Washington, D.C.- Third District Congressman Walter B. Jones reacted today to a ruling by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton in Sacramento, California which declared the reciting of our nation’s Pledge of Allegiance in public schools unconstitutional. The federal judge ruled that the pledge’s reference to one nation “under God” violates school children’s right to be “free from a coercive requirement to affirm God.”

“This is yet another assault on the fundamental Judeo-Christian values that are the foundation of our Nation,” Congressman Jones said today. “It is a sad day for America when a federal judge makes this kind of decision.”

Judge Karlton said he was bound by precedent of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which in 2002 ruled in favor of Sacramento atheist Michael Newdow by declaring that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional when recited in public schools. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled our Nation’s Pledge of Allegiance “unconstitutional” on the grounds that the words “Under God” violated the so-called Establishment Clause in the Constitution that requires a separation of church and state. The decisions by Karlton and the 9th Circuit conflict with an August opinion by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virgina that upheld a Virginia law requiring public schools to lead a daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

“Our Nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. I have watched as America has pulled away from those principles, and I believe this decision only furthers our break from the traditions our Founding Fathers held so dear,” Congressman Jones continued today. “If one supports this decision, then he or she must also believe that our currency, our Supreme Court, our House of Representatives, and our Presidential Oath of Office are unconstitutional, since each asserts a belief in God.”

“Decisions like these underscore the need for judicial nominees who understand our Constitution and respect the principle that we are a Nation founded ‘under God.’”

For additional information or to schedule an interview with Congressman Walter B. Jones please contact Kathleen Joyce at (202) 225-3415.