Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Department of Public Affairs & Religious Liberty

October 15, 2003

CHURCH STATE NEWSFLASH!!!

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR CASE
INVOLVING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The United States Supreme Court accepted today the appeal
of the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling regarding
the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. The
Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that students could not be
compelled to recite the Pledge, more than a decade before
the phrase "under God" was added. The Supreme Court has
also repeatedly ruled that students cannot be required to
participate in public prayer.

Although the Supreme Court accepts only a small fraction of
appeals, it was widely anticipated that it would take this
case, given the intense emotional impact it has had on our
country. While the mere taking of the case does not, by
itself, indicate which way the court is leaning, it does
suggest that some justices believe the lower court ruling
should be re examined.

The lower court examined the facts surrounding Congress
adding the phrase to the Pledge, and found that it was done
for a religious purpose and effect, and therefore unconstitutional
according to long established legal principles.

Yet the Supreme Court has upheld some overtly religious
practices, such as legislative chaplains, because of their
longstanding history in our nation. It remains to be seen
whether the Pledge will qualify for such an historical
exemption from the usual legal analysis requiring
government to pursue only secular purposes and effects,
rather than overtly religious ones.

Supporters of the phrase have, at times, argued that it is
not inherently religious to acknowledge God in this manner.
Yet the very passion they bring to the issue contradicts
the assertion.

The issue is not whether school children are free to recite
the phrase, "under God" As it stands now, even after the
Ninth Circuit decision, any school child who wishes to
recite the phrase is free to do so, although they may be
out of sync with others who omit it. The schools are
forbidden to lead out in religious activities, such as
inclusion of the phrase.

While the battle rages over religion in the public schools,
the broader issue receives no attention: that by turning
our children and schools over to the state, we lose our
freedom.

The very word "allegiance" is derived from the feudal term
"liege" which is the duty owed by a vassal to a lord. To
pledge allegiance to the country, in the strictest sense,
turns our republican form of government upside down. It
makes the citizen the servant of the state, instead of the
government the servant of the people.

We continue to advocate a Christian education for all
students, provided by Christians free of government
entanglements. This is the best way to secure liberty, and
a proper education  for all children.

In our Christian schools, we are free to continue pledging
allegiance to "one nation under God," if we so choose. Or
we can pledge allegiance to God alone, without compromising
our love of country.
 
For further discussion of this issue, tune in to our weekly
radio program, Freedom’s Ring, with broadcast times and
stations available on our new website, www.freedomsring.com.
We will produce a program on this topic in the near future.
------------------------------------------------------------

For assistance with a religious liberty problem:
Alan J. Reinach, Esq., ajreinach@earthlink.net;
805-413-7396
Dr. Bradford Newton, bcnewton@pacbell.net; 916-446-2552.

More information about religious liberty issues can be
found at www.churchstate.org.

Donations to support religious liberty can be sent to:
Religious Liberty
P.O. Box 5005
Westlake Village, CA 91359

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