Posted by
Randy
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December 09, 2011
"No religious items (ie: Bibles, reading material, and/or artifacts) are allowed to be given away or used during a visit."
Those words were included in a memo issued September 14 by Walter Reed Medical Center, one of our nation’s primary medical facilities for thousands of wounded military men and women. The policy was brought to the attention of my colleagues and me, along with valid concerns that family members or pastors would not be able to bring Bibles or other religious materials to visit their wounded sons or daughters or husbands and wives. My colleague Rep. Steve King pointed out that “It means a priest that might be coming in to visit someone on their death bed couldn’t bring in the Eucharist, couldn’t offer Last Rites. This is the most outrageous affront.” Our troops have risked their lives for our freedoms and liberties - including our religious liberties. To deny them this freedom when they return home is deplorable. This week, I hosted a meeting with officials from Walter Reed regarding the policy. The officials said that the policy was not properly vetted and has been rescinded. The following apology has been posted on their website: We are in the process of rewriting our policy and would like to offer the following statement: Bibles and other religious materials have always been and will remain available for patient use at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The visitation policy as written was incorrect and should have been more thoroughly reviewed before its release. It has been rescinded. We apologize for any confusion the policy may have caused. Please know that at admission, all patients are asked for their religious preference and a chaplain associated with their preference visits them regularly to provide spiritual services. In addition, their families may also bring religious material and we will not refuse any religious group entrance. WRNMMC provides multiple venues at WRMNMC for religious expression and worship. There is daily Catholic Mass as well as Protestant, Hindu, and Muslim services. Eucharist is also available at the bedside. There are weekly Torah studies, multiple weekly Christian bible studies, as well as weekly Qur'an study. Furthermore, chaplains coordinate spiritual needs for those whose faith groups are not represented by staff chaplains (such as Latter-Day Saints, Buddhist, and Christian Scientist). Walter Reed National Military Medical Center remains committed to supporting the religious preferences of all our patients and we will continue to ensure their spiritual needs are met. I have requested background information about the policy, how it was implemented without proper vetting, and what forces were behind its implementation. Additionally, Rep. Steve King was featured on Fox and Friends this week to discuss the situation. You can view his comments here.
Posted by
Randy
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November 09, 2011
As Egypt moves to establish a foundation of democracy, there have been increased outbreaks of violence directed towards Coptic Christians, the largest denomination of Christians in Egypt who make up about 10% of the country’s population. Reuters reports that "Tension between Muslims and minority Coptic Christians has simmered for years but has worsened since the anti-Mubarak revolt, which gave freer rein to Salafist and other strict Islamist groups that the former president had repressed."
Early in October, Coptic Christians in Egypt began a peaceful protest of the interim military government's failure to protect them from attacks on their churches. Violence ensued after Christians were attacked by civilians. The military further provoked the situation by plowing personnel carriers through the crowds, crushing protestors while soldiers fired on unarmed citizens. 26 people were killed, and hundreds of others injured in the violent attacks. Currently, the United States gives Egypt $1.3 billion in military aid annually and engages with the Egyptian military in training exercises. Egypt is at a turning point, and it is crucial that the United States make clear that we will not stand for this type of violence. Individuals should have the universal right of peaceful protect and religious freedom and religious tolerance must be a part of the foundation for democracy in Egypt. I believe it is unacceptable to continue to provide military aid to a country that disregards basic human rights and religious freedom. Just last week, I became an original cosponsor of a resolution, H.Res. 459, that would encourage any new government convened in Egypt to fully allow for the freedom of religion. You can read about that resolution here. Additionally, I joined with 22 of my colleagues in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to denounce the violence used by the Egyptian military against Coptic Christians in October and urging him that U.S. military aid to Egypt be dependent on an objective investigation into these instances of violence. You can read that letter here. During this critical time of Egypt’s transition from President Mubarak’s tenure to a new government, those in charge must stand up and protect religious freedom and human rights.
Posted by
Randy
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November 03, 2011
I am happy to share with you that this week the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to reaffirm our national motto, In God We Trust. This reaffirmation offers optimism during tumultuous times. It provides clarity amidst a cloud of confusion about our nation's spiritual heritage and offers inspiration to an American people that face challenges of historic proportion.
