Atheists sue to take 'God' out of Obama inauguration

Audrey Barrick, The Christian Post: After failed attempts to remove prayer from George W. Bush's inauguration ceremonies, Michael A. Newdow, along with other atheists, has once again filed a lawsuit to take God and religion out of the upcoming swearing-in ceremony. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by Newdow and 17 other individuals and 10 groups representing atheists who want the words "so help me God" and other religious references out of the president's oath of office, invocation and benediction. . . .

American Humanist Association, the Freedom from Religion Foundation and atheist groups from Minnesota, Seattle, Washington and Florida are among the groups that band together for the lawsuit. They are suing Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who will administer the oath of office to President-elect Barack Obama in January; several officials in charge of inaugural festivities; megachurch pastor Rick Warren, who will deliver the invocation; and the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, who will deliver the benediction. Obama was not named in the suit. . . . [Full Story] Note: President-elect Obama has chosen to be sworn in with his hand on the Bible used for the inauguration of the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln. See also: Fox News: Atheist Group Files Lawsuit Against Prayer at Presidential Inauguration