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COSTA MESA -- Costa Mesa City Council on Tuesday is expected to decide whether to proceed with a plan to display "In God We Trust" inside council chambers.
Several Orange County cities have already approved displaying the motto, including Buena Park, Seal Beach and Yorba Linda.
City Councilmember Gary Monahan says the proposal has stirred up controversy.
Monahan says city leaders have been getting letters and phone calls from people who oppose and support the display.
"I could flip a coin, it's fifty-fifty," he said.
Some feel the public display would inject too much religion into politics.
Others say it's the nation's motto and is harmless.
Either way, city leaders say the display would not cost taxpayers anything. Instead, it would be paid for with private funds.
In 2005, aetheist Michael Newdow, of Sacramento, filed a lawsuit to get "In God We Trust" removed from U.S. currency. A federal judge rejected the lawsuit, saying the phrase was a national slogan and did not promote the establishment of religion.
Several Orange County cities have already approved displaying the motto, including Buena Park, Seal Beach and Yorba Linda.
City Councilmember Gary Monahan says the proposal has stirred up controversy.
Monahan says city leaders have been getting letters and phone calls from people who oppose and support the display.
"I could flip a coin, it's fifty-fifty," he said.
Some feel the public display would inject too much religion into politics.
Others say it's the nation's motto and is harmless.
Either way, city leaders say the display would not cost taxpayers anything. Instead, it would be paid for with private funds.
In 2005, aetheist Michael Newdow, of Sacramento, filed a lawsuit to get "In God We Trust" removed from U.S. currency. A federal judge rejected the lawsuit, saying the phrase was a national slogan and did not promote the establishment of religion.
