Press Release - Lucas Supports Free Expression Of Religion

LUCAS SUPPORTS FREE EXPRESSION OF RELIGION
Works to Curtail Liberal Lawsuits Against Religious Groups

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Third District Congressman Frank Lucas has voted to help safeguard religious freedom for communities that make expressions of their religious heritage.

Lucas voted Tuesday for legislation that would prevent anti-religion interest groups from using the threat of costly lawsuits to force states and communities to remove religious displays or allow religious expression.

"So many times we see communities forced to remove expressions of their religious beliefs because they fear a lawsuit by a liberal interest group will bring about thousands of dollars of legal fees," Lucas said. "This law would allow for legal action but would prevent these outside groups from bullying communities into submission."

The bill would allow for Establishment Clause cases to be brought against state and local governments, but they would only be allowed to be brought for injunctive relief. In other words, the only relief the court could order in such cases would be that the defendant cease whatever it was that was found to be a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

The legislation will ensure that each party in an Establishment Clause lawsuit shoulders its own costs. And if lawsuits are filed, this bill will ensure that the states and localities are on equal footing with those who are suing them.

"Whether it be a prayer before a football game, a display of the ten commandments, or any other expression of our religious background and heritage, we are a nation founded on the principle that we are one nation, under God," Lucas said. "The anti-religion groups that try to remove references to our religious beliefs through expensive lawsuits will never understand that."

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." The Founding Fathers intended to prevent government from coercing people to become members of a particular religion. But Lucas said anti-religious groups have perverted the Founding Fathers' intent in order to remove all expression of religion from public life.

Lucas has also fought efforts to remove the phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. He has authored legislation protecting the Pledge in America's schools, in response to a San Francisco Federal Appeals Court ruling declaring the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional.

H.R. 2679, the Public Expression of Religion Act, passed the House by a vote of 244 to 173. It has not yet been voted on in the Senate.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/ok03_lucas/religionexpress.html