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“Under God” To Stay in The Pledge
By Matt Margolis | June 14, 2004
The Supreme Court preserved the phrase “one nation, under God,” in the Pledge of Allegiance, ruling Monday that a California atheist could not challenge the patriotic oath but sidestepping the broader question of separation of church and state.
At least for now, the decision - which came on Flag Day - leaves untouched the practice in which millions of schoolchildren around the country begin the day by reciting the pledge.
The court said atheist Michael Newdow could not sue to ban the pledge from his daughter’s school and others because he did not have legal authority to speak for her.
Newdow is in a protracted custody fight with the girl’s mother. He does not have sufficient custody of the child to qualify as her legal representative, the court said. Eight justices voted to reverse a lower court ruling in Newdow’s favor.
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June 15th, 2004 at 7:42 am
While I would like to see the Pledge returned to its pre-McCarthy purity, I admire the SCOTUS for its restraint. It is not supposed to rule on Constitutional issues unless absolutely necessary.
June 15th, 2004 at 10:22 am
It would have been nice to see them actual take the case and make an official ruling on it. Of course, there’s always a chance it would have gone against us, but still, the word “technicality” is already flying around and it seems like a cop out.