Chicago, Ill., Jun 9, 2018 / 15:28 pm
A U.S. appellate court has ruled against a self-described Satanist from Chicago who had filed a lawsuit seeking to remove the motto "In God We Trust" from U.S. currency.
The ruling, released May 31, found that "a reasonable observer would not perceive the motto on currency as a religious endorsement."
Kenneth Mayle, who describes himself as a non-theistic Satanist, filed the original lawsuit in May 2017. A lower court had dismissed the suit, and Mayle appealed.
The 36-year-old told the Chicago Tribune that carrying and using money with the motto "In God We Trust" makes him feel compelled to take part in a "submissive ritual" by spreading a religious message with which he disagrees.