Periodically I am compelled to recognize an individual in American politics or government whose efforts on behalf of theocracy are, well, extraordinary. This week we recognize the efforts of U.S. Rep. John Hoesttler (R-IN) who has pushed through legislation in the House that would deny funding to enforce the ruling of a federal court which declared that a display of a monument to Ten Commandments in a court house in his district was unconstitutional. He also declared on the House floor, that “Democrats cannot help denigrating and demonizing Christians.” Finally, in a House committee meeting, he referred to “the mythical wall [of] separation between church and state that’s been erected by the courts.” (Although he did not say this last item this week, my judges have ruled that it counts since the remark came to our attention this week.)
Here are the details.
The National Jewish Democratic Council reports: “During a debate… surrounding an amendment by Rep. David Obey (D-WI) to fully examine allegations of proselytizing and religious intolerance at the United States Air Force Academy, six-term Republican Rep. John Hostettler (IN) rose to assert that ‘Democrats can’t help denigrating and demonizing Christians.’ [Rush transcript.] Rep. Obey, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, interrupted Hostettler’s deeply disturbing remarks and demanded that they be formally retracted; Hostettler ultimately agreed to retract one sentence from his diatribe.”
“Earlier in his remarks, Hostettler discussed the drive by Democrats to erase every ‘vestige’ of Christianity from America; he also prefaced his remarks by noting that ‘The long war on Christianity today continues on the floor of the House of Representatives.’ During a meeting of the House Armed Services Committee on May 18th, while debating a similar amendment by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), Hostettler referred to ‘the mythical wall separation (sic) between church and state that’s been erected by the courts.'”
Regarding Obey’s amendment, Americans United for Separation of Church and State reports that Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) plans to strip the bill of the amendment and replace it with a watered down version.
Meanwhile, Hosteller has been active on another front as well. The Interfaith Alliance reports: “Last week, as the House debated an appropriations bill for the Departments of State, Justice and Commerce (H.R.2862), Rep. Hostettler (R-IN) introduced an amendment to prohibit any funds from being used to enforce Russelburg v. Gibson County. A federal court in that case ruled that a courthouse in Rep. Hostettler’s district containing a Ten Commandments display violated the First Amendment and had to be removed. During the debate, Rep. Hostettler stated that the ruling was unconstitutional, and inconsistent with ‘the Christian heritage of the United States.'”
“Following the court ruling, Rep. Hostettler wrote President George W. Bush, asking for support to deny law enforcement from carrying out the order. The matter was referred to the U.S. Department of Justice, which informed Hostettler that law enforcement officials are obligated to enforce court orders under federal law. President Bush has said that he will uphold the court’s ruling that Rep. Hostettler seeks to defy.” (Hostettler says he is “disappointed.”)
“Rep. Hostettler sponsored a similar amendment regarding a Ten Commandments monument in Alabama in 2003 that passed the House but was rejected in the Senate.”
It remains to be seen what the Senate will do about Hostettler’s current effort.
Congratulations to Rep. John Hosttetler, Republican of Indiana — Theocrat of the Week.
Nominations from readers for Theocrat of the Week are always welcome, and may be e-mailed to me c/o my web site, FrederickClarkson.com.
