ANN ARBOR – Urging the Supreme Court to reverse the judgment of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which held the Pledge of Allegiance to be unconstitutional, the Thomas More Law Center filed a brief today with the Supreme Court arguing that the Pledge acknowledges our nation’s rich religious heritage and encourages continuing recognition of the idea of God-given freedom. The brief was filed on behalf of the Catholic League, the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization.

In its brief the Law Center argues that the phrase “under God” acknowledges the undeniable religious belief regarding God-given freedom, the very principle that unites Americans as a people. This ongoing acknowledgement, the brief argues, “serves a beneficial secular purpose and is completely compatible with the Establishment Clause.”

Assisting in the brief was the Law Offices of Charles S. LiMandri, the Law Center’s western regional office in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center commented, “The court decision to abolish the Pledge of Allegiance signifies perhaps more clearly than any other case the relentless effort to eliminate all forms of religious expression from our public life. Our brief makes clear that the people of this country are not going to allow the public acknowledgement of the very heart and principle of our nation to be destroyed.”

http://www.thomasmore.org/

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), December 19, 2003

Answers

-- (top@top.top), December 19, 2003.

I don't say the pledge of alleignce. And it has nothing to do with the phrase "under god". I simply don't want to pledge alleigance to a country that puts economic gains above human rights; conducts wars not against terrorists, but against civilian populations; a country who is currently run by an unelected President.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), December 19, 2003.

Anti-bush

You are fortunate to live in a country that allows you to do what you believe to be right.

.........................................

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), December 19, 2003.

Don't tell me the losers are STILL sniveling about the Florida vote? Bush isn't perfect, but it's better than being Gored to death.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), December 19, 2003.

Hey Bushbasher

Pretty convenient that nobody seems to remember that fellow Democrat Kennedy was elected in the same way over Nixon back in 1960.

We elect our president based on the electoral college.

You know that, you've always known that. Who are you appealing to? Certainly not the well educated population that makes this country the pillar of strength that it is, because they know it too.

If you can't pledge your allegiance here, just where would you rather be?

I'm sure you don't forego any of the benifits you reap by being a citizen of this country. If you received an education, you can thank those who make this country great, because you did'nt pay for it. If you enjoy the benifit of a paycheck and all the rewards that come from making a living wage in this country, you can thank your forefathers who helped build this economy into the most productive system in the world, it was their ingenuity who gave you the tools you need to turn on a light in the morning, to have the means to commute to your place of work, to build the building which houses your place of work and the tools you need to do your job. If you want to criticize, then stop taking advantage of their gift to you and try to do the same thing somewhere else.

There are two types of people in this world those who do . . .and those who complain about what was done. Careful about which side of that fence you want to stand on . . . Remember, Christ was a builder, and a doer too.

As to the Bill of Rights . . .

The Bill of Rights claims "freedom of Religion," not freedom from religion. The original authors chose their words carefully and they intended it to mean what they said. I truely can't understand how it can be intrepreted any other way.

As always . . . Peace

They meant for religion to be an integral part of our society, not banned from it.

-- Leon (vol@weblink2000.net), December 19, 2003.

When George McGovern lost it was a devastating blow for me. I held a grudge against our government for a long time. Then I realized that people get the government they deserve (Tip O'Neil a famous Democratic Speaker of the House, possibly the best, said that). It is up to us to build the government we want. When you live in a democracy you have to realize that sometimes you loose elections, you can grumble or you can stand up and get the job done. Right now this country was attacked on 9/11. The terrorists have issued another threat today to bomb American cities and this time they claim they will kill 100,000 or more. This is no time to grumble, this is time to get the job done.

Tip O'Neil quoting Sam Rayburn, a former Speaker of the House "Remember, any jackass can kick over the barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one."

In Christ, Bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), December 20, 2003.

I refuse to promise to blindly follow a piece of fabric that represents a governtment that bombs innocent people. By the way I have no problem with America itself but I refuse to support our president or any other Republican government offical. According to the constitution I have that right and so does everybody else.

-- Anti Flag (spikey_freak888@yahoo.com), January 27, 2004.

The American flag represents the Constitution. You should respect the flag *because* it represents the Constitution of the United States. Many died and are dying to defend your constitutional rights under that flag.

Afganistan, not what it was liberated by the presedent you hate now has their own constitution. Soon Iraq will as well. Go ahead and hate, although it hurts you personally, but realize that what you hold dear is represented in the flag of the United States of America.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), January 27, 2004.

Except that now, murderers and crooks wrap themselves in the flag. I don't put much stock in symbols. You like the constitution, pledge alleigance to it, not some piece of cloth.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), February 01, 2004.

DON'T EVER GIVE YOUR FLAG TO KOOKS!

The Flag of the United States of America represents the government and the constitution that was put in place by our founders. The pledge of allegiance was even written by an American socialist. It is yours, don't give it up!

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), February 01, 2004.

I pledge alleigance to the world. The time for nations is over. Borders, walls, fences, they're all stupid. People and animals have been crossing the imaginary lines we see today as "borders" for millions of years. Who are we to suddenly put a fence up and say "you can't cross anymore"?

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), February 03, 2004.

I pledge alleigance to the world. The time for nations is over.

What makes you say the time for nations is over? I don't see any historical, social or political trend in that direction. Unless you are embracing the WTO.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), February 03, 2004.