The Supreme Court is brushing aside an atheist’s challenge to religion in government, refusing to hear a complaint about President Barack Obama adding “so help me God” to his inaugural oath of office.
-- From "Supreme Court won’t hear atheist’s argument against ‘So help me God’ during presidential oath" by The Associated Press 5/16/11
The high court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from Michael Newdow, who argued that government references to God are unconstitutional and infringe on his religious beliefs.
The case is Newdow v. Roberts, 10-757.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Inauguration Prayer Challenge Turned Away by U.S. Supreme Court" by Greg Stohr, Bloomberg 5/16/11
. . . Newdow sued participants in President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, including Chief Justice John Roberts, who administered the oath of office. The oath contained both the words required by the Constitution and the phrase “so help me God,” which incoming presidents have included at every inauguration since 1932.
Newdow also objected to prayers offered at the 2009 ceremony by two private clergy members, Rick Warren and Joseph Lowery. More than 250 people and 19 organizations joined Newdow in filing the church-state suit.
The justices earlier this year rejected Newdow’s challenge to “In God We Trust,” the motto that adorns U.S. currency and offends some non-believers.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Judge doesn't ban 'God' in inaugural oath" by The Associated Press 1/15/2009
A federal judge . . . refused to order the words "so help me God" taken out of President-elect Barack Obama's oath of office . . . or to prevent ministers from praying at the inauguration celebration.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton turned down a request from a group of atheists and agnostics to force Chief Justice John Roberts not to add those words to the 35-word inaugural oath outlined in the Constitution.
The National Archives says George Washington added the words "so help me God" when he took the oath at his 1789 inaugural, and most presidents have used it since. However, some have argued that the first eyewitness account of a president using those words came at President Chester Arthur's inauguration in 1881.
Newdow, who lost a Supreme Court battle to get the words "under God" taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance, has failed in similar challenges to the use of religious words and prayers at President George W. Bush's inaugurations.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Court Rejects Challenge to Inaugural Prayer" posted at Fox News 1/15/2005
A federal judge . . . rejected a challenge brought by atheist Michael Newdow to stop the invocation prayer at President Bush's second inauguration.
. . . Newdow told U.S. District Judge John Bates that having a minister invoke God in the Jan. 20 ceremony would violate the Constitution by forcing him to accept unwanted religious beliefs.
The court . . . said it doesn't have the power to order the president not to speak at his own inauguration and the act of ordering the president not to permit an invocation and benediction — which Newdow sought — would be one and the same.
Newdow argued he would be harmed as someone attending the inauguration by being forced to listen to sectarian and specifically, Christian, prayer. The court said that harm is simply too small to warrant its involvement in the matter. Also, the court said Newdow really doesn't have the legal standing to make this request since he sued over inauguration prayers in 2001 and lost that case in two federal courts.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Click headlines below to read previous articles:
'Under God' OK in NH School: Court Ruling
Court Rules God References NOT Religious
