Written by Don Byrd
The Supreme Court of Massachussetts heard arguments yesterday over the Pledge of Allegiance recitation in public schools. Specifically, the parents who brought the suit object to their children being “indoctrinated” daily in a religious expression through the phrase “under God.” Participation is of course voluntary, but they argue that isn’t protection enough.
Religion News Service reports on the argument:
Attorney David Niose, representing anonymous atheist parents, told justices that atheist children “are denied meaningful participation in this patriotic exercise” because the language refers to God.
“Children every morning are pledging their national unity and loyalty in an indoctrinating format, in a way that that validates God belief as truly patriotic and actually invalidates atheism,” said Niose, former president of the American Humanist Association and now president of the Secular Coalition of America.
Courts have routinely found the phrase does not violate the separation of church and state as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Plaintiffs here are making a different argument: that the daily recitation of the Pledge violates the state’s constitutional requirement of “equal treatment” regardless of creed. Lower courts have sided with the government (and the Pledge) in this dispute. The state’s high court will now weigh in. Stay tuned.
