A Group of Atheists Present Legal Challenge to Inauguration Prayer

The Washington Post reports: "A group of atheists, led by a California man known for challenging “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools, plan to file a lawsuit today to bar prayer at the swearing-in of President-elect Barack Obama. Michael A. Newdow, 17 other individuals and 10 groups representing atheists sued Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., several officials in charge of inaugural festivities and Rev. Joseph E. Lowery and pastor Rick Warren." The lawsuit charges that: “...Defendants will have an invocation and benediction during the inauguration,” a draft of the lawsuit reads. “Both of these activities are completely exclusionary, showing absolute disrespect to Plaintiffs and others of similar religious views, who explicitly reject the purely religious claims that will be endorsed, i.e., (a) there exists a God, and (b) the United States government should pay homage to that God.” This writer supports the complete separation of church and state activities including the removal of religious rituals from public activities such as the inauguration of public officials.