The atheist who made legal news when he asked an appeals court to remove the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance is now trying to have chaplains removed from the U.S. Congress.
Michael Newdow, a Sacramento, Calif.-based lawyer and emergency room doctor, filed suit in federal district court in Washington in Late August, claiming it is unconstitutional for taxpayer-funded chaplains to minister to lawmakers and pray in Congress.
“If congressmen want to go to church, (then) walk down the block like other Americans do and go to church,” Newdow told The Washington Post in an interview, “Don’t get my government engaged in it. That’s why we have an Establishment Clause.”
That clause of the Constitution’s First Amendment bars government establishment of an official religion.
Newdow wants the court to stop the House and Senate from employing chaplains, who counsel members, lead prayers and have other religious duties.
Morgan Frankel, deputy Senate legal counsel, is convinced the chaplains will remain on the job, based on a 11983 decision by the nation’s highest court.
(RNS)
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