February 19, 2008The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) -- don't you just love that name? -- is at it again.
The anti-religionists, represented by well-known atheist Michael Newdow and others, have filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire to challenge the inclusion of the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.
You remember Mr. Newdow. He's the same one who sued Congress and the Elk Grove Unified School District in California, demanding the removal of "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance to our nation's flag. In 2005, he sued President Bush to prohibit a minister from delivering an invocation at the President's inaugural ceremony.
FFRF is also no stranger to the spotlight. Just last year, in
Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., they challenged the funding of a White House initiative that informed
both faith-based and secular organizations about federal funding for programs that help the poor.
ADF filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of a faith-based organization in that case and – praise God! – the court ruled 5-4 that FFRF had no basis for their claims and the White House initiative could proceed... (More on that case at
www.telladf.org/userdocs/updates/briefing/2007_08/story2.html.)
Actually, the very name, "Freedom From Religion
Foundation," has always struck me as a bit ironic. The
foundation they are attempting to create in this country can only be laid by first utterly destroying the original
foundation – that of religious liberty – established by our Founding Fathers more than 225 years ago. Which is why it's our prayer that, by God's grace and your continued prayerful support, their secular dreams will never be realized!
In response to their latest attack in New Hampshire, ADF attorneys have filed a friend-of-the-court brief and, along with Cornerstone Policy Research, asking that the suit be dismissed because the group lacks any basis on which to sue.
"Those who disregard America's heritage have no right to demand that America abandon its traditions simply to appease their personal political agendas," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman.
"The phrase 'one nation under God,' was used in President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, long before Congress added it to the Pledge. Further, the filers of this lawsuit have not shown that they have suffered any legal harm." A copy of the friend-of-the-court brief filed by ADF attorneys and local counsel Michael J. Compitello in
The Freedom from Religion Foundation v. The Congress of the United States of America is available at
www.telladf.org/UserDocs/PledgeAmicus.pdf.
Those who oppose religious liberty will continue to launch their attacks. But by God's grace, we will continue to meet the in the courtroom again and again, preserving religious freedom for our children and grandchildren. This battle can be won, if it is fought under God!