Wednesday, June 26, 2002
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion and cannot be recited in schools. U.S. Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) issued the following statement in reaction:
“This ruling on the Pledge is just beyond comprehension. I am shocked, saddened and exasperated by liberal efforts to eliminate any and all references to God in our country. I fought this fight with liberal interest groups as governor of Ohio when our motto “With God All Things Are Possible” was challenged. We eventually prevailed when the motto was ruled constitutional by the Sixth Circuit. Judge David Nelson, writing for the majority, expressed it well in his opinion when he wrote: “The motto involves no coercion. It does not assert a preference for one religious denomination or sect over another.”
“Now more than ever our children should be able to join together and recite the Pledge of Allegiance as a celebration of the freedom, opportunity and diversity America offers. I am confident that this ruling will be overturned and our nation’s children will be able to stand up, put their hands on their hearts and recite the words to our Pledge.”