The ACLJ has filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of thousands of Americans and many Congress members in support of keeping ‘under God’ in the Pledge. Late last year, the Freedom from Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit, challenging the constitutionality of the phrase. Geoffrey Surtees with ACLJ says the courts should know that’s not what the public wants.

“We as a nation and as a culture and as a people have always believed that the rights of man come, not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.”

‘Under God’ was added to the Pledge in 1954 after a stirring sermon prompted President Dwight D. Eisenhower to call for its inclusion. A Newsweek poll shows nine out of 10 Americans support that decision. And the backing of Congress members like Representative Lee Terry of Nebraska will only help the cause.  

“I think it’s important that our elected officials the ones in Washington, the one in Congress or the Senate who has to confirm these judges need to show the public, by getting onto an amicus curie brief that we support them.”

No one can predict the outcome of the case, but one thing is sure: Freedom from Religion is determined to take it all the way to the Supreme Court.