[lbo-talk] constitutional law question

[Seth Ackerman]

Does anybody know whether the In God We Trust inscription has ever been 
challenged in the Supreme Court and, if so, what rationale was used to 
uphold it?

When you talk about religion with French people, they always seem unable 
to believe that we actually have separation of church and state. Every 
Frenchman you talk to will immediately bring up the fact that the 
president says God Bless America and that Congress starts its sessions 
with a prayer. When you point out that nobody can forbid the president 
or Congress to talk about God, they will then cite In God We Trust. (I 
swear, it's like they're reading from a catechism.) At that point, I'm 
forced to concede that they have a point. But they're always genuinely 
surprised to hear that that courts regularly strike down laws that 
improperly give money to churches or permit organized prayer.

Anyway, bref....Answers would be greatly appreciated!

Seth