Court Upholds Ohio's God-centered Motto
CINCINNATI, Mar. 16, 01 (CWNews.com) - A federal appeals
court ruled on Friday that Ohio's motto, "With God, all
things are possible," is constitutional.
The 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's
1998 ruling that the motto, which is a quote from the
Bible, is not an endorsement of Christianity. "We agree --
and we would add that, just as the motto does not have as
its primary purpose the advancement of religion, it does
not have the primary effect of advancing religion, either,"
appellate Judge David A. Nelson wrote in the majority
opinion.
A three-judge panel of the full court had ruled last April
that motto did violate the Constitution. Ohio adopted the
motto in 1959 and uses it on official stationery, tax forms
and some reports, as well as on a bronze plate in the
sidewalk at an entrance to the Statehouse.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which originally
brought the suit, has not decided whether to ask the US
Supreme Court to review the decision.
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March 18, 2001
volume 12, no. 77
USA News
www.DailyCatholic.org
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