While Plaintiffs may be inconvenienced or offended by the appearance of the motto on currency, these burdens are a far cry from the coercion, penalty, or denial of benefits required under the "substantial burden" standard.(See prior related posting.)
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Court Rejects Challenge To "In God We Trust" On Currency
In Newdow v. United States, (SD NY, Sept. 9, 2013), a New York federal district court rejected Establishment Clause and free exercise challenges by atheists and secular humanists to the government's placing of the words "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency. The court held that "the inclusion of the motto on U.S. currency satisfies the purpose and effect tests enunciated in Lemon, and does not violate the Establishment Clause." In rejecting challenges under the free exercise clause and RFRA, the court concluded:
