USA: PAT BOONE TEAMS WITH KofC TO KEEP "UNDER GOD" IN PLEDGE
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From: "Father Richard Gant, S.T.D., J.U.L." <rgant@stx.rr.com>
To: "cinjub" <cinjub@cin.org>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 09:02:39 -0600
Subject: Catholic News:? Pat Boone Teams with KofC to Keep 'Under God' in Pledge
? ? ? Published: Friday, November 7, 2003
? ? ? THE TIDINGS, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, California
? ? ? Boone, KofC partner to keep 'under God' in Pledge
? ? ? By Paula Doyle
? ? ? He's a famous singer and born again Christian. They're a group of men
from Van Nuys belonging to the largest Catholic fraternal service
organization in the world.
? ? ? Recording artist Pat Boone and members of the Knights of Columbus, Van
Nuys Council 3148 traveled in different circles until a song united them as
allies in an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case which will decide if the words
"under God" should be stricken from The Pledge of Allegiance.
? ? ? In 1952, the Knights of Columbus started the movement to place the
phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, and the amendment to the
pledge was signed into law by President Eisenhower on Flag Day, June 14,
1954. Recently, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared the Pledge
of Allegiance unconstitutional because of the inclusion of the words "under
God."
? ? ? Neither Pat Boone nor the Knights of Columbus were happy with that
decision. It prompted Boone to write and record a song, "Under God,"
featured on a CD collection of patriotic songs called "American Glory." It
galvanized the Knights of Columbus to partner with the Becket Fund for
Religious Liberty in filing a "friend of the court brief" on June 26 saying
the Ninth Circuit decision "is at war" with "the tradition that there is a
source of inalienable rights above the State."
? ? ? According to Lombardo, the brief states that, since the time of the
Declaration of Independence, Americans believe they have inalienable rights
that can't be taken away by the State since the source of those rights comes
from a higher authority. Therefore, the brief argues, the Pledge of
Allegiance, like the Declaration of Independence, is a statement of
political philosophy, not theology.
? ? ? When Bob Lombardo, chancellor of the Knights of Columbus Van Nuys
Council, saw the Pat Boone video of "Under God" on a local religious
television station, he got an idea.
? ? ? "I was hoping we could promote the song at Knights' events as a
fundraiser for the campaign to keep the phrase 'under God' in the Pledge of
Allegiance," said Lombardo, a retired banker who coordinates fundraising for
the Van Nuys Council. He phoned Pat Boone's production company in Los
Angeles, explained his purpose, and was invited to meet with Boone's
assistant in Beverly Hills.
? ? ? During the course of the meeting, which Lombardo attended with his
wife Suzanne, he got to talk with Boone via speakerphone. The singer said he
was happy to help the Knights since he was aware of their efforts 50 years
ago.
? ? ? On Oct. 11, Boone was the guest speaker at the Knights' 4th Degree
Exemplification Banquet at the Marriott Hotel in Woodland Hills attended by
500 guests including Grand Knight John Riordan. After his speech, which
received a standing ovation, he led the audience in singing, "God Bless
America."
? ? ? Oral arguments are expected early next year in the U.S. Supreme Court
case, Elk Grove Unified School District vs. Newdow.
? ? ? To participate in the "American Glory" Knights fundraising project,
place an order online at www.patsgold.com or call 1-877- 728-7453 and
specify code KC20 when buying on the Internet or by phone. Proceeds from the
fundraiser will go toward both local and national Knights' projects,
including legal efforts to keep the words "under God" in the Pledge of
Allegiance.