Atheists Sue Over Inaugural Prayer

(AP)
Newdow's group, consisting of 18 individuals and 10 smaller groups, has sued "Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., several officials in charge of inaugural festivities, the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery and megachurch pastor Rick Warren" in U.S. District Court, the Washington Post reports.
Lowery has been asked to deliver the benediction at the ceremony, while Warren is the transition team's (controversial) choice to deliver the invocation; Roberts is set to administer the oath of office. The oath traditionally includes the phrase "so help me God," which the athiest group wants stricken.
Newdow brought similar suits four and eight years ago to keep references to God and prayer out of President Bush's inaugurals. They were unsuccessful.
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The lawsuit argues that the prayers and religious references "are completely exclusionary, showing absolute disrespect to Plaintiffs and others of similar religious views, who explicitly reject the purely religious claims that will be endorsed, i.e., (a) there exists a God, and (b) the United States government should pay homage to that God."
Scott Walter, executive director of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, dismissed the suit as a "publicity stunt."
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So when they deny the existance of Thor, they''re really saying he exists? Same for Zeus? And Mithrades? You might want to read the philosophical literature on meaning and reference.
Posted by Credibility2 at 12:59 PM : Dec 31, 2008
Hitler was a Roman Catholic .
However it sickens me to hear that an Evangelical is invited to speak at the event. A radical Muslim would not be any worse.
Posted by raflin0010 at 08:56 AM : Jan 02, 2009
And that is fine for lovers of liver and onions. Is it all right for the rest to go hungry or bring their own meals? In any case, what about constitutional issues that forbid favoring a religion? This is not just about Obama and Warren. They can pray together on their own without public money.
Posted by Credibility2 at 12:59 PM : Dec 31, 2008
And "God" allowed Herod to butcher 5,000 baby boys. At least that is what your bible sez.
no god or attack god ideology?
Posted by judyann915
Obama is represetnig the Country during the inauguration and having the clergy there to speak give the impression that the government supports a specific religion which flys in the face of seperation of church and state.