Courts: ‘In God We Trust’ does not violate Constitution
March 10, 2011
The United State Supreme Court has let stand an appellate court decision declaring that the national motto (“In God We Trust”) is constitutional.
Atheist activist Michael Newdow argued that the phrase, which has appeared on coins since the 1860s and has been the national motto since 1956, constituted a government establishment of religion. A federal appeals court ruled that the phrase “has nothing whatsoever to do with the establishment of religion” but is instead merely patriotic and ceremonial.
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Further information:
- Supreme Court Declines 'In God We Trust' Protest (Courthouse News Service)
- Court won't hear challenge to 'In God We Trust' (AP)
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Posted by: -
Mar. 10, 2011 10:32 PM ET USA
THE phrase “has nothing whatsoever to do with the establishment of religion” but is instead merely patriotic and ceremonial. If this were true the KofC is nothing but a social group - May the KofC ever serve the Holy Father - DEO VOLENTE
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Posted by: www.petersboat.net -
Mar. 10, 2011 3:24 PM ET USA
I'm with Cornelius. Well said. But we should rejoice in this court decision still, because it is not unlike the Ash Wednesday enigma. About both, we may ask the same question, namely, "Where are these people coming from?" Or, rather, "Who is drawing them here? Could it be God himself?" You see, at the end of the day, they were drawn nonetheless; so we'll take this court decision, gratefully, as having come from God himself who seems - most mysteriously - not to be done with America yet.
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Posted by: -
Mar. 10, 2011 8:11 AM ET USA
The decision shows how court decisions have become simply the will of the judge, not rooted in either a written document, natural law, or even common sense. The fact is, "In God we Trust" is obviously a religious invocation, but the court lacked the nerve to say so or the intelligence to justify it properly. So it eviscerated the phrase of its obvious meaning to justify retaining it. Black is white and up is down in this brave new world.
