhood is doing. These people are STANDING UP FOR THEIR GOD to seal it in other peoples FOREHEADS that you DON'T BLASPHEME THE NAME OF ANYONES GOD. Now this OUGHT to SEAL SOMETHING in OUR SERVANTS FOREHEADS. This ungodly intrepretation of our First Amendment is NOT PROTECTING our country like it WAS SUPPOSE to do. Our LAWS of our land are made to PROTECTand GUARD AGAINST RELIGION ATTACKS. Why haven't our SERVANTS or Representatives DONE SOMETHING to protect our country against RELIGIOUS ATTACKS COMMING FROM FFRF? You all know who is doing it and you have done NOTHING TO STOP THE ATTACKS. Are you waiting for Christians to stand up like the Muslem Brotherhood are doing? This FIRST AMENDMENT needs to be intrepreted in the CORRECT WAY. You are ALL WITNESSING what IS HAPPENING when people TRULY LOVE THEIR GOD. This fight over religion MUST BE STOPPED. The correct intrepretation of our FIRST AMENDMENT is Congress shall make NO LAW respecting; about, regarding or concerning an ESTABLISHMENT of religion OR PROHIBING the free exercise thereof. So wher are the LAWS that you all made against the people who are TEARING DOWN THE ESTABLISHMENTS OF RELIGION? It is time for you SERVANTS to SEAL IT IN YOUR FOREHEADS--GOD REIGNS IN AMERICA--now make the LAWS that EVERYONE has to EQUALLY BOW DOWN TO which will protect all peoples faiths and beliefs in an ALMIGHTY GOD. The Muslem Brotherhood BOWS DOWN to the GOD they love. It is TIME for us to PROVE to the world that WE LOVE OUR GOD ALSO. Our whole FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTS US AGAINST RELIGIOUS ATTACKS it wast NOT suppose to open the door for people to walk throught our country BLASPHEMING THE NAME OF GOD. Open your eyes Representatives. Now is the TIME to protect OUR country from this SAME THING happening here in America. You all have the POWER TO STOP THIS before it happens--So use your POWER! Gods Reign is comming people. Start looking for the REIGN BOW.
  • Linda Templet commented on 9/15/2012
    Statement of the year--President Obama says, "I have made it CLEAR that the United States has PROFOUND RESPECT of all peoples of faith" If this was truly the case, we would not be having RELIGIOUS ATTACKS here in the United States of America.Where is the PROFOUND RESPECT FOR PEOPLES OF FAITH in his health care package? He says, "There is NO EXCUSE FOR THE ATTACKS on OUR embassies and consulants". What is he blind? Can he not see that IF the United States had PROFOUND RESPECT of all peoples of faith then our First Amendment would MEAN--Congress shall make no law RESPECTING, regarding, about, or concerning an ESTABLISHMENT of religion or prohibiting the FREE EXERCISE thereof because we have PROFOUND RESPECT FOR ALL ESTABLISHMENTS OF RELIGION. So why are people FREELY allowed to blaspheme the name of Almighty God here in the United States of America and not get rebuked by the president? He says that he is going to make the people PAY for what they have done for standing up for the LOVE of their God. If we had of STOPPED these actions of hate towards religion in our country; this violence would not have happened in their country.This film came from our country--it was not made in theirs. We have no LAWS punishing the ones who are attacking the belief in a SUPREME BEING. Sooner or later someone was going to take a stand against the people who are ATTACKING THEIR GOD. Why doesn't he hold the ones accountable here who do not have PROFOUND RESPECT for the people of faith? Why do these disrespectful people have the FREEDOM to blaspheme the NAME of Almighty God right here in America and get away with their CRIMES AGAINST NATURE? This film was a CRIME AGAINST NATURE.
  • Linda Templet commented on 9/15/2012
    The Christian Religion is being attacked by several atheist organizations. It is time to stop these attackers before tempers begin to arise in our country. They are guilty of these things--Count One--The Common Plan and Conspiracy--Count Two--Crimes Against Peace--Count Three--WAR CRIMES--Count Four--Crimes Against Humanity. Everyone who is joined to thes organizations are to be held accountable for their avctions of CRIMES AGAINST NATURE and NATURES GOD.
  • Kim Rippere commented on 10/8/2012
    First no one is being attacked. Some are, merely, standing up for their rights. Namely, the right of freedom from and of religion. Religion and the US government should not be mixed together. Keep your religion to out of 'my" government. Otherwise you might find religions that you do not like on public lands and in our government. This isn't deep or difficult, separation of church and state.
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Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Founder
& Co-Chairman

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Contact the Congressional Prayer Caucus Amy Vitale, Amy.Vitale@mail.house.gov