Editorial: In whom does Irvine trust?

The city of Irvine is planning to join hundreds of municipalities around the state and country in displaying the national motto — “In God we trust” — on a wall of its City Council chambers. Mayor Steven Choi wants to make it a dominant image, with large letters, hanging behind the council seats so that everyone watching the meeting from the gallery or at home on television will get the message.

That is a bad idea, no matter the type size. Council members in Irvine and officials elsewhere like to say that they’re merely embracing history. “In God we trust,” after all, has been the national motto since 1956, when it replaced “E pluribus unum” (out of many, one), and it has been on coins and currency since the Civil War, which occurred in the midst of a surge in religious sentiment.

But the historical argument is disingenuous. The current move toward governmental displays of religious belief is rooted firmly in today’s culture wars, and it should end. It’s worth noting that Congress adopted “In God we trust” as a motto in the midst of the Cold War to differentiate the United States from the so-called godless Communists and that it was, in effect, a governmental endorsement of religious belief. Although the 1st Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” Congress’ adoption of a religious national motto did just that.

In a case challenging the practice of offering prayers at the opening of the town of Greece’s meetings in western New York, the Supreme Court last year relaxed the standard for assessing whether a prayer at a governmental meeting violates the 1st Amendment’s ban on an establishment of religion. We disagreed, finding more merit in Justice Elena Kagan’s argument that in opening public meetings with prayers, governments are in effect picking a faith — or picking faith over non-faith.

People of all religious beliefs — and people with no religious beliefs — attend city council meetings and other official government proceedings to petition for services, complain about policies and keep an eye on their leaders. Starting such a meeting with a prayer by its nature excludes some attendees. Watching council members speak from beneath a display of their faith in God is also exclusionary and will be offensive to some citizens.

It’s no doubt a fool’s challenge to push for a new national motto or to suggest that 150 years of history be tossed out the window by redesigning our currency. But this move to emblazon local government buildings with “In God we trust” should be challenged and rejected. As a rule, the less God is trumpeted on the walls of government buildings, the better.

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