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December 31, 2008 9:45 AM

Atheists Sue Over Inaugural Prayer

Posted by Brian Montopoli
(AP)
Michael A. Newdow, who led the failed charge to get the words "under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance, is now heading an effort to keep religion out of President-elect Barack Obama's swearing in.

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.
Click Here For All Of CBSNews.com's Special Inauguration Coverage
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.

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."
Tags:
Inauguration ,
athiests ,
barack obama ,
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Add a Comment See all 232 Comments
by j_mcdonald-2009 January 3, 2009 9:48 AM EST
takeback2: I think you need to calm down a bit. We''re not going anywhere, and you should get used to that. Telling people to shut up or leave might be the norm in Iran, but not here. It only makes you look desperate.
Reply to this comment
by j_mcdonald-2009 January 3, 2009 9:36 AM EST
nikosk11: "When atheists go on the attack against ''God'' all they really accomplish is to validate the very same existance of that ''God''."

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.
Reply to this comment
by mytoosense January 2, 2009 6:55 PM EST
And exactly how many lives were slaughtered by the hands of the godless Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, etc.?

Posted by Credibility2 at 12:59 PM : Dec 31, 2008

Hitler was a Roman Catholic .
Reply to this comment
by mytoosense January 2, 2009 6:51 PM EST
As an Atheist, I think this suit is going too far.

However it sickens me to hear that an Evangelical is invited to speak at the event. A radical Muslim would not be any worse.
Reply to this comment
by amrt5016 January 2, 2009 3:32 PM EST
Newdow''''s logic and his arguments are irrational. I find liver and onions to be offensive, but if a new president wanted to serve it at his/her inaugural ball, I wouldn''''t have to eat it, would I?
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.
Reply to this comment
by nikosk11 January 2, 2009 2:26 PM EST
And exactly how many lives were slaughtered by the hands of the godless Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, etc.?

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.

Reply to this comment
by nikosk11 January 2, 2009 2:16 PM EST
I personally don''t believe in that "God" myth, but just for the sake of the argument: When atheists go on the attack against "God" all they really accomplish is to validate the very same existance of that "God"

Reply to this comment
by lordsuntzu January 2, 2009 1:27 PM EST
what is atheism?

no god or attack god ideology?
Reply to this comment
by toolmangler-2009 January 2, 2009 1:16 AM EST
Now you are stepping on ''MY'' rights Newdow. I believe in GOD and since he says he does also, I want him to swear to me under the name of GOD with his hand on a Bible that he will uphold this country''s rights and safety
Reply to this comment
by endurorob January 1, 2009 11:14 PM EST
Michael A. Newdow is showing complete disrespect for Christians, who greatly outnumber atheists. If Mr. Newdow does not like what is being said, he does not have to watch the swearing in ceremony.

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.
Reply to this comment
by judyann915 January 1, 2009 7:10 PM EST
Michael A. Newdow is showing complete disrespect for Christians, who greatly outnumber atheists. If Mr. Newdow does not like what is being said, he does not have to watch the swearing in ceremony.
Reply to this comment
by hatesthecolt January 1, 2009 5:59 PM EST
Atheists can make any excuse because they have no standard to be held to.
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 08:32 PM : Dec 31, 2008

If by standards you mean treating all people with dignity and respect and according them full equality under the law, Christians can''''t claim a high moral ground.

Posted by amrt5016

Isn''t that just like a lot of christians: selfrighteous to the end.
Reply to this comment
by alanrobisch January 1, 2009 3:48 PM EST
If by standards you mean treating all people with dignity and respect and according them full equality under the law, Christians can''''t claim a high moral ground

What I mean is that if a atheist commits adultery no one comes down on him. Its excused. If a christian does it as a firestorm erupts and he is accused of hypocrisy.

No there are no set standards and people who do not defend family values are allowed to stray without the same opprobrium.

