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90_HR0284
LRB9007760KBkbA
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The freedom of religious expression is a
3 cherished right of all Americans; and
4 WHEREAS, The Illinois Constitution guarantees the right
5 to exercise and enjoy religious profession without
6 discrimination; and
7 WHEREAS, State-sponsored censorship of any kind is
8 abhorrent to the rights of free speech enshrined in the First
9 Amendment of the Constitution of the United States; and
10 WHEREAS, The Speaker of the Illinois House of
11 Representatives, Michael J. Madigan, and the Clerk of the
12 Illinois House of Representatives, Anthony Rossi, have, for
13 several months, required persons invited to give the
14 invocation at the beginning of daily business in the House
15 Chamber to sign a set of instructions regarding the content
16 of the prayers that they intend to offer; and
17 WHEREAS, Those instructions prohibit any reference to
18 Christian symbols; they specifically state that "Prayer shall
19 not make reference to the name of Christ. This includes
20 references made in the Holy Trinity or in reference to the
21 crucifixion."; and
22 WHEREAS, The instructions unfairly discriminate against
23 Christians and restrict their right to profess their faith
24 contrary to both the United States and Illinois
25 Constitutions; therefore, be it
26 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
27 NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the
28 Illinois House of Representatives, or any department or
29 division thereof, shall not adopt, promulgate, issue, or
30 disseminate any guidelines, rules, instructions, procedures,
31 or regulations regarding the delivery or content of any
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1 prayer or invocation offered in the Illinois House of
2 Representatives.