God 3 - Newdow 0

U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton (DC) ruled yesterday (16 Jan 2009) that it is OK to mention God when Chief Justice Roberts swears in the President of the USA.

On 30 December 2008 Michael Newdow lead an effort by a group of atheists to bar any mention of God during the ceremony. (NEWDOW et al v. ROBERTS et al) They filed a civil rights suit claiming that to do so would violate their 1st & 5th Amendment rights as well as those mentioned in several other Federal civil rights laws.

In his ruling Walton said that he did not have the power to prevent Obama from making such references or inviting ministers on stage to offer prayers

This was Newdow's 3rd attempt kick God out of the Innauguration. His suit included an attempt to stop the use of "so help me God!" as a part of the oath. While it isn't officially a part of the oath as prescribed by the Constitution, It was 1st used in the 1st innaugaration when George Washington added it on at the end of the oath. & since he was there when the Constitution was writing, he should know what was or wasn't Constitutional.

Judge: References to God Okay During Inauguration