See barney franks he had a male lover who was acting as a prostitute. He is still in office and I am willing to guess no one here knew that
Reply to this comment
by bayermr January 1, 2009 3:27 PM EST
President Elect Obama Personally Addressed by SAFE Foundation in Chicago Tribune

On 12/14/2008, in the Chicago Tribune, the SAFE Foundation (www.safefoundationusa.org), respectfully requested President Elect Obama''s endorsement for their new program. SAFE did not ask for money, only President Elect Obama''s endorsement. The SAFE Foundation recently started a new program capable of helping millions of disaster stricken American citizens and simultaneously helping our countries economy recover. SAFEs program is very effective and based around common sense thinking. Without a doubt, SAFEs new program will produce many positive results. Results that will benefit the %u201CAmerican Citizens%u201D across our Country.
Reply to this comment
by bayermr January 1, 2009 3:26 PM EST
I am personally very curious as to why President Elect Obama has not yet responded to the SAFE Foundations request for his endorsement of their program. This is an excellent example of the type of "CHANGE" the American people need. With just a few spoken words to the News Media, President Elect Obama would enable the SAFE Foundation to help millions of devastated American citizens. I am hoping President Elect Obama will soon grant the request of the SAFE Foundation, as many Americans desperately need help NOW!
I also hope that the news media is truly concerned with the well being of our devastated American people. Concerned enough to give the SAFE Foundation nationwide media exposure. The exposure that would help the SAFE Foundation quickly achieve their goal of helping millions of disaster stricken Americans across our country.
My personal opinion: If the News Media has the air time and resources to repeatedly give media coverage concerning President Bush%u2019s dog leaving the White House and predicting what breed of dog the Obama%u2019s will purchase to move into the White House, they have plenty of air time to help the SAFE Foundation save our devastated American citizens.
Soon we will all see who is truly concerned with the well being of our fellow Americans in distress and who merely claims to be concerned.
Written by: Feeling Duped Obama supporter.
Reply to this comment
by alanrobisch January 1, 2009 3:25 PM EST
as far as proof I have a ba in history and have loved reading history my entire lifetime. Many of you probably don''t consider ancient history history but christianity wasn''t around then and wars were fought for land and power. see alexander the great and his conquests. see the romans conquest of the entire mediterranean basis.

See the constant conflict in the ancient middle east over control of what is now Iraq. ancient china did not have religious wars they had wars of internal conquest and many more died building the walls to protect the empire.
see the huns who ravaged europe. See the mongols kublai khan who conquercd and slaughtered to conquer a large part of what is considered asia.
Reply to this comment
by amrt5016 January 1, 2009 2:49 PM EST
Atheists can make any excuse because they have no standard to be held to.
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 08:32 PM : Dec 31, 2008

If by standards you mean treating all people with dignity and respect and according them full equality under the law, Christians can''t claim a high moral ground.
Reply to this comment
by amrt5016 January 1, 2009 2:44 PM EST
BTW the most common reason for wars have not been religion but urge for power and land.
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 08:32 PM : Dec 31, 2008

Proof, data, anything? The long-running conflicts in the Middle East and in Northern Ireland, between India and Pakistan, and America''s war on terrorism have a strong religious element. Religion does not have to claim the dubious distinction of creating the greatest flash point of conflict, it''s enough that it''s destabilizing to world peace and security to merit being considered a threat we should control if not exterminate.
Reply to this comment
by amrt5016 January 1, 2009 2:30 PM EST
mdalerwill: "Uh-oh, does that mean I have to put the 6 million Holocaust victims in the "killed by Christians" column?"

Yup. Especially if you look at the religious backgrounds and motivations of the guards, etc. who actually carried out the orders.
Posted by j_mcdonald at 05:31 PM : Dec 31, 2008

I tend to agree. And Jewish is more a religious category than cultural or racial.
Reply to this comment
by gogwgo January 1, 2009 2:24 PM EST
This issue will never be solved so long as we have DumboCrapheads in charge, since just like these Atheist POS, the DumboCrapheads revel in America being forced to it''s lowest common denominator.

It''s what makes them DumboCrapheads.
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