Michael Brooks
The Pledge of Allegiance is a declaration of loyalty and respect to the flag of the United States of America. While it is commonly recited by Americans, its recitation is not universal. Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, refrain from reciting it, believing that it constitutes idolatry of the flag and country, which the Bible condemns. The Pledge of Allegiance has also been a subject of legal challenges, with courts ruling that students cannot be forced to recite it and that doing so violates their religious freedom. Catholics, particularly those living in the United States, do say the Pledge of Allegiance. Notably, the Knights of Columbus, a prominent Catholic fraternal organization, played a significant role in adding the words “under God” to the pledge during the Cold War era.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is the Pledge of Allegiance said by all Americans? | No |
| Who does not say the Pledge of Allegiance? | Jehovah's Witnesses |
| Do Catholics say the Pledge of Allegiance? | Yes |
| Who added "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance? | Knights of Columbus |
| Why was "under God" added? | To distinguish the United States from the atheism promoted by communist countries |
| Is the Pledge of Allegiance mandatory in schools? | No |
| Can students be forced to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? | No |
| Does the Pledge of Allegiance violate the rights of atheists? | No |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics' role in adding under God
The Pledge of Allegiance did not always include the words "under God". When it was first composed, there was no reference to God. Instead, in 1893, Americans recited "...one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all". This wording remained for over 60 years until the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organisation founded in 1882, intervened. The Knights of Columbus represent a worldwide financial and charitable organisation.
The Knights of Columbus board of directors passed a resolution asking that the United States adopt the phrase "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance. The head of the Knights, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, explained that the Knights had already begun adding the phrase "under God" into the pledge at their meetings. After passing the resolution, they sent it to the House and the Senate, and to the Eisenhower administration.
Lawmakers embraced the change and agreed to amend the pledge. On Flag Day in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the resolution, officially inserting the words "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance. The pledge then became: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".
The addition of "under God" was also influenced by the Cold War context, as Americans wanted to distinguish the United States from the state atheism promoted by communist countries.
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Catholics in the US say the pledge
The Pledge of Allegiance is a way for Americans to express their honour, respect, and gratitude for the flag of the United States of America and what it represents. While saying the Pledge of Allegiance is not universal among all Americans, Catholics in the US do say the pledge. Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, do not recite the pledge but instead stand at polite attention, believing that it constitutes idolatry of the flag and country, which the Bible condemns.
The history of the Pledge of Allegiance is important to understanding why Catholics in the US say the pledge today. The Pledge of Allegiance was first composed by a Union Army officer during the Civil War, and later penned by Francis Bellamy in 1892. In 1942, Congress adopted the Pledge: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
During the Cold War, the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization, and veterans' organizations called on Congress to add the words "under God" to the Pledge. They believed that the addition of these words would distinguish the United States from the state atheism promoted by communist countries. In 1951, the Knights of Columbus began including "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance at their meetings and sent a resolution to policymakers and the Eisenhower administration to adopt this change. President Dwight D. Eisenhower supported this change, and in 1954, Congress amended the Pledge to include "under God."
The inclusion of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance has been the subject of legal challenges, with some arguing that it violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. However, courts have ruled that the pledge's reference to God does not violate non-pledging students' rights if participation is voluntary, and that it represents a patriotic rather than a religious sentiment.
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Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to say it
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that pledging allegiance to a flag or a nation is equivalent to worshipping that flag, the nation it represents, or its leaders. They believe that their sole devotion and allegiance should be to God, and that all humans are equal before God. This is supported by scriptures that show God no longer favors one nation over another, for example Acts 10:34: "God is not partial".
Jehovah's Witnesses are not anti-government, and they believe that governments are part of an “arrangement of God” that he allows to exist. They also believe that Christians should obey secular authorities. However, in the case of a conflict between secular laws and God's laws, Jehovah's Witnesses will choose to "obey God as ruler rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
The Bible teaches that God “made out of one man every nation of men” (Acts 17:26). Jehovah's Witnesses believe that it would be wrong to glorify any particular ethnic group or nationality above others. They honor all peoples, regardless of their place of origin or residence (1 Peter 2:17).
Jehovah's Witnesses do not take sides in social and political issues. They believe that their reasons for not participating in the Pledge of Allegiance are different from those of political activists. Instead, they are adhering to their Bible-based beliefs about those ceremonies.
In the United States, the Supreme Court has ruled that public school students are not required to say the Pledge of Allegiance. This ruling was made on the grounds that ideological dogmata are antithetical to the principles of the country. The ruling also stated that no official can prescribe what should be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.
The question of whether school children must be excused from conduct required of all the other children in the promotion of national cohesion has been a subject of debate in the United States. In the case of West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, the Court's Minersville decision was overruled. Justice Robert Jackson wrote the majority opinion, emphasizing that free expression overrides the goal of national unity. He concluded that a compulsory flag pledge goes against the fundamental values of the First Amendment, which protects freedom of expression and thought.
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Students can refuse to say it
Students in the United States have the right to refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance. This right has been affirmed by the Supreme Court, which ruled in 1943 that no school or government can compel someone to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or salute the flag. The Court has also ruled that students cannot be required to stand for the Pledge.
However, this right is not always respected in practice. In some states, students are required to have permission from their parents to opt out of saying the Pledge, which can violate the rights of young people to make decisions about their own beliefs. Additionally, teachers have been known to intimidate and even physically force students to stand for the Pledge, which is illegal and unconstitutional.
There have been several legal challenges to the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds that it violates the rights of those who don't believe in God. In one case, a student and the American Humanist Association argued that the phrase "under God" in the pledge created a climate of discrimination against non-believers. The case was dismissed by a New Jersey Superior Court judge, who ruled that the pledge does not violate the rights of non-believers and does not have to be removed from the patriotic message.
Despite these legal challenges, 47 states in the US require the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited in public schools, with varying exemptions for students or staff who wish to opt out. For example, Alaska requires school districts to inform people of their right not to participate, while Oklahoma requires schools to post a notice informing them that they don't have to participate. In contrast, Florida, Texas, and Utah require students to have parental permission to opt out.
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It's an enduring expression of Christian patriotism
The Pledge of Allegiance is a declaration of loyalty to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands. The pledge, in its modern form, was penned by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and adopted by Congress in 1942. It reads: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
While the Pledge of Allegiance is commonly recited by Americans, it is not universal among all citizens. For instance, Jehovah's Witnesses do not recite the pledge, believing that it constitutes idolatry of the flag and country, which is condemned by the Bible. Despite this, the Pledge of Allegiance holds significant importance for many Americans, including Catholics, as an expression of patriotism and loyalty to the nation.
Catholics in the United States have a unique relationship with the Pledge of Allegiance. Historically, the Catholic Church has not expressed any issues with the pledge, and many Catholics recite it as a way to honour, respect, and express gratitude for their country. However, the addition of the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance is often attributed to the efforts of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organisation. In the 1950s, they advocated for the inclusion of these words to distinguish the United States from the state atheism promoted by communist countries during the Cold War.
The inclusion of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance has been a subject of legal debate, with some arguing that it violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. However, courts have ruled that the reference to God does not violate the rights of non-believers if student participation in the pledge is voluntary. These rulings affirm that the pledge represents a patriotic expression rather than a solely religious one.
Pope John Paul II offered a profound perspective on the Pledge of Allegiance during his 1987 address to President Reagan. He quoted the pledge, emphasising the importance of freedom and humanity, and concluded that a sincere patriotic recitation of the pledge does not undermine Christian integrity. This perspective highlights how the pledge can be seen as an enduring expression of Christian patriotism, where loyalty to country and faith can coexist.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics who live in the United States say the Pledge of Allegiance. There is no reason for other Catholics to do so.
The saying of the Pledge of Allegiance is not universal. Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, do not say the Pledge of Allegiance but stand at polite attention. They believe that the Pledge goes beyond a mere statement of respect and entails idolatry of the flag and country, which the Bible condemns.
No, public school students are not required to say the Pledge of Allegiance. In 2004, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals held that students are also not required to stand for the Pledge.
The Bellamy "Pledge of Allegiance" was first published in 1892 as part of the National Public-School Celebration of Columbus Day, marking the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas.
In 1951, the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization, began including the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. They passed a resolution urging the United States to adopt this change, and it was embraced by lawmakers and signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
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