Are Federal Courts Hostile Toward Christians?
Last year’s federal court ruling that the Pledge of Allegiance should not be recited in public school classrooms (because it includes the words “under God”) garnered a similar reaction from the public. According to a June 2002 Gallup Poll, 14% approved of that federal court ruling, and 84% disapproved of it. It may be tempting to conclude that the intense opposition to these rulings suggests a general tendency for federal court rulings to be unsympathetic to religious — and specifically Christian — groups. But most Americans don’t feel that way. When asked if they think federal courts have generally been supportive, neutral, or hostile toward Christians in their rulings, a clear plurality (42%) of Americans think the courts have been neutral, and 16% actually think that federal rulings have been supportive of Christian religions**. There is, however, a red flag here: A third of Americans (33%) do think the federal courts are hostile toward Christianity. It is an essential underpinnin
