The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] Tuesday that the motto, “In God We Trust,” as printed on US currency notes and coins, does not violate the US Constitution.

Plaintiffs brought suit against the US and officials from the US Mint, Treasury, and Bureau of Engraving and Printing. In their complaint, plaintiffs alleged the currency motto violates the Establishment Clause, the Free Speech Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment; the Religious Freedom Restoration Act; and the Equal Protection component of the Fifth Amendment.

Citing Supreme Court precedence, the Eighth Circuit considered whether the motto represented a long-held historical practice and whether the practice coerced others to adopt religious norms in any way. The court reasoned that the motto is not used to discriminate against atheists and is “rationally related to the Government’s legitimate goal of honoring religion’s role in American life and in the protection of fundamental rights.” Regarding whether the motto represented religious coercion in any way, the court reasoned that the Establishment Clause does not protect people from speech or practices they find disagreeable.

The plaintiffs also argued that civilians should not be compelled to carry or disseminate a government’s religious message. The court stated: “The nature of currency is such that any expression thereon is distinctively the Government’s own.” It said there is no government requirement forcing the plaintiffs to carry cash, and that there are alternatives such as credit cards. Finally, the court noted the currency motto did not target or impose a burden upon atheists, therefore, cannot be deemed as discriminatory.

Similar cases [JURIST report] have been met with the same results in other federal appellate circuits.