Register Reporter Norberto Santana had a great story this weekend about the sudden appearance of “In God We Trust” at Westminster and Cypress’ city councils, the woman behind the movement, and lots of quotes from atheists and church-state separation folks as to why it’s a bad idea. A good quote from a newly local guy:
Yet Erwin Chemerinsky, who is set to become the first law school dean at the University of California, Irvine, disagrees.
“Why do groups want to do this? They want government to proclaim a belief in God. Government is supposed to be secular and I think this does violate the First Amendment,” he said. “On the other hand, the phrase is on money and many courts will see this as no different. In the end, my sense is that adding it to buildings really is for the purpose of advancing religion and would violate the First Amendment.”
If you’re looking to fight about it, there’s a lot of chatter in the story comments too.
