SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal appeals court has ruled that the
words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We
Trust" on U. S. currency do not violate separation of church and
state.
The 9th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel rejected the two
legal challenges by Michael Newdow, who claimed that the references
to God disrespect his atheist beliefs.
The same court had ruled in Newdow's favor in 2002 after he sued
his daughter's school district over student recitation of the
pledge. That lawsuit reached the U. S. Supreme Court in 2004, but
the high court ruled that Newdow lacked the legal standing to sue
because he didn't have custody of his daughter.
So Newdow, who's a lawyer, filed a new challenge on behalf of
other parents.
But the appeals court ruled 2-1 Thursday that the words "under
God" in the pledge are constitutional.
In a separate 3-0 ruling, the court upheld the words "In God We
Trust" on coins and currency.
ISLAMABAD (AP) - The Christian aid group World Vision has
suspended operations in Pakistan after attackers armed with assault
rifles and a homemade bomb killed six of its Pakistani employees.
The victims staffed a World Vision office helping earthquake
survivors in northwestern Pakistan.
A World Vision spokesman said the attack "was completely
unexpected, unannounced and unprovoked. "
Extremists have killed other foreign aid group employees in
Pakistan and accused such organizations of working against Islam.
Wednesday's attack may have been prompted by World Vision's
religious affiliation. Islamists often target Christian groups,
which they accuse of trying to convert Muslims.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The top-ranked senior at a suburban
Indianapolis high school is asking a federal judge to stop a
graduation prayer that the class voted to approve.
The lawsuit by 18-year-old Eric Workman claims the prayer and
the vote at Greenwood High School unconstitutionally subject
religious practice to majority rule.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed the lawsuit
on Workman's behalf. It says, "He does not believe that anyone
should involuntarily be subjected to prayer and religious
beliefs. "
But Micah Clark, executive director of the American Family
Association of Indiana, says, "Part of being an adult is learning
to tolerate speech you don't like. "
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. (AP) - Federal Way-based World Vision has suspended operations in Pakistan after militants attacked an office of the Christian humanitarian group and killed six people and wounded seven others. World Vision calls the attack "brutal and senseless. " World Vision has been helping survivors of the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir.
MARYVILLE, Ill. (AP) - The wife of an Illinois pastor who was fatally shot during a Sunday sermon one year ago says she looks forward to seeing him again in heaven.
Cindy Winters spoke at two Sunday services at the First Baptist Church of Maryville.
Her husband, the Rev. Fred Winters, was gunned down on March 8, 2009.
Cindy Winters told the congregation that in her anguish that day, she felt God telling her, "Cindy, what happened here was sheer evil, and it was orchestrated by Satan. "
Winters says she responded aloud, "Then Satan will not win. "
Terry Sedlacek was charged with first-degree murder, but has been declared mentally unfit to stand trial. He's in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services.
SAN FERNANDO, Philippines (AP) - A bus carrying Christian
pilgrims from a Philippine mountain resort has slammed into a tree
after its brakes apparently failed, killing 12 people and injuring
14 others.
Police Senior Superintendent Noli Talino said Sunday that the
driver rammed the bus into the tree to prevent the vehicle from
falling into a deep ravine.
He says the impact pinned 10 passengers inside the bus, killing
them, while two other passengers were thrown out of the bus by the
impact and fell to their deaths in the ravine.
The accident happened Saturday in the northern Philippines as
the group returned from a pilgrimage to Catholic churches and a
visit to tourist spots.
WASHINGTON (AP) - American Muslim groups are rejecting a call by
an Al-Qaida spokesman for Muslims in the U. S. armed forces to
emulate an Army major charged with killing 13 people at Fort Hood.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council says the statement by
American-born Adam Gadahn is a failed attempt to deliver Al-Qaida's
bankrupt ideology to Western Muslims.
The Council on American Islamic Relations says American Muslims
repudiate "all those who would promote or condone terrorism
anywhere in the world. "
Pakistani officials said Sunday that Gadahn has been arrested
but there's been no U. S. confirmation.
Gadahn described the man accused of the Fort Hood attacks, Maj.
Nidal Hasan, as a role model for other Muslims, especially those
serving in Western militaries.
JOS, Nigeria (AP) - Security forces have imposed a curfew in
central Nigeria after rioters armed with machetes slaughtered more
than 200 people in renewed violence between Muslims and Christians.
Hundreds of people have fled their homes, fearing reprisal
attacks.
Local journalists and a civil rights group say the bodies of the
dead lined the streets of three mostly Christian villages south of
the regional capital of Jos.
The city lies in a region separating Nigeria's Muslim north from
the predominantly Christian south.
Witnesses who escaped the massacre said they believed the
attackers were Muslims.
The Red Cross says Nigerian military units are surrounding the
three affected villages.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee school district has agreed
to end the promotion of religion by teachers and officials during
school hours.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee announced the
settlement after the Cheatham County school board voted
on Monday night to approve it.
The ACLU sued the school district in November after six months
of negotiations failed.
The settlement prohibits the distribution of Bibles during the
school day and bars school officials from citing "the Bible or
other sacred texts as authority for historical or scientific
fact. "
ACLU of Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg has said that
for religion in school to be legal it must be student-led and
cannot be compulsory.
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