Here's one way this thing works. A few months back, then-presidential candidate Wesley Clark, a Catholic, undertook to justify his support of abortion. On that issue, Gen. Clark explained, "I understand what the Catholic doctrine is. But I have freedom of conscience ... (A)s much as I respect the opinion of the Catholic Church, in this case I don't support it." The doctrine of the Church -- so to speak, the Church's grasp of Eternal Truth -- becomes in Wes Clark's telling just another opinion, such as you and I and all of us have.
Everything, it sometimes seems, is a mere matter of opinion: Honda Civics vs. SUVs, Target vs. KMart, the value of a formal national commitment to God vs. fear of offending -- with two simple words, "under God" -- the ears of a shrill California atheist.
How the high court will negotiate this matter -- are we "one nation under God" or not? -- God alone can say.
My own "opinion"? I'm not sure we're really one nation. Anyway, look: Do we need (especially during a war on terrorism) to stoke our civil discords hotter and higher? Qui bono? What counts more here, huh -- the sour complaints of the atheist plaintiff from California or the historic conviction (which could be correct!) that America owes to God her basic freedoms? I say the latter counts more.
But, goodness' sake, as we all know, that's just an opinion, and would I dare diss the competing opinion of a fellow citizen? Zeus forbid!