U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler wants to reconsider banning "God."
The Waynesville Democrat has asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi to revisit a prohibition on the word "God" or other religious references from certificates that accompany flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, Barb Barrett reports.
As reported by The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper, a Republican congressman from Ohio grew upset when the "God" was removed from the requested writing submitted by one of his constituents.
The House Administration Committee responded this week by proposing a compromise, which would allow members of Congress to submit writing that includes religious references. Pelosi’s office supports the idea.
Today, Shuler sent Pelosi a letter asking her to take a look at the policy.
"I believe that this restriction is an unnecessary restriction on our citizens' right to openly and freely practice their religion," he wrote.
More after the jump.
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He added later: "As a person of faith and an elected member of this Congress, I strongly disagree with the Architect's prohibition of the word 'God' from flag certificates and ask that you examine the authority under which he is making this policy."
Constituents can pay to have flags flown over the U.S. Capitol dome and then shipped to them with accompanying certificates. According to The Hill, the architect formalized its policy on certificate language in 2003.
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