Date: 1981-10-01
Speaker: PHILIP M. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. on September 9 of this year my resolution to disapprove the District of Columbias Sexual Assault Act was introduced in the House. This act. passed by the City Council and sent to Congress in July. will become law in the District unless. under a pro. vision of the Home Rule Act. it is disapproved by the House or Senate prior I urge my colleagues to exercise the authority provided for in that act and join me in voting to disapprove the proposal. On balance. I feel that the act represents a substantial improve. ment in the Districts Criminal Code. and I very much support those provisions which extend legal protections to victims of assault. Unfortunately. though. I think the proposal is laced with provisions which are so onerous as to make the proposal totally unacceptable both to a majority of the residents of the community and. more importantly. a majority of the citizens of the country. Although the basic proposal stens from years of legal evaluations and public hearings. the final product. most especially those objectionable provisions. was not discussed in public hearings. Many of the civic associations and religious organizations in the District and elsewhere are strongly opposed to the measure. and that includes. among others. such people as Archbishop Hickey of Washington. D.C.. the National Association of Evangelicals. and the Baptist Ministers Conference here in Washington. D.C. I would like to read a letter from Archbishop Hickey to my colleagues at this time. It reads as follows: My brothers and sisters in Christ. The Council of the District of Columbia this week enacted legislation intended by its au. thors to modernize and consolidate the laws of the District regarding sexual assault. The bill broadens the traditional definition of rape to include forms of compulsion other than physical force. Efforts to combat rape more effectively are commendable. I am pleased. also. that the provisions protecting children and minors from sexual abuse remain in the law. The new legislation. however. removes civil prohibitions with regard to adultery. fornication and sodomy. By so doing the law withdraws significant support for fundamental values of our Jewish and Christian moral tradition. The fabric of society is weakened.when basic values of family life and human sexuality are no longer protected by law. Adultery. fornication and sodomy are immoral. The withdrawal of civil plohibitions and penalties does not make theta morally permissible. They are wrong because of the very nature of human love. sexuality and the family. Our present situation. therefore. makes it even more necessary that the family and the Church community offer guidance and encouragement in the areas of moral judgment and value formation based on the enduring law of God taught to us by the Lord Jesus. Each of us should take this occasion to renew our own dedication to the teaching and example of Christ and to pray that our society will uphold those fundamental human values received from God himself. They are for the welfare of our families and of people everywhere. Asking your prayers for all families and for all who seek to live in Christ Jesus. I am. Sincerely in Christ.