I gave remarks during debate of the resolution on the House floor. You can watch those remarks here or by clicking the video below: As we reaffirmed the national motto last night, we joined the ranks of leaders throughout American history. Here is a look at the ways the national motto has been a guiding principle since our nation’s inception: At our nation's founding. Authors penned the Declaration of Independence writing, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” In nation's infancy. Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that would become our national anthem the Star Spangled Banner containing the stanza, “And this be our motto—‘In God is our trust.’” In the midst of Civil War. President Lincoln addressing a war torn, weary, and divided nation, saying at the Gettysburg address, “this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” During the economic expansion of America's industrialization. Congresses passed the Coinage Act stating that the Secretary of the Treasury "may cause the motto ‘In God We Trust’ to be inscribed on such coins as shall admit of such motto." World War I. In his speech before Congress asking for a declaration of war, President Wilson said “…The day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other.” After nearly a decade of Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a Thanksgiving proclamation saying, “Thus from our earliest recorded history, Americans have thanked God for their blessings. In our deepest natures, in our very souls, we, like all mankind since the earliest origin of mankind, turn to God in time of trouble and in time of happiness. In God We Trust.” At D-Day facing Nazi advances on Europe. In his famous radio address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Americans to join him in praying, “Help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice… 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 effort.” During the Baby Boom. "In God We Trust" was inscribed above the south entrance door in the Senate chamber during the 1949-1951 reconstruction. Cold War and Economic Prosperity. In a speech given during the Cold War, President John F. Kennedy said, “Today our Nation is passing through another time of trial… We will need to draw upon the best that this Nation has--often--and draw upon it physically and intellectually and materially. But we need also to call upon our great reservoir of spiritual resources…The guiding principle and prayer of this Nation has been, is now, and ever shall be ‘In God We Trust.’” Civil Rights Movement. Two years after Brown vs. Board of Education and one year after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus, ‘In God We Trust’ was adopted as the official national motto of the United States. Vietnam War. In the midst of the Vietnam War, President Lyndon Johnson said, “Not long ago I received a letter one morning from a mother whose son had been killed in Vietnam. She wrote to me saying, ‘…As long as we believe, our strength is in our faith in God and He will never fail us.’ So, my countrymen, in those words from that dear mother are to be found the greatness of this Nation and also the strength of its President.” Reagan Years. In 1984, in an address to the nation, responding to an effort to remove prayer from our public schools, President Reagan said, “The first amendment of the Constitution was not written to protect the people from religion; that amendment was written to protect religion from government tyranny. The act that established our public school system called for public education to see that our children learned about religion and morality. References to God can be found in the Mayflower Compact of 1620, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the National Anthem. Our legal tender states, ‘In God We Trust.’ But now we're told our children have no right to pray in school. Nonsense. The pendulum has swung too far toward intolerance against genuine religious freedom. It's time to redress the balance.” 1990’s. Following the Oklahoma City bombings, President Bill Clinton delivered a speech saying, “I ask all Americans tonight to pray—to pray for the people who have lost their lives, to pray for the families and the friends of the dead and the wounded, to pray for the people of Oklahoma City. May God's grace be with them.” Present day. In 2002, in response to a case challenging the words ‘under God’ in the Pledge of Allegiance, Congress passed and President Bush signed a law reaffirming the Pledge of Allegiance and ‘In God We Trust’ as our national motto. Additionally, in 2006, the Senate reaffirmed ‘In God We Trust’ on the 50th anniversary of its adoption as the official national motto of the United States. On the night of the September 11 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush delivered a speech to the nation saying, "Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.'”
Posted by
Randy
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October 31, 2011
In January 2011, I introduced H.Con.Res.13, to reaffirm 'In God We Trust' as our national motto and encourage its display in public building and government institutions. Since that point, the bill has gained 64 bipartisan cosponsors and was reported favorably out of the House Judiciary Committee in March of 2011. And this week, the resolution will be brought to the floor of House of Representatives for a vote.
