CONGRESSMAN
COLLIN C. PETERSON
Minnesota - 7th District http://www.house.gov/collinpeterson/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2002
CONTACT: Allison Myhre/218-847-5056
Peterson
calls Court Panel ruling "Ri
(Washington, DC) -- Congressman Collin Peterson
(MN-7) condemned a ruling by a federal appeals court that the Pledge of
Allegiance is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion and cannot be recited
in schools.
"This
is ridiculous," Peterson said. "I
don't think a handful of liberal judges out in California should be making this
kind of decision for the rest of the country."
The
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a 1954 act of Congress inserting
the phrase "under God" after the words "one nation" in the
pledge. The court said the phrase
violates the so-called Establishment Clause in the Constitution that requires a
separation of church and state.
"I
grew up saying the Pledge in school each morning -- like school children in
Minnesota do now -- and I don't think that's bad.
We have "God" on our currency and Congress honors the tradition
of opening prayers -- it's part of our heritage and history."
Today,
Peterson cosponsored and voted for House Resolution 459, which denounces the 9th
Circuit Court's decision and calls for reversal of the decision by the full
court.
"Our
nation is facing unprecedented challenges -- both at home and abroad.
As Americans, we stand together and draw strength from the fundamental
principles that are the foundation of our nation, including the First Amendment
to the Constitution and its protection of religious freedom."
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