Courthouses around the nation have "In God We Trust" on their walls and every U.S. denomination of bills has "In God we trust" on the reverse side.

Groups like Freedom From Religion Foundation would like to change that. It recently sent a threatening letter to Allegheny County because of a potential measure to display "In God We Trust" along with the Pennsylvania state motto of "Virtue, Liberty and Independence" and one of the currency mottos, "E Pluribus Unum."The eight members of the county council bowed to the pressure and voted against the display. Their main argument is that it isn't inclusive and it disrespects other religions by promoting one above all others. Democratic County Executive Rich Fitzgerald defended the action, calling it "a movement by the right-wing evangelical Christians across the country basically to impose Christianity."Pennsylvania Rep. Rick Saccone didn't buy that argument."You should tell the county executive he should get educated on the national motto," Saccone stated. "It's their ignorance that causes them to fear having God in a government place. They shouldn't fear the name of God or the word 'God' in our government."Saccone isn't alone. Many in this state feel the slogan is part of our national heritage, and that Pennsylvania's roots in the "In God We Trust" motto are as strong as any in the nation. First, Prospect Hill Baptist Church in Delaware County had a prominent role in instituting the phrase.Mark R. Watkinson, a Civil War pastor, felt that slogans like "brother fighting brother" did little to help heal the country after such a devastating war. In a letter to then Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase, he suggested that "God, Liberty, Law," be put on the coins.A committee later settled on "In God We Trust" which first appeared on a two-centent coin. A plaque on the outside of the church announces the birthplace of the phrase.Second, it was President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had a home and farm in Gettysburg, that made "In God We Trust" the nation's official motto. On July 30, 1956, two years after pushing to have the phrase "under God" inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance, Eisenhower signed the law. It was Eisenhower's treasury secretary, George Humphrey, who suggested adding the phrase to paper currency as well.Although Eisenhower embraced religion, biographers insist he never intended to force his beliefs on anyone. In fact, the chapel-like structure near where he and his wife, Mamie, are buried on the grounds of his presidential library is called the "Place of Meditation" and is interdenominational.The Pennsylvania Pastors Network feels the recent Allegheny County vote and comments are examples of increasingly anti-Christian and anti-patriotic attitudes permeating America."It is unacceptable that some elected officials in positions of leadership around our great state and nation are so embracing the religion of secular humanism that they are violating their oath of office, denying the veracity of American and Pennsylvania history and becoming vehicles for persecution of those who understand the role God has had in our nation," said Sam Rohrer, president of PPN.He feels voters can have a say by replacing the officials with people who will not be ashamed to publicly post what is by law, our national motto - "In God We Trust."By Jim Zbickeditor@tnonline.com