Federal Judge Who Rebukes Atheist on Inauguration Prayer

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14
U.S. Newswire

Christian Coalition commends U.S. District Judge John Bates for rejecting the lawsuit filed by atheist Michael Newdow who attempted to stop President George W. Bush's invocation prayer at his second inauguration. Newdow told the federal judge that he would be forced to accept unwanted religious beliefs if a minister during the inauguration ceremonies invoked God.

In his commonsense decision, Judge Bates said, "Moreover, the balance of harms here, and particularly the public interest, does not weigh strongly in favor of injunctive relief Newdow requests, which would require the unprecedented step of an injunction against the president." President George Washington referred to God during his inauguration at Federal Hall in New York City in 1789. President Franklin Roosevelt began Christian prayers during his second inauguration in 1937.

The Vice-President of Legislative Affairs of Christian Coalition of America, Jim Backlin said, "Michael Newdow also temporarily caused school children in western states to stop reciting the Pledge of Allegiance because he was offended by the words "Under God" in the pledge. Thank God there are still federal judges -- including the Supreme Court Justices who threw out Mr. Newdow's Pledge of Allegiance lawsuit last year -- who reject the goals of a tiny vocal minority trying to impose their anti-God prejudices on more than 80 percent of Americans who hold traditional values and want God to remain in the public square."


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