SAN FRANCISCO, July 11 -- The 8-year-old girl whose father successfully sued to have the Pledge of Allegiance declared unconstitutional has no problem with reciting the pledge at school, her mother said today.
"I was concerned that the American public would be led to believe that my daughter is an atheist or that she has been harmed by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, including the words 'one nation under God,' " Sandra Banning said. "We are practicing Christians and are active in our church."
Banning never married Michael Newdow, the third-grader's father and plaintiff in the pledge lawsuit. She has full custody of the girl, which Newdow is challenging.
It was Banning's first public comment since the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Newdow that the words "under God," inserted by Congress in 1954, make the pledge an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. The ruling has been put on hold pending further appeals.
Banning, who has hired lawyers in part to explore intervening in the case, said she hopes her efforts will lead to a reversal of the ruling. She also said her daughter "expressed sadness" after the ruling.
In his lawsuit, Newdow argued that his daughter was "injured" by being forced to listen to others recite the pledge at the Elk Grove Unified School District.
Newdow said today that he has the right to determine how she is raised. "I have a right to send my child to a public school without the government inculcating any religious beliefs," he said.