Gordon Urges Supreme Court To Find Pledge Constitutional

Gordon Urges Supreme Court To Find Pledge Constitutional

September 29, 2005, WASHINGTON, D.C. - In keeping with his fight to keep "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon voted for a congressional resolution urging the Supreme Court to rule that the Pledge is constitutional.

"The Pledge of Allegiance introduces children to the values of responsibility, loyalty and patriotism," said Gordon, dean of the Tennessee congressional delegation. "The pledge doesn't promote religion; it promotes patriotism.

"Two courts have ruled two different ways on this matter. The Supreme Court needs to act swiftly to resolve this issue. I hope it will rule that the Pledge is constitutional and that the words 'under God' should stay in it."

On September 14, a U.S. district judge in California ruled that reciting the pledge is unconstitutional because of the words "under God." The judge stated he was following a precedent set in 2002 by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Supreme Court never ruled on the 2002 case. It was thrown out on a technicality.

In August, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia ruled that the Pledge is constitutional because it a patriotic exercise, not a religious ritual.

"Many Middle Tennesseans are outraged at the idea of taking 'under God' out of the Pledge," said Gordon. "I agree with them.

"Our founding fathers wanted us to have freedom of religion, but they did not mean for religion to be taken out of public life completely. I hope the Supreme Court will take the view of the Virginia court."

Gordon, a co-sponsor of the Pledge Protection Act, voted in 2003 to condemn the Ninth Circuit ruling on the Pledge.

http://www.house.gov/gordon/newsroom/press_050929_pledgeresolution.shtml