Keep religion out of public affairs

The March 12 Daily Herald reports that in two decisions the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has upheld the use of the words "One Nation Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency.

The court declared that these phrases are merely ceremonial and patriotic, not religious, and therefore they do not violate the constitutional principle that religion and government should not be entangled and that church and state should be kept separate. I believe this reasoning is demeaning to our faith and that it diminishes the stature of our God. Are words that speak of God to be declared only "ceremonial and patriotic?" Our God is the essence of our faith, and I care not to see him described as being only ceremonial. He is at the core of our religion, and we should honor him with more respect.

Of course, this position causes problems for us because if we do recognize the religious nature of these two phrases, then they should in fact be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance and from our currency so that we do not breach the wall of separation between church and state that our Supreme Court has declared must exist.

I myself would prefer this result because I have always felt that my faith is a matter personal to me, and I can pray to God in my home and at my church, but I do not care to have anyone's religion imposed upon me or anyone else in public declarations or on our national currency. We are today a very diverse community of people of many faiths, and of none, as President Obama has said, and religion should simply be kept out of public affairs.

Theodore M. Utchen

Wheaton