Man Who Won Ruling Against Pledge Loses Bid to Abolish Prayer

[rodbarnett]

at Presidential Inaugurations

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The atheist who persuaded a federal appeals court to strike down the Pledge of Allegiance because of the words "under God" lost a bid Monday to abolish prayer at presidential inaugurations.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Michael Newdow did not suffer "a sufficiently concrete and specific injury" to pursue his latest claim.

Newdow is both an emergency room physician and a lawyer and has represented himself in the two legal actions.

Newdow argued that the Rev. Franklin Graham's prayer at President Bush's 2001 inauguration was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. He said the practice of clergy-led prayer at presidential inaugurations did not begin until Franklin D. Roosevelt's second inauguration in 1937.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA9TO321RD.html

comment : chalk up another one for "W"

[BlueJazz]

1. Fine...Religion wants to be a part of "State"

Then Religion can start paying taxes to that same state.

[Bandit]

2. I think if they could get official endorsement they wouldn't mind a little

bit of taxation. At least as much, percentage wise, as say Haliburton.