In Theory

Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Leece has persuaded the City Council to vote in favor of displaying the words “In God We Trust” in the council’s chambers. Fourteen other cities in Orange County have displayed those same four words in their council chambers. Leece says that displaying “In God We Trust” behind the council’s dais and by the Costa Mesa city seal won’t be forcing a religious viewpoint on people. In your opinion, does such a religious slogan have a place in City Hall, or would this violate the fundamental principle of American government that matters of church and state be separate?

When will Wendy Leece stop promoting dumb ideas? The City Council is supposed to work on managing the city’s business, not supporting religious beliefs. The founders of our country were wise enough to form a secular government and not a theocracy. We should be thankful for that and not try to force particular religious beliefs on everyone.

Placing such a motto as “In God We Trust” in the chambers is just the first step toward passing laws based solely on religious principles, which have no proper business in city governments. Do we really want to run our cities as the God of the Bible, who arbitrarily demanded the murder of thousands of innocent people, would do?

In the future, how about electing council members that will take care of the city’s business instead of promoting holier-than-thou religious concerns?

Jerry Parks

Member, Humanist Assn. of Orange County

Does not the Costa Mesa City Council have before it a full enough agenda of matters regarding good governance? This is its area of proper competence, and this is where its attention and energy should be focused. Why is it plunging into religious matters outside its competence? If the Council Chambers had already been adorned with “In God We Trust,” I would leave it there for it is a long-established testimony in American public life.

However, I am not in favor of forcing it into civic buildings that have not up to now housed it. Government should do its very best to serve those matters of public life that properly belong to it, but the promotion of religious belief is not its responsibility. This activity makes me nervous, for government should neither promote religion nor interfere with its free exercise.

The city of Costa Mesa, in addition to having many good people who trust in God, also has many good people who are not believers, for one reason or another. Pushing religion onto others does not draw them to God. Many are alienated by this tactic. Leece should stick to matters of city government, which would be quite enough for her and the other council members. On her own, she is free to be an evangelist, but the Council Chambers is not the place for such an overt activity.

Msgr. Wilbur Davis

Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport Beach

It would be helpful to consider the words of James Madison: “Religion [is] the basis and Foundation of Government…. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves… according to the Ten Commandments of God.” Thomas Jefferson wrote: “God gave us life and liberty. Thus, the liberties of a nation cannot be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God, and that they are not to be violated but without His wrath. Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.”

We are “one nation under God.” I’m sorry if a handful of people are “offended” with this slogan, but I have no problem with its public display.

Fr. Stephen Doktorczyk

St. Joachim Church

Costa Mesa

The motto “In God We Trust” is already institutionalized at the national level, and its future will eventually be decided by the federal courts.

In the Latter-day Saint community, our general feeling is that this slogan would inspire rather than offend us. We proudly declare our faith in our Heavenly Father and in His Son, and our patriotism is seldom questioned. At the same time, the city may end up having to go through expensive legal battles with offended entities, and if it was not allowed by the courts we would probably shrug our shoulders and get back to work. We are too busy dealing with the fundamental issues of life to get bogged down in campaigns that are ultimately only symbolic in nature.

What are the real battles in life that demand our energies? In a world where corruption is manifest in high places, where unethical practices destroy our confidence in business, and where families are struggling to maintain their efficacy, we would prefer to select our battlegrounds. Fighting for slogans is not our highest priority. Living standards of excellence and virtue will mean more to our children and to our country than any motto and should demand our unconditional commitment.

Tom Thorkelson

Director of Interfaith Relations

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In President Kennedy’s inaugural address, he stated that “The same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe — the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the very hand of God.” In other words, we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.

Relying on the Power that transcends man’s legislative enactments, judicial pronouncements, or executive orders strikes me as not only correct, but prudent. Those sworn to uphold our legal rights must recognize that our natural rights are universal and not contingent on majority vote. It is preferable to place our trust in the One from whom the blessings of liberty and freedom flow than to “trust in princes.”

That this proposition should be affirmed in our councils of government strikes me as altogether proper.

Rabbi Mark S. Miller

Temple Bat Yahm of Newport Beach

First of all there is no “fundamental principle of American government that matters of church and state be separate” that I know of. There is the 1st Amendment protection that government cannot establish a religion, nor inhibit our ability to worship God according to the dictates of our conscience, but I do not know of any constitutional requirement that matters of church and state be separate. In fact, the Founding Fathers repeatedly warned of the danger of removing Christianity from our society.

For example, Daniel Webster, addressing the New York Historical Society in 1852, said “If we ... neglect religious instruction and authority; ...no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.” On Sept. 10, 1782, the Continental Congress authorized printing Bibles to recommend to “the inhabitants of the Untied States.” And, in 1956, Congress added the words “In God We Trust” to our money.

My question to those who are offended by, “In God We Trust” at City Hall is why it does not offend them to take money with the identical words?

Pastor Dwight Tomlinson

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I see no problem with the separation of church and state by putting “In God We Trust” in our City Council. After all, this statement appears on our money, and we know that it refers to the God of all of us, not to some special God of some particular religion. However, I can see where those who do not believe in God might object, but because there is no reference to any specific religion it works for me.

Pastor Jim Turrell

Center for Spiritual Living

Newport-Mesa

I feel strongly that the City Council Chambers do not need to be a place for affirming one’s trust in God. I do feel conflicted about removing the words if they already exist and have an historical place on buildings of a certain age, but I see the inconsistency of religious words in government as incongruous with the separation of church and state. So while I completely understand the challenge involved in removing the words, I do not think that we are in a place in time where adding them is a good idea or consistent with our values of freedom of religion.

I am very conscious of the lines between church and state and have long been affiliated with Americans United For Separation of Church and State. While I find the words “In God We Trust” to be inspiring, calming and empowering; it is a statement of my faith to trust God. My faith affects the way I live out my life and is a part of every facet of it. However, I am always aware that my faith is not everyone’s faith, and certainly not the faith of a nation, state or city. My faith should not be imposed upon others. Similarly, I do not want another’s faith imposed upon me, nor is it legal to do so. Let’s affirm our trust in God by living it out in our lives, proclaiming it in our churches, mosques and synagogues, but not on the walls of our City Council Chambers.

The Rev. Sarah Halverson