Press Release
AHA Applauds Court Decision to Stand by Pledge of Allegiance Ruling
Contact Information
Tony Hileman, Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Washington, D.C.- February 28, 2002) Today the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed its Pledge of Allegiance ruling from last June. This ruling overturns the 1954 act of Congress that modified our Pledge of Allegiance to include the words "under God." "The court simply recognized the fact that adding a testimony of religious belief to our statement of national loyalty was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion back in the 1950s, and it still is today," responded Tony Hileman, executive director of the American Humanist Association (AHA).
"As I said in June, even though the Supreme Court ruled in the past that it couldn't be a requirement for public school students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, students without sectarian faith continue to be placed in an intimidating position. They are forced to either refuse in front of their peers to recite the Pledge or pledge to something they do not believe in," continued Hileman.
"The combined media firestorm and political circus that ensued last summer after this court's original ruling on the Pledge made it clear beyond a doubt that these are meaningful words, and that they are undeniably religious in meaning," said Hileman.
The Ninth Circuit Court's decision clarifies that government sponsorship of sectarian religion is unconstitutional and will not be supported further. The government cannot endorse one religion over another religion, nor can it endorse religion in general over non-religion. Hileman states, "The Pledge in its current form violates the American principle standard of religious freedom. As this case will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court, the AHA will remain strongly supportive of the effort to return the Pledge to its previously inclusive form," said Hileman.
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The American Humanist Association is the oldest and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to ensuring a voice for those with a positive outlook, based on reason and experience, which embraces all of humanity.
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God November 14, 2002
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AHA's Action Alert on the Pledge
AHA's Press Release on the Pledge
Pledge Talking Points
Press From Our Members on the Pledge
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