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Does ‘In God we Trust’ go with the Family City in terms of messaging?
Brietenbucher
Brietenbucher

Manteca Councilman Dave Breitenbucher wants the city to adopt the official motto of the United States — “in God we trust”.

And based on the feedback Breitenbucher received Tuesday he’ll get the chance to make a push to do just that when the item is placed on a City Council meeting agenda in January.

Breitenbucher noted that other cities in San Joaquin County — Lodi and Lathrop — have adopted the motto.

A joint resolution passed in 1955 by the 84th Congress and signed by President Dwight Eisenhower required that the motto appear on all currency.

A year later Congress passed legislation making “in God we trust” the national motto that Eisenhower signed into law.

 The motto first appeared on the two-cent piece in 1864. It was added to paper currency in 1957.

 The U.S. Supreme Court has referenced the motto in footnotes on rulings. The high court has never ruled on its constitutionality.

 Back in the 1990s unbeknownst to elected officials, Manteca city staff took it upon themselves to neuter the city seal — now commonly referred to as the city logo — to erase any religious symbolism.

What looks like a McMansion on the seal actually was originally designed as a church with a cross on the rooftop. The other elements of the church — pseudo stained glass windows were kept. Also on the seal is a house with trees behind it.

The seal is inscribed with the municipal logo, “The Family City”.

Staff afterwards said they removed the steeple to avoid Manteca being targeted by organizations that were suing other cities under the umbrella of separation of church and state lawsuits that were targeting religious symbols on government property as well as prayers at public meetings.

Those lawsuits had mixed results.

Manteca continues to have opening prayers for its council meetings. They have been led by representatives of various faiths across the spectrum and — in a pinch — by council members or department heads.

 

To contact Dennis Wyatt email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com