HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2002-316 RESOLU~rlON NO. 2002-316
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CI-IULA VISTA SUPPORTING CONGRESS' REQUEST THAT
THE NINTH CIRCUIT REHEAR THE CASE OF NEWDOW V.
U. S. CONGRESS AND EXPRESSING DISAPPROVAL OF THE
NINTH CIRCUIT DECISION 1N NEWDOW V. U. S. CONGRESS
WHEREAS, this country was founded on religious freedom by founders, many of whom
were deeply religious; and
WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the Constitution embodies principles intended to
guarantee freedom of religious both through the free exercise thereof and by prohibiting the
government establishing a religion; and
WHEREAS, the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist
Minister, and first published in the September 8, 1892 issue of the Youth's Companion; and
WHEREAS, Congress in 1954 added the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance;
and
WHEREAS, the Pledge of Allegiance has for almost 50 years included references to the
United States flag, the country, to our country having been established as a union "under God"
and to this country being dedicated to securing "liberty and justice for all"; and
WHEREAS, the Congress in 1954 believed it was acting constitutionally when it revised
the Pledge of Allegiance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Chula Vista believes that the Pledge of
Allegiance is not an unconstitutional expression of patriotism; and
WHEREAS, patriotic songs, engravings on U. S. legal tender, engravings on Federal
buildings also contain general references to "God"; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with decisions of the U. S. Supreme Court, public school
students cannot be forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance without violating their First
Amendmem fights; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Chula Vista supports Congress' request that
the U. S. Court of Appeals or the Ninth Circuit rehear the case ofNewdow v. U. S. Congress, en
banc.
' NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Chula
Vista strongly disapproves of the Ninth Circuit decision in Newdow v. U. S. Congress.
Resolution 2002-316
Page 2
Presented by Approved as to form by
S J~/M. Kahen'y ~ )-~
Mayor
t~y Attorney ~
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista,
California, this 13th day of August, 2002, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers: Davis, Padilla, Rindone, Salas and Horton
NAYS: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
ATTEST: Shirle~ Horto~(/Ma~or
Susan Bigelow, City Clerk '~
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO )
CITY OF CHULA VISTA )
I, Susan Bigelow, City Clerk of Chula Vista, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing
Resolution No. 2002-316 was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a
regular meeting of the Chula Vista City Council held on the 13th day of August, 2002.
Executed this 13th day of August, 2002.
Susan Bigelow, City Clerk