Alabama's Christian Coalition Plans DC Tour During Critical Pledge Hearing
by Allie Martin
February 9, 2004
(AgapePress) - The Christian Coalition of Alabama will lead a group to the nation's capitol to defend the phrase "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Pledge of Allegiance case March 24. The case began when Michael Newdow, a professing atheist, decided to work to remove the phrase "under God" from the pledge. The Christian Coalition of Alabama (CCA) will be leading a bus tour to Washington, DC, to coincide with the hearing, allowing the group to be on hand in the nation's capital to offer support to other Christians who will be gathering there to oppose efforts to secularize the pledge. Coalition president John Giles says the tour group will also be attending a White House briefing from U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions.
Giles notes that there is a lot at stake in the high court hearing. "This is such an important case because there is an assault by the atheists to remove God and the acknowledgement of God from the public square," the CCA spokesman says.
The CCA delegation plans to join with members of the National Clergy Council (http://www.faithandaction.org) and the Christian Defense Coalition (http://www.christiandefensecoalition.net) for a prayer vigil on the eve of March 23 and a prayer rally on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court the following day, while the case is being heard.
Giles says if the atheist element is successful in its effort to remove "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance, then Christians "can anticipate seeing the continued erosion of religious liberties and the removal of the acknowledgement of God from public buildings all across this country."
