Press Release

We'll Be Back: Humanist Liberty More Than a Technicality

For Immediate Release - Contact: Roy Speckhardt at (202) 238-9088

(Washington, D.C.) "This battle isn't over but, Humanists are sadly disappointed by the Supreme Court's decision to skirt the issue of including 'under God' in the Pledge," states Mel Lipman, president of the American Humanist Association (AHA). "This struggle against state sponsored sectarianism is far from over. By throwing this case out on standing, the Supreme Court implies it is willing to disregard the 30 million Americans who identify with no religion, as well as faithful Buddhists, Hindus and others who do not subscribe to this monotheistic pledge."

Humanists stand firm alongside Newdow that the words "under God" in the government established Pledge of Allegiance are an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. "The practice of reciting the Pledge in public schools specifically targets children, inculcating them with a monotheistic message not held by millions of Americans," adds Lipman.

This is not a passive reading of a historic document but an active swearing of loyalty to one's country. When these words were added on June 14, 1954, exactly 50 years ago today, our national oath of loyalty became tantamount to prayer. "The First Amendment does not require hostility toward religion, but mandates government neutrality toward religion. By imposing a religious belief on those without such beliefs, the current version of the Pledge utterly fails this test," explains Lipman.

Humanists feel the Court must inevitably recognize that "under God" is not the language of patriotic ceremony but rather the governmental endorsement of sectarian religion. "We are confident that Humanists, atheists, and defenders of church-state separation, will remain vigilant in confronting the 1954 addition of 'under God' to the Pledge, which violates the principle of religious neutrality, and will leave the teaching of religion where it belongs-with parents and in houses of worship," concludes Lipman.

The American Humanist Association will be supporting future litigation that will finally force the Supreme Court to act.

See Pledge talking points at http://www.americanhumanist.org/pledge.html for background information and watch for an AHA alert announcing the decision.

For more on the Plege of Allegiance, please click on Pledge of Allegiance Case

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 nontheistic outlook, based on reason and experience, which embraces all of humanity.

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