Rep. Kirk on Church and State

What He Says

"I am a passionate supporter of the separation of church and state..."
(Rep. Kirk, June 4, 2006)

"In Congress we had a resolution to call for a National Day of Prayer after September 11th. I was one of three republicans to vote against that resolution because I did not want the Congress calling for prayer as a state policy I wanted that left to the people's individual conscience."
(Rep. Kirk, June 4, 2006)

One of the most exciting ideas to come along is called the Community Renewal Act. That will allow us to use faith-based organizations to deliver key services - job counseling, education for a GED, etc. (Campaign, 9/24/2000)

His Votes

7/19/06 - Voted to transfer ownership of the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego, California, to the US government - legislation intended to circumvent a district court order to remove the Memorial Cross from City property by August 1, after 17 years of court decisions had determined that the display is an unconstitutional religious monument. (HR 5683 Roll Call 386)

3/21/05 - Kirk voted for the Terri Schiavo bill that allowed the U.S. government to intervene in a family medical decision (S. 686, Roll call 90)

9/9/03 - Voted for HR 2765, to authorize $10 million to be spent on a school voucher program for students living in the District. (HR 2765 House Vote 491 R 209-11; D 1-194)

3/27/03 - Voted for a National Day of Prayer. (HRES 153 Roll Call 90)

7/19/2001 - Voted for HR7, the Charitable Choice Act of 2001, allowing religions organizations to recieve federal funding. HR 7

7/19/2001 - Voted against the Rangel Amendment to HR7, which would have prevented religious organizations receiving federal funds from discriminating on the basis of religion in employment and from proselytizing within federally-funded programs. H.Amdt. 200

Americans United for Separation of Church and State gave Rep. Kirk the following rating:
2005 - 55%