Lawsuit seeks to take 'so help me God' out of inaugural (Representatives, attorney)

[Greatday]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A number of atheists and non-religious organizations want Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony to leave out all references to God and religion.

President-elect Barack Obama will use the Bible Abraham Lincoln used for his inauguration.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Washington, the plaintiffs demand that the words "so help me God" not be added to the end of the president's oath of office.

Lawsuit seeks to take 'so help me God' out of inaugural - CNN.com

Stupid, frivilous lawsuit!

[mackinac81]

Secular fundamentalists strike again!

[camping!]

Don't be in such a rush to paint all atheists with such a broad brush. Isn't this spearheaded by the same atheist famewh*re who sued CA to get the 'under God' part of the pledge of allegiance taken out?
As I have said many times before, this famewh*re is no more the face of atheism then Fred Phelps is the face of Christianity.

[Yeledaf]

Mike Newdow! Father to a Christian child, ex-husband of a Christian wife.

And he will have his revenge, in this world or the next.

Loved that flick!

[Greatday]

Inasmuch as those named in the filing will have to respond, which probably will require the hiring of counsel, and inasmuch as the attorney who filed the suit acknowledged that "he will lose" ....

I would hope that those name counter claim for their damages - their costs of responding to this obviously frivolous lawsuit

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Greatday

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A number of atheists and non-religious organizations want Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony to leave out all references to God and religion.

President-elect Barack Obama will use the Bible Abraham Lincoln used for his inauguration.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Washington, the plaintiffs demand that the words "so help me God" not be added to the end of the president's oath of office.

Lawsuit seeks to take 'so help me God' out of inaugural - CNN.com

Stupid, frivilous lawsuit!

It is indeed a frivilous law suit, because the words "so help me God" are not part of the President's Oath of Office, and never have been.

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

George Washington, entirely on his own, added the words "so help me God" when he was sworn into office. There is nothing in law that requires those four words to be spoken by anyone. Therefore, there is no violation of the Establishment Clause and the suit is entirely without merit.

[mmmjv]

Stupid, frivilous lawsuit![/quote]

Only because those words are officially not even there in the first place. They are typically uttered by the new President AFTER the oath is over and are entirely voluntary

In fact, having the Bible or any Holy Book is also entirely voluntary. Obama could, if he wanted to, take the oath on something secular or even nothing at all. John Quincy Adams and Franklin Pierce were sworn in on law books and Teddy Roosevelt was sworn in in 1901 on nothing at all.

When being sworn in on something secular the word "affirm" is used instead of "swear" in the taking of the oath

[TuborgP]

Originally Posted by Glitch

It is indeed a frivilous law suit, because the words "so help me God" are not part of the President's Oath of Office, and never have been.



George Washington, entirely on his own, added the words "so help me God" when he was sworn into office. There is nothing in law that requires those four words to be spoken by anyone. Therefore, there is no violation of the Establishment Clause and the suit is entirely without merit.

And Obama can and will also.

[EinsteinsGhost]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

Secular fundamentalists strike again!

American constitution incorporated the idea of a secular nation, not a Christian nation. This is pretty clear in the first amendment, to keep religion out of government and government out of religion. This was done to ensure a secular America where all religion are respected.

[saganista]

There is nothing either stupid or frivolous about the lawsuit. Those who think to the contrary might try countering the gist of its complaint...

There can be no purpose for placing 'so help me God' in an oath or sponsoring prayers to God, other than promoting the particular point of view that God exists.

The inauguration ceremonies are sponsored and controlled by elements and representatives of the federal government. It is not the position of that government to take any side with respect to the existence of any god.

As to the likely outcome of this case, it would be well to remember that Dred Scott lost. And that Homer Plessy lost. But in the end, they were each adjudged to have been in the right. Progress doesn't always manifest of its own accord. There must always be those willing to stand up and give it a helping hand...