SCHOOL PRAYER AMENDMENTS LANGUISH IN GOP CONGRESS.Byline: Scripps-McClatchy Western Service A religious liberties amendment apparently doesn't have a prayer in what remains of the 104th Congress. Concerned Women, the Christian Coalition Christian Coalition, organization founded to advance the agenda of political and social conservatives, mostly comprised of evangelical Protestant Republicans, and to preserve what it deems traditional American values. and other Christian activist groups favor an amendment specifying, among other things, that school prayer is not prohibited under the U.S. Constitution. ``It's been a priority for us,'' said Marjorie Dau of Fresno, who is active in Christian political issues. ``However, we are talking about amending the Constitution, and that is very serious. I'd rather go slow and make sure it's done correctly.'' The proposed Religious Freedom or Religious Liberties amendment would put the Constitution back on a track originally intended by its authors, Dau said. ``That's our goal, we want to get back to the actual language of the Founding Fathers,'' she said. But a handful of proposals with that aim have been stalled in the Republican-controlled Congress for nearly two years. And, the proposals' sponsors say, there is essentially no chance one can be approved before lawmakers recess in early October. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how receptive the leadership is to bringing this up for a vote,'' said Rep. George Radanovich George P. Radanovich (born June 20 1955) is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995, representing the 19th Congressional District of California. , R-Fresno. Radanovich is a co-sponsor of one version of the proposed amendment authored by Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla. Rep. Gary Condit Gary Adrian Condit (born April 21, 1948) is an American politician, a "Blue Dog" Democrat who served in the House of Representatives from 1989 to 2003. Condit represented California's 18th congressional district, the northern San Joaquin Valley (when he was first elected, this , D-Merced, and Rep. Richard Pombo Richard William Pombo (born January 8 1961) is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, having represented California's 11th congressional district from 1993 to 2007. , R-Stockton, are also co-sponsors of the so-called religious liberties amendment. Istook's supporters say a new law would ease the separation between church and state without altering existing religious freedoms or establishing a state religion. It would mean, for instance, that cities could erect Christmas creches or crosses on public playing fields. It would mean that government employees could display some spiritual icons or mementos on their desks. Some versions also would open the door for federal payments in the form of vouchers to religious schools or child-care centers. Istook's bill has 115 co-sponsors, but that is far short of the two-thirds House vote needed to pass constitutional amendments along toward submission to the states. The bills are stalled in part because Republican leaders until now have shied shied 1 v. Past tense and past participle of shy1. shied Verb the past of shy1 or shy2 away from bringing up the highly controversial topic. They face opposition from those who believe religious freedoms already are protected by constitutional safeguards. ``Our Founding Fathers constructed the Constitution to ensure the separation of church and state
Dooley characterized the school prayer amendment as ``more of a political issue than anything else.'' But Radanovich insists the amendment may be necessary. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: George Radanovich Hard issue for GOP leaders |
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