Passions Flare as Council Votes for 'In God We Trust' Display

"In God We Trust" should be visible in some form in the council chambers at , all five council members said at Tuesday's meeting.

But the members disagreed, at times strongly, over whether the national motto should be accompanied by other slogans from American history, such as "Don't Tread on Me" or the original national motto, "E Pluribus Unum."

A proposal from Mayor to install a display with a variety of such phrases was defeated in a 2-3 vote. Council members , and instead opted to direct the city staff to draw up plans to put "In God We Trust," alone, in City Hall.

"This is part of our history," Rudolph said from the dais, explaining her vote. "If we don't know and follow our history, we're going to be doomed to repeat the problems of the past."

But Herzog said he was worried that the council's action could be construed as violating the Constitution's ban on government-established religion. He cited a Rudolph said she had proposed displaying the national motto in part because "we're a Judeo-Christian country," as a reason for legal concern.

"That [quote] leaves us on very tenuous ground right out of the gate," Herzog said. "As a trial lawyer, I know what you can do with prior,  inconsistent statements."

Of the members of the public who spoke to the council on the matter, five were in favor of displaying "In God We Trust," and four were against it.

"A proper motto should represent everyone and not leave out 48 million Americans," said Lake Forest's Mark Smith, referencing the estimated number of U.S. citizens affiliated with no religion. "I would like to know what fictional god, Santa Claus or Easter Bunny I am supposed to be trusting."

But Greg Gillaspy of Yorba Linda said the City Council in his town hasn't regretted voting to display "In God We Trust."

"I stand before you tonight because I am fighting for this country once again, against the people who do not understand our heritage and the importance of a national motto," said Gillaspy, a veteran. "Fifteen percent don't believe in God. What about the 85 percent who do?"

The topic was put on the agenda after Rudolph gained permission from two council collegues to do so , following years of unsuccessul attempts. Rudolph said she was initially inspired by the efforts of a Bakerfield city councilwoman who was trying to get the phrase installed in city council chambers across the country.

Councils throughout Orange County, including those in Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo and San Clemente, have voted to display the motto.

But Councilman  said he would have preferred to have not taken the topic on, in part because it inflamed passions.

"The division that it brings makes me scratch my head and say, 'Why would I want to explore issues that are divisive on some level?' " he said. "The city has functioned quite well for 20 years without having ['In God We Trust'] up here."

Because much of the council's discussion revolved around the country's heritage, though, Tettemer said he thought Herzog's proposal for a display with multiple mottos would appease all.

After the meeting, Rudolph said she didn't support Herzog's plan—billed by Herzog as a compromise that could deflect criticism that the council was inappropriately mixing church and state—because some mottos would inevitably be left out of the display, offending certain groups.

"It's just silly," Rudolph said. "He [Herzog] thought he had the great 'kumbaya' moment, but it wasn't there."

Herzog and Voigts traded words before the final vote on "In God We Trust."

"As a national motto, this is a phrase that has brought together the people of America," Voigts said. "So the fact that you want to get on your high horse and say this is about religion—this is not about religion, this is about the heritage of our nation. Thirteen cities out of the 34 in the county of Orange that have enacted it—they haven't fallen apart."

"You're sadly mistaken," Herzog replied. "To in any way, shape or form insinuate that I don't respect what this country has stood for in the past is unconscionable."

Mission Viejo City Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht attended the meeting but did not speak, while McCullough's husband, Christopher McCullough, did speak in favor of displaying the motto.

City staff will now draw up concrete proposals for how to showcase "In God We Trust" and how much it will cost, and present those proposals at a future council meeting.