thedrifter
07-23-03, 05:51 AM
'In God We Trust' added
to public buildings
County board votes to post motto, secularists cry foul
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: July 22, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
The Board of Freeholder in Warren County, N.J., have voted to post the national motto, "In God We Trust," in every county-owned building, prompting complaints from church-state separation activists, reports the Newark Star-Ledger.
The resolution, passed unanimously last month, calls for a wood-framed poster with the motto to hang in 30 public buildings throughout the county.
"Clearly, the founding fathers had a belief in God," Freeholder Mike Doherty, the resolution's author, told the paper. "We have a unique form of government where we recognize our rights do not come from a king or a ruler but from God."
While the report indicates the mostly Republican county's constituency has little problem with the plan, others are crying foul.
"The major intent behind this is to make this a Christian nation," Frank Zindler, a member of the New Jersey-based American Atheists, told the Star-Ledger. "This, of course, is forbidden by the First Amendment."
Joseph Conn, a spokesman for Americans United for Separation of Church and State also decried the move.
"What would possibly be the secular purpose of this?" Conn is quoted by the paper as saying. "It won't make traffic any better. It won't make schools any better. It won't cut back on crimes."
The freeholders defend their decision.
"'In God We Trust' is generic by nature, and even our currency has 'In God We Trust.' I don't think anyone should have a problem with this," Freeholder Richard Gardner told the paper.
Congress declared "In God We Trust" the official national motto in 1956, and it began appearing on currency in 1957. The motto has been stamped on coins in the U.S. since the late 1870s.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=33680
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
to public buildings
County board votes to post motto, secularists cry foul
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: July 22, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
The Board of Freeholder in Warren County, N.J., have voted to post the national motto, "In God We Trust," in every county-owned building, prompting complaints from church-state separation activists, reports the Newark Star-Ledger.
The resolution, passed unanimously last month, calls for a wood-framed poster with the motto to hang in 30 public buildings throughout the county.
"Clearly, the founding fathers had a belief in God," Freeholder Mike Doherty, the resolution's author, told the paper. "We have a unique form of government where we recognize our rights do not come from a king or a ruler but from God."
While the report indicates the mostly Republican county's constituency has little problem with the plan, others are crying foul.
"The major intent behind this is to make this a Christian nation," Frank Zindler, a member of the New Jersey-based American Atheists, told the Star-Ledger. "This, of course, is forbidden by the First Amendment."
Joseph Conn, a spokesman for Americans United for Separation of Church and State also decried the move.
"What would possibly be the secular purpose of this?" Conn is quoted by the paper as saying. "It won't make traffic any better. It won't make schools any better. It won't cut back on crimes."
The freeholders defend their decision.
"'In God We Trust' is generic by nature, and even our currency has 'In God We Trust.' I don't think anyone should have a problem with this," Freeholder Richard Gardner told the paper.
Congress declared "In God We Trust" the official national motto in 1956, and it began appearing on currency in 1957. The motto has been stamped on coins in the U.S. since the late 1870s.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=33680
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: