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To restore the American experiment in democratic self-government, religious believers need to redouble their civic efforts. For without our active participation in politics, the government will continue to trample on our rights. The Constitution does not prevent people of faith from being active in politics.

The Constitution says that government isn't supposed to be infusing religion into our society, and so I asked to have that upheld.

I do think there's a difference between what a religious leader says and does and what a public official or legislator does. But there's no question that a lot of our legal underpinnings find a good bit of their foundations in the Scriptures.

Of course, my faith has a lot to do with being able to be public without being a public nuisance.

As a politician who cherishes religious conviction in his personal sphere, but regards politics as a domain belonging outside religion, I believe that this view is seriously flawed.

The Establishment Clause prohibits government from making adherence to a religion relevant in any way to a person's standing in the political community.

Usually, it is not my habit to address religious issues on the floor. I strongly believe in a person's right to religious freedom, as well as the separation of church and state.

To say that authority, whether secular or religious, supplies no ground for morality is not to deny the obvious fact that it supplies a sanction.

We show deference to the civil authorities when they respect the divine origin of their power and when they serve the people with objective reference to the law of God.