Beacon Hill pols not unanimous on pledge under God

The Boston Herald ^ | 09/29/2005 | Dave Wedge

[Panerai]

The simmering battle over the separation of church and state came to Beacon Hill yesterday with 30 lawmakers voting against a measure that would prohibit striking the words ``under God'' from the Pledge of Allegiance.

"Is anything sacred anymore?'' questioned Tim O'Brien, spokesman for the state Republican Party. ``It's a pretty sad day when we're voting against the Pledge of Allegiance.''

A resolution supporting keeping the current pledge intact with the words "one nation under God'' easily passed the House yesterday by a vote of 114-30. The measure was filed by 35 lawmakers in the wake of a California court ruling last week that found the pledge violates school children's constitutional right to freedom of religion.

Rep. Ruth Balser (D-Newton) was among the 30 Democratic legislators who voted against the measure.

"It is the court's responsibility not the Legislature's to interpret the Constitution,'' Balser said. ``I believe that the United States has done the best job in the world of protecting religious freedom and that's because we have been vigilant about maintaining a strong barrier between the state and religious institutions.''

Under the resolution, the House found that the words ``one nation under God'' reflect ``the historical fact that a belief in God permeated the founding and development of our nation.''

The resolution also states that ``individuals who do not share the beliefs expressed in the pledge may refrain from its recitation.''

The Massachusetts House and Senate have previously adopted resolutions upholding the Pledge of Allegiance, including the reference to God. But, according to yesterday's resolution, the California court ruling "demonstrates there is a compelling need for reaffirmation'' of support for the pledge.