mtnfireguy
06-26-2002, 03:04 PM
Ruling: 'Pledge Of Allegiance' Endorses Religion
SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court in San Francisco has declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional.
The court finds that it's an endorsement of religion -- and cannot be recited in schools.
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a 1954 act of Congress that inserted the phrase "under God" after the words "one nation" in the pledge.
The court says the phrase violates the separation of church and state.
A judge wrote that a statement that we are one nation "under God" is no different than saying we are a nation "under Jesus" or "under Vishnu" -- or a nation "under no God."
He says none of these statements can be neutral with respect to religion.
SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court in San Francisco has declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional.
The court finds that it's an endorsement of religion -- and cannot be recited in schools.
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a 1954 act of Congress that inserted the phrase "under God" after the words "one nation" in the pledge.
The court says the phrase violates the separation of church and state.
A judge wrote that a statement that we are one nation "under God" is no different than saying we are a nation "under Jesus" or "under Vishnu" -- or a nation "under no God."
He says none of these statements can be neutral with respect to religion.