KCRA Sacramento, CA - Newdow Tries to Ban Prayer From Presidential Inauguration

Jan 13, 2005

He has already targeted the Pledge of Allegiance; now, Sacramento-area resident Michael Newdow is focusing once again on the president's inauguration ceremony.

Newdow says religious references are a violation of the separation of church and state. Although he lost a similar case in 2002, Newdow is trying to ban prayer at the inauguration next week, calling it unconstitutional.

On Thursday, Newdow argued his case over the phone with the U.S. District Court in Washington.

"The president of the United States, as he takes his oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, is violating the Constitution. It's kind of outrageous," Newdow said.

Newdow said the religious invocations at the ceremony are offensive.

"It turns people into outsiders. It makes you sit there and listen to religious dogma you don't want to hear at civic events," Newdow said.

Attorneys for the president are asking the federal court to throw out the lawsuit, saying there have been prayers at inaugurations for 200 years, and that shouldn't change.

A legal brief filed with the court Thursday by the Christian-based American Center for Law and Justice said that Newdow's legal arguments are based on flawed premise, with little or no coherent argument.

Newdow said he plans on being at the next inauguration.

"Now, I'm actually going to be there," Newdow said.

Newdow said that he expects the ruling to come down Friday, and that he doesn't think he will prevail. If he loses, he says he will immediately file an appeal, hoping for a quick decision before the inauguration.

Recently, Newdow has also tried to get the words "under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance.