HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RESO 2002 - 119RESOLUTION NO. 2002 — 119
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY
EXPRESSING DISAPPROVAL OF THE DECISION
OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
IN NEWDOW V. U.S. CONGRESS
WHEREAS, this country was founded on religious freedom by founders, many of
whom were deeply religious; and
WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the Constitution embodies principles
intended to guarantee freedom of religion both through the free exercise thereof and by
prohibiting the government from establishing a religion; and
WHEREAS, the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist
Minister, and first published in the September 8, 1892 issue of the Youth's Companion; and
WHEREAS, Congress in 1954 added the words "under God" to the Pledge of
Allegiance; and
WHEREAS, the Pledge of Allegiance has, for almost 50 years included
references to the U.S. flag, the country, to our country having been established as a union "under
God" and to this country being dedicated to securing "liberty and justice for all"; and
WHEREAS, Congress in 1954 believed it was acting constitutionally when it
revised the Pledge of Allegiance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of National City believes that the Pledge
of Allegiance is not an unconstitutional expression of patriotism; and
WHEREAS, patriotic songs, engravings on U.S. legal tender, engravings of
Federal buildings also contain general referenced to "God"; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, public
school students cannot be forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance without violating their First
Amendment rights; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of National City supports Congress'
request that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rehear the case of Newdow v. U.S.
Congress, en bane.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
National City strongly disapproves of the Ninth Circuit Decision in Newdow v. U.S. Congress.
-- Signature Page to Follow --
Resolution No. 2002 —
August 6, 2002
Page Two
PASSED and ADOPTED this 6th day of August, 2002.
r.L
George H. Waters, Mayor
ATTEST:
Mic el R. D11a, ity Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
George H. Eiser, III
City Attorney