A federal appeals court has rejected a Dallas-area parent's challenge to the Texas pledge of allegiance over the words "under God."
Parent David Croft had sued, alleging violation of separation of church and state. His three children were in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District.
In 2009, U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade ruled that the state pledge may continue to reference God because the national pledge and several other states reference God or divine grace in their pledges.
On Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with that decision.
The words "under God" were added to the Texas pledge in 2007. The current pledge is: "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible." Read more on the pledge here.
Attorney General Greg Abbott said Wednesday's ruling is a victory for the constitutionally protected rights and freedoms of all Texans.
