The Washington Post reports that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against a Sacramento atheist who challenged the Pledge of Allegiance inclusion of the phrase “under God.” This is the second challenge Michael Newdow had brought before the court; he won the first case in 2002, but Supreme Court later struck down that ruling, saying Newdow did not have standing based on his arguments. The most recent lawsuit is identical to the first case, except Newdow filed on behalf of other parents who object to the pledge in schools. His brought his first suit in his daughter’s name, though he did not have custody of her. Writing the majority opinion in Thursday’s 2-1 ruling, Judge Carlos Bea said, “The Pledge of Allegiance serves to unite our vast nation through the proud recitation of some of the ideals upon which our Republic was founded.” Students are not required to recite the pledge in schools.
Endnote:
Religion Today, March 15, 2010, crosswalk.com