Federal Judge Tosses out Newdow’s Challenge of Inaugural Prayers, ‘So Help Me God’

Friday, January 16, 2009
By Pete Winn

Washington (CNSNews.com) -Atheist Michael Newdow and 30 other "nontheistic" plaintiffs say they will decide Friday whether to appeal Thursday's decision by a federal judge dismissing their demand that President-elect Barack Obama be barred from saying “So help me God” when he takes the oath of office Jan. 20.

U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton also refused to block prayers at the inaugural – leaving the Reverends Rick Warren and Joseph Lowery free to give the invocation and benediction at Obama’s swearing-in. the rest