Inauguration Prayer Preserved But What Next?
This just in, a federal judge voted against an appeal to get any form of prayer or Bible swearing in banned at this year's inauguration. Thank God, literally.
Michael Newdow, a California doctor and lawyer and prominent atheist militant led this case. Newdow had lost a court case last year, in which he want the words ONE NATION UNDER GOD removed from the US Pledge of Allegiance. He officially took this case and made it a case, citing his daughter being hurt by the majority's religious intolerance and tyranny. Oddly enough his daughter was a Christian (much like Madolyn Murray O Hare's crusade to remove school prayer, which worked, for her son. O Hare Jr. is now a Christian minister and was long since disowned by his atheist family). Newdow also wanted the words IN GOD WE TRUST taken off all currency, buildings, and federal seals and mottos. He lost that case, on a technicality. Newdow was not the legal guardian or parent for his daughter. Dodged a bullet, more or less.
This most recent case, Dr. Newdow, sued to get any benediction and prayers removed from the inauguration. He felt it violated the separation of church and state provision of the constitution. Well, there are some problems with that. The phrase Separation of Church and State is never ever mentioned in Yea Old Parchment. Second, the First Amendment is as follows- The government shall make no laws permitting or establishing official religion and not to hinder the free exercise thereof. Free Exercise thereof, Newdow, you forgot that part. The constitutional issue was non-existent playing into the downfall of Newdow's newest rage.
The second part is tradition. There has been swearing in with a Bible since George Washington was sworn in 1789, in NEw York City, right where Wall Street now sits. There were prayers over Lincoln during his first and heavily secured inauguration, and of course when they did a toned down celebration due to the Civil War. Christian Prayers were incorporated in 1937, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt won his second term. LBJ did this prayer, on Air Force One after President John F Kennedy was pronounced dead in Dallas, hours after his assassination. Every President has said this- I, (their name) do solemnly to faithfully uphold, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and...... So Help Me God. If Newdow could have come up with a better phrase with as much meaning, then maybe, just maybe it.... Oh hell, it wouldn't have made it through. Sorry doctor, we're not changing 216 years of Presidential ceremonies and an important one at that, for your angry self. Sorry, Dr. Newdow, Bush swears in on a Bible.
Does this mean, we are completely out of the woods? Maybe, but maybe not. It depends on the judges and how they rule and what they ruled on. Newdow is still emboldened as the Appellate Courts never said that the phrase Under God was unconstitutional, in the California case. Newdow is taking another crack at Under God, again. Apparently a judge while ruling against him, was less than bold in taking on the issue. The back door was a quick way to stop one case, but not this particular issue.
The inaugural prayer issue was answered with a direct affirmation of law and tradition. The judge said this was not an unconstitutional action, and that trying to take away this oath was more harmful than good. Better, and at least stays the prayer in Presidential and civil servants' swearing in. Newdow may be licking his wounds on this one, but may go to smaller areas and laws. Look what happened to Roy Moore in Alabama.
All that can be done is to remember this- Blessed is the nation whose God is The Lord.... from Psalms. But remember what happened in Jeremaiah to the nations who turn from God and exchange lifesprings for cisterns. Blessed are His. Cursed are the rest. We must hold true not just for our comfort as the religious or even just the moral majority. We must hold true to preserve the life of America. At least until the Second Coming.
God Bless America, God Save The Republic, and God Preserve Us All.
Michael Newdow, a California doctor and lawyer and prominent atheist militant led this case. Newdow had lost a court case last year, in which he want the words ONE NATION UNDER GOD removed from the US Pledge of Allegiance. He officially took this case and made it a case, citing his daughter being hurt by the majority's religious intolerance and tyranny. Oddly enough his daughter was a Christian (much like Madolyn Murray O Hare's crusade to remove school prayer, which worked, for her son. O Hare Jr. is now a Christian minister and was long since disowned by his atheist family). Newdow also wanted the words IN GOD WE TRUST taken off all currency, buildings, and federal seals and mottos. He lost that case, on a technicality. Newdow was not the legal guardian or parent for his daughter. Dodged a bullet, more or less.
This most recent case, Dr. Newdow, sued to get any benediction and prayers removed from the inauguration. He felt it violated the separation of church and state provision of the constitution. Well, there are some problems with that. The phrase Separation of Church and State is never ever mentioned in Yea Old Parchment. Second, the First Amendment is as follows- The government shall make no laws permitting or establishing official religion and not to hinder the free exercise thereof. Free Exercise thereof, Newdow, you forgot that part. The constitutional issue was non-existent playing into the downfall of Newdow's newest rage.
The second part is tradition. There has been swearing in with a Bible since George Washington was sworn in 1789, in NEw York City, right where Wall Street now sits. There were prayers over Lincoln during his first and heavily secured inauguration, and of course when they did a toned down celebration due to the Civil War. Christian Prayers were incorporated in 1937, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt won his second term. LBJ did this prayer, on Air Force One after President John F Kennedy was pronounced dead in Dallas, hours after his assassination. Every President has said this- I, (their name) do solemnly to faithfully uphold, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and...... So Help Me God. If Newdow could have come up with a better phrase with as much meaning, then maybe, just maybe it.... Oh hell, it wouldn't have made it through. Sorry doctor, we're not changing 216 years of Presidential ceremonies and an important one at that, for your angry self. Sorry, Dr. Newdow, Bush swears in on a Bible.
Does this mean, we are completely out of the woods? Maybe, but maybe not. It depends on the judges and how they rule and what they ruled on. Newdow is still emboldened as the Appellate Courts never said that the phrase Under God was unconstitutional, in the California case. Newdow is taking another crack at Under God, again. Apparently a judge while ruling against him, was less than bold in taking on the issue. The back door was a quick way to stop one case, but not this particular issue.
The inaugural prayer issue was answered with a direct affirmation of law and tradition. The judge said this was not an unconstitutional action, and that trying to take away this oath was more harmful than good. Better, and at least stays the prayer in Presidential and civil servants' swearing in. Newdow may be licking his wounds on this one, but may go to smaller areas and laws. Look what happened to Roy Moore in Alabama.
All that can be done is to remember this- Blessed is the nation whose God is The Lord.... from Psalms. But remember what happened in Jeremaiah to the nations who turn from God and exchange lifesprings for cisterns. Blessed are His. Cursed are the rest. We must hold true not just for our comfort as the religious or even just the moral majority. We must hold true to preserve the life of America. At least until the Second Coming.
God Bless America, God Save The Republic, and God Preserve Us All.
posted by NDwalters @ 1:37 PM
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