Posted by
Randy
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October 20, 2011
This morning, I appeared on FoxNews to discuss Vanderbilt University’s treatment of religious groups. Several religious student organizations at Vanderbilt University, including the Christian Legal Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, were placed on “provisional status” for requiring their student leaders to share the groups’ religious beliefs. Student organizations need official university approval in order to use school meeting rooms and facilities; access university listserves, groupmail, and web space; and use office space and equipment in the university’s student center.
Earlier this month, I led 22 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos of Vanderbilt University, urging him to ensure that school’s nondiscrimination policy is not being interpreted in a manner that discriminates against religious student groups. Watch the interview here or in the video below:
Posted by
Joe Hack
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October 19, 2011
Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), co-Chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, announced today that he will appear on the FoxNews Channel’s “Fox and Friends” program this Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 6:50 AM (EST) to discuss Vanderbilt University's treatment of campus religious groups. WHO: Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), On October 6, 2011, Congressman Randy Forbes led 22 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos of Vanderbilt University, urging him to ensure that the school’s nondiscrimination policy is not being interpreted in a manner that discriminates against religious student groups. Several religious student organizations at Vanderbilt University, including the Christian Legal Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, were placed on “provisional status” for requiring their student leaders to share the groups’ religious beliefs. Student organizations need official university approval in order to use school meeting rooms and facilities; access university listserves, groupmail, and web space; and use office space and equipment in the university’s student center.
Posted by
Randy
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October 14, 2011
Over the past couple of weeks, I have delivered speeches on the floor of the House of Representatives to recognize the importance of prayer throughout America's history by reading proclamations delivered by our nation’s leaders. John Hancock's proclamation in 1791 declared a day of Public Thanksgiving calling upon the people of Massachusetts to "to assemble on the said Day—and in the name of the Great Mediator, devoutly and sincerely offer to Almighty God, the gratitude of [their] Hearts, for all his goodness towards [them].” Watch Congressman Forbes' Remarks
In 1844, John Chambers issued a proclamation declaring a day of Thanksgiving “have deemed it proper to recommend...as a day of general Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the many and great blessings we enjoy as a people and individually, and of prayer and supplication for the continuance of his mercy and goodness towards us; and for the prosperity, happiness and ultimate salvation of the American people." Watch Congressman Forbes' Remarks
Posted by
Randy
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September 01, 2011
This month, marks the 10th anniversary of one of the most tragic moments in our nation's history. Most individuals remember September 11, 2001 with clarity: they remember where they were when they first heard the news and who they were with. They remember what they did as they tried to grapple with the reality of the worst terrorist attack on American soil.
Collectively, our nation prayed. Victims of the attacks prayed for help; their family members prayed to be reunited with loved ones; first-responders prayed for strength and wisdom as they risked their lives. Millions of Americans asked God to comfort those whose lives had been shattered in the senseless attacks. It is because of this that I was troubled to learn that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is not planning to include prayer from New York City's commemoration of the 10th anniversary of September 11. During our nation's most trying times, the American people have consistently turned to God as a source of wisdom and strength. September 11, 2001 was no different. It is only fitting that a commemoration ceremony includes the act that so many people turned to on that day. I have written a letter to Mayor Bloomberg urging him to include prayer in the ceremony in an effort to provide an opportunity for those affected by the tragic attacks to seek continued strength. You can read a copy of the letter here.
Posted by
Randy
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July 11, 2011
I recently shared with you that I had joined with 107 Members of Congress in sending a letter to NBC Universal expressing our disapproval over the network twice-editing the words “under God” from a video montage that aired during the U.S. Open.
Dear Representatives Forbes and McIntyre:
Sincerely,
Kyle McSlarrow
Posted by
Randy
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June 27, 2011
At the beginning of NBC’s broadcast of the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament this month, the network played a video montage of children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The problem with the video montage was what was not included: NBC twice edited out the words “under God” from the national pledge. If you have not yet seen the video of the omission, you can view it here: The video montage containing the omissions intended to celebrate American patriotism. Instead, it alienated millions of viewers who place great value on all of our nation’s proud history – including its religious heritage. |
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