Avowed atheist Michael Newdow is at again in his quest to remove God from the public arena.
Newdow has made headlines in years past for trying to get “under God” removed from the Pledge of Allegiance and suing to have the mention of God removed from the presidential oath. Now he is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit — when it opens the session to hear his case — not to use the commonly used phrase “God save the United States and this honorable court.”
Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel explains Newdow’s argument. “He said that the court should remain neutral and not prejudge the matter — and [that] if they continue with their normal opening of the court, it would suggest that his case has no merit,” says Staver.
“Well frankly, his case doesn’t have any merit,” the attorney continues, “and I believe that the Circuit Court of Appeals will ultimately reject Newdow’s argument.”
Staver argues that it is a matter of one non-believer — in this case, Newdow — telling the majority believers that they must bow to him.
“Every federal court in the country opens every single session with ‘God save the United States and this honorable court.’ Clearly that’s not an establishment of religion,” he says.
“It may offend Michael Newdow and a few other fringe individuals, but that’s a far cry from saying an acknowledgement of God — or this [in the presidential] oath, ‘So help me God’ — establishes religion.”
According to Staver, the minority must be heard — but not permitted to step on the constitutional rights of the majority.
(Source: OneNewsNow)