November 17, 2009

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) – dedicated to the defense of constitutional liberties secured by law – has filed an amicus brief on behalf of 44 members of Congress asking a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the engravings of the national motto and Pledge of Allegiance at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. 

(UPDATE - November 19, 2009:  We have revised our amicus brief to include the names of six additional members of Congress - bringing to 50 (47 members of the House and 3 members of the Senate) the number of members of Congress we represent in our amicus brief. The additional members of Congress who have signed on to the brief:  Representatives Rodney Alexander, Kevin McCarthy, Candice Miller, Jerry Moran, Ted Poe and Todd Tiahrt. We have filed the revised brief with the federal district court and the complete listing of the members of Congress represented is posted here.)

The amicus brief argues the display of “In God, We Trust” and the reference to God in the Pledge of Allegiance do not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and the suit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation “borders on frivolous” and serves no purpose other “than to waste judicial resources.”

You can read the ACLJ News Release here.

And below is some of the news coverage about the filing of this brief.

OneNewsNow.com - Will U.S. Motto Stand or Fall?

Gannett News Service - GOP Defends 'God' at Capitol Visitor Center

WorldNetDaily - U.S. Lawmakers Defend 'In God We Trust'

Politico.com - Bachmann Backs "God" at Capitol

CNSNews.com - Religious Freedom Group & Lawmakers Seek Dismissal of Lawsuit Banning References to God at Capitol Visitors Center

AFP News - U.S. Lawmakers Rally for 'In God We Trust'

Cincinnati Enquirer - John Boehner Defends U.S. Capitol's 'God' Inscription

ChristianPost.com - ACLJ Seeks Dismissal of 'In God We Trust' Lawsuit