Editorial:

As the debate unfolds over the proposal to display the slogan “In God We Trust” in the Costa Mesa City Council Chambers, we’re tempted to throw up our hands and exclaim, “Oh, God!”

That’s just an expression, of course, and not one that everyone uses. But judging from the comments made by Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Leece and Mayor Allan Mansoor at Tuesday’s council meeting, the line between church and government in Costa Mesa appears incredibly muddy at the moment.

To summarize: Leece, a staunch Christian, asked recently that the council consider displaying the slogan in its chambers, which would make Costa Mesa the 14th city in Orange County to do so. The phrase, she said, is not meant as an endorsement of religion but as a secular show of unity. Mansoor agreed that posting the slogan did not count as a religious gesture.

“The intent is to encourage patriotism,” Leece said. “It’s not religious; it’s a completely secular purpose.”

One can imagine such atheist writers as Christopher Hitchens turning cartwheels over that statement.

And leaving our own spiritual views aside, we’re pretty baffled by it, too. Surely the American flag that hangs in the Council Chambers is enough of a show of unity and patriotism. And because every religion spans continents, it’s hard to make a case that a slogan endorsing God signifies love of a particular country.

Councilwoman Katrina Foley suggested that the city incorporate symbols of multiple faiths into the motto’s design to be as inclusive as possible, although that would still leave nonbelievers out. Given the slew of different religions in the world, not to mention the multitude of atheists, perhaps the only truly unifying slogan would be “In Gods, or Lack Thereof, We Trust.”

But apart from infringing on the wall between church and state, posting a slogan like “In God We Trust” in the chambers is purely unnecessary.

Any religious person who attends City Council meetings has countless opportunities to celebrate his or her faith throughout the day — whether by going to church, reading the Bible, hosting a prayer group or even wearing spiritual-themed clothing to the chambers. And any nonbeliever has every right to visit the chambers and not feel pressured to pay lip service to faith.

In short, that sounds like unity to us. And it’s the kind our City Council should be espousing.