Congress Pushes For Official "Ten Commandments Weekend" Starting This May

Congress would just like to take a moment to blur that useless “church and state” line, if that’s cool with everyone.

On April 7, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) introduced H. Res. 211, a resolution “expressing support for designation of the first weekend of May as Ten Commandments Weekend (expertly times to coincide with the National Day of Prayer) to recognize the significant contributions the Ten Commandments have made in shaping the principles, institutions, and national character of the United States.”

Congress actually has a fairly rich history of this. Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) introduced a very similar resolution last year with H. Res. 1175, and proposals for a “Ten Commandments Weekend” have also been introduced by Sam Brownback and Joe Lieberman in the Senate, and Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) in the House.

But there is one fairly troubling difference this year.

Last year, the Democrats controlled the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which was able to successfully keep such resolutions from ever making it to the floor. However, now that the Republicans are in control (with eight members of Rep. Randy Forbes’s (R-VA) Congressional Prayer Caucus, including Gohmert himself, on the committee) it seems far more likely that this resolution could very well make it to the floor for a vote and maybe even father still.

I’m excited for the day when members of Congress finally come out and clearly state that we are “One nation under God, A Christian God, Period. Amen.” instead of slowly creeping over to the microphone every few months to whisper it in our ears.

(If you’d like to read the full text of H. Res. 211 I’ll leave it right here):

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. RES. 211

Expressing support for designation of the first weekend of May as Ten Commandments Weekend to recognize the significant contributions the Ten Commandments have made in shaping the principles, institutions, and national character of the United States.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 7, 2011

Mr. GOHMERT (for himself, Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan, Mr. GINGREY of Georgia, Mr. BROOKS, Mrs. SCHMIDT, Mr. SOUTHERLAND, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. PENCE, Mr. HERGER, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. WEBSTER, Mr. WALBERG, Mrs. HARTZLER, Mr. STUTZMAN, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. GIBBS, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. JONES, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, and Mr. NEUGEBAUER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for designation of the first weekend of May as Ten Commandments Weekend to recognize the significant contributions the Ten Commandments have made in shaping the principles, institutions, and national character of the United States.

Whereas from the founding days of the United States, the Ten Commandments have been part of the Nation’s basic cultural fabric;

Whereas the sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams, declared the Ten Commandments to be `laws essential to the existence of men in society, and most of which have been enacted by every nation, which ever professed any code of laws’;

Whereas the Ten Commandments are a widely respected code of personal conduct and a declaration of fundamental principles for a fair and just society that transcend the diversity of cultural expression and faith in the United States;

Whereas a marble relief of Moses, the bearer of the Ten Commandments, is prominently displayed over the gallery doors of the chamber of the House of Representatives, in the United States Capitol;

Whereas images of the Ten Commandments are prominently displayed in many Federal buildings, such as the United States Supreme Court, National Archives, and Library of Congress; and

Whereas in addition to being understood as an elemental source for United States law, the Ten Commandments have become a recognized symbol in the Nation’s culture: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives —

(1) supports the designation of Ten Commandments Weekend;

(2) celebrates the significant role the Ten Commandments have played in the development of significant public and private institutions of the United States; and

(3) encourages citizens of all faiths and religious persuasions to reflect on the important impact that the Ten Commandments have had on the people and national character of the United States.

Congressman Wants Citizens of ALL Religions to Reflect on the Ten Commandments (Redux) [HuffPo]