HR0495 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0495 LRB103 35211 LAW 65192 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Faith in God is an inalienable right to all of those who believe in the teachings of a higher being; and

WHEREAS, Our Founding Fathers understood the importance of faith in God when writing the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing the freedom of religion for all citizens; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln immortalized the phrase "this nation, under God" in the Gettysburg Address, enshrining our nation during its darkest moment in "a new birth of freedom"; and

WHEREAS, Prayer has always played an important role in the foundation of the American way of life and has helped form the solid basis of cultural harmony and civility, which is evident in The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag and on our currency; and

WHEREAS, Knowing of the cultural and spiritual harmony that faith brings to all who believe, it should be this chamber's responsibility to again provide a room of worship to General Assembly members, guests, and visitors of the Illinois State Capitol Building; and

WHEREAS, In 1985, then-Speaker Michael J. Madigan introduced HR 408, which designated a room as a prayer room on the first floor of the State Capitol Building; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the ensuing years, the prayer room was utilized by various General Assembly members, regardless of their philosophical, political, or religious differences, who sought a place where worship was welcomed; and

WHEREAS, Sadly, the prayer room was removed during a renovation of the West Wing, and a new prayer room was never designated nor established; and

WHEREAS, Without a dedicated room of worship, our State Capitol Building is similar to most state capitol buildings; in fact, in the Midwest, the only state to have a dedicated room of worship in its capitol building is the State of Indiana; and

WHEREAS, In the U.S. Capitol Building, a room set apart for prayer and meditation is near the rotunda to be used primarily by members of Congress who wish to withdraw and seek divine strength and guidance, both in public affairs and in their own personal matters; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Capitol Building's prayer room was established during the 83rd Congress of the United States, pursuant to U.S. House Concurrent Resolution 60 in 1953 and U.S. Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 in 1954; and

WHEREAS, The legality of a prayer room in the State Capitol Building was previously justified through the 1988 court case decision of Van Zandt v. Thompson in the 7th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals and within the Illinois State Constitution, thereby reiterating that no there is no legal jeopardy and that the establishment clause has not been violated; and

WHEREAS, The Preamble of the Constitution of the State of Illinois reads, "We, the People of the State of Illinois - grateful to the Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted us to enjoy and seeking His blessing upon our endeavors," further setting the stage for such a room; and

WHEREAS, The establishment of such a room, because of its universality, is within the provisions of Section 3 of Article X of the Illinois State Constitution, where the use of public funds for sectarian purposes is forbidden in that no state funds shall be allocated for "anything in aid of any church or sectarian purpose"; and

WHEREAS, The concept is consistent with the provisions of subsection (a) of Section 1 of Article VIII of the Illinois State Constitution, which provides that "Public funds, property or credit shall be used only for public purposes", as the facility will be made available to the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Both the Illinois House and Senate routinely open all Sessions with prayer by a diverse group of faith leaders and pastors from across Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we request the reestablishment of a prayer room at the Illinois State Capitol Building near the rotunda in the current and ongoing renovations of the North Wing.