WASHINGTON--A delegation of clergy representing Catholic, evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant traditions declared Ronald Reagan the "breakthrough president on religious expression" during a news conference outside the U.S. Senate Dirksen Building June 8, according to U.S. Newswire.

Immediately following the declaration, the delegation attended a Senate hearing convened by the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights dealing with a growing hostility towards religion in public life.

"Ronald Reagan, more than any other 20th century president since Theodore Roosevelt, spoke of the importance of publicly acknowledging America's dependence on the Almighty," said Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council. "He also drew clear distinctions between godless atheistic countries like the Soviet Union and our country, which he affirmed as 'one nation under God.'"

According to the Newswire report, President Reagan predicted present day controversies related to religion in public life. He said in a 1984 speech, "Suits were brought to abolish the words 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance and to remove 'In God We Trust' from public documents and from our currency. Today there are those who are fighting to make sure voluntary prayer is not returned to the classrooms."

Reagan's words continue to resonate with the current case being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court, calling for the words "one nation under God," to be stricken from the Pledge, as an unconstitutional violation of separation of church and state.

The delegation of clergy delivered 30,000 petitions from its members to the judiciary subcommittee urging Congress to reaffirm the clause, "one nation, under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Former President Ronald Reagan died June 5 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 93.