From the Office of Utah Congressman Jim Matheson

MATHESON NEWS
Second Congressional District

For Further Information
Alyson Heyrend: (801) 455-5593 (cell)
www.house.gov/matheson

September 29, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Matheson:  Keep Pledge in Schools

Washington DC-Congressman Jim Matheson today joined an overwhelming majority of the House in supporting a resolution calling for the Supreme Court to approve reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools. 

Recent federal court rulings have questioned whether reciting the pledge, which includes the phrase "one nation, under God," is a violation of the separation of church and state clause of the Constitution.

Matheson said he is troubled by the federal court rulings.

"The Pledge of Allegiance asserts a fundamental principle of faith upon which our nation depends.  I believe this faith can be protected by assuring that all Americans are free to worship their own God, in their own manner and according to their own beliefs," said Matheson.

Matheson is a cosponsor of H Con Res  245 which expresses the sense of Congress that the Supreme Court should find that the use of the Pledge in schools is consistent with the U.S. Constitution.

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Alyson Heyrend
Communications Director
240 East Morris Ave. #235
South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(801) 486-1236 (phone)
(801) 455-5593 (cell)
(801) 486-1417 (fax)