Posted By James Besser
It’s nice to know that Congress is taking care of the nation’s really important business.
On Tuesday the House, which can’t seem to get it together to pass key appropriations bills to fund the federal government or figure out what to do about
The measure was sponsored by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), known mostly for his vehement and often controversial opposition to illegal immigrants and his claim that Christianity is under assault in America.
The measure includes more than a hint of sectarian triumphalism; it begins by noting that “there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population…there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population.”
It goes on to acknowledge “the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the
King told Fox News that he proposed the resolution because of the “secularists in the country who are trying to eradicate Christ from Christmas.”
The measure passed by a 372-9 vote, with ten members voting “present” and 40 not voting at all. Among the no voters: Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY).
“While Christianity is among the very important religions in the world, it should not take a resolution of Congress to make it so,” Ackerman told the Jewish Week. “Nor should Congress spend its time questionably violating the spirit of the separation of church and state.”
Lest we think Congress is biased, the House passed a resolution earlier in the year recognizing Islam as “one of the great religions of the world” and acknowledging Ramadan.
But the resolution on Christianity alone delved into issues of theology, stating that “Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible.”
Congressional sources say there were more than a few House members who weren’t comfortable with language that might be more suitable in a church than in the Capitol – but were nervous about being tarred “anti-Christian” or – even worse in this holiday season -- “anti-Christmas.”