A group of atheists is taking legal action in hopes of having all religious references removed from U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony in January.
A lawsuit filed in Federal Court is trying to prevent having the phrase "So help me God" included in the oath of office. It also wants to prevent inaugural prayers from being delivered at the event.
"We're hoping to stop prayer and religious rituals at governmental functions, especially at the inauguration," Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, told Fox News Radio.
"The inauguration is not a religious event. It is a secular event of a secular country that includes all Americans, including those of us who are not Christians, including those of us who are not believers."
Barker has teamed up with Michael Newdow to file the suit. Newdow unsuccessfully sought to have the words "under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance and sued to remove religion from inaugurations in 2001 and 2005.
There are 18 plaintiffs in total, including atheist and humanist organizations.
A lawsuit filed in Federal Court is trying to prevent having the phrase "So help me God" included in the oath of office. It also wants to prevent inaugural prayers from being delivered at the event.
"We're hoping to stop prayer and religious rituals at governmental functions, especially at the inauguration," Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, told Fox News Radio.
"The inauguration is not a religious event. It is a secular event of a secular country that includes all Americans, including those of us who are not Christians, including those of us who are not believers."
Barker has teamed up with Michael Newdow to file the suit. Newdow unsuccessfully sought to have the words "under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance and sued to remove religion from inaugurations in 2001 and 2005.
There are 18 plaintiffs in total, including atheist and humanist organizations.
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