Washington, Oct 9, 2007 -  

U.S. Congressman John Carter (TX-31) condemned the decision of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to censor citizens who request the word “God” inscribed on the certificate included with flags flown over the United States Capitol.

“Having a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to commemorate an important event or date is a favorite request among constituents in the 31^st District,” Congressman Carter said. “It is the right of the constituent requesting the flag to acknowledge God, and I find it alarming that the Architect of the Capitol would make the decision to deliberately eliminate this acknowledgement from a constituent’s flag request.”

Constituents have requested flags with certificates inscribed with statements that include the phrase, “for the love of God, family and Country.” However, the ACO has been censoring the word “God” from flag certificates and returning them to congressional offices with the word “God” omitted from the certificate.

The debate began when 17-year-old Andrew Larochelle requested a flag that had been flown over the United States Capitol for his grandfather, a veteran and a devout Catholic. The request was made through Representative Mike Turner’s (OH-3) office. The certificate accompanying the flag was to read, “This flag was flown in honor of Marcel Larochelle, my grandfather, for his dedication and love of God, Country and family.”

But the Acting Architect of the Capitol, Stephen T. Ayers, censored the word “God” from the request citing his own rules for Flag Office Services, rule number eight which states: “…religious expressions are not permitted on flag certificates.” The AOC ruled that the use of the word “God” in the phrase, “for the love of God, family and Country” constitutes a religious expression.

Congressman Carter condemned the decision of the AOC and has requested that the rules be changed. Carter has signed onto letters to the AOC and to Speaker Pelosi calling for the repeal of the policy, which have been created by the office of the AOC and are enforced at the discretion of the Architect.

In 2002, the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled that including the phrase, “one nation under God,” in the Pledge of Allegiance was an unconstitutional endorsement, when recited in public schools.

“While our nation is engaged in a legal battle to preserve the words of the Pledge of Allegiance, the Architect of the Capitol has unilaterally censored the word “God” from citizens’ dedications of flags flown over the U.S. Capitol,” Carter continued. “The word ‘God’ is carved into the walls of both Chambers of Congress. If this type of censorship is tolerated, removing ‘God’ from the Capitol flag dedication certificates could be the first step for removing ‘God’ from the Capitol.”