School drops God from Pledge of Allegiance; 'It seems like Christianity is getting taken out of everything,' says parent

 AP Photo

A South Carolina school is apologising this week after distributing a copy of the Pledge of Allegiance to students with the words "under God" removed.

Jessica Andrews' daughter is a fourth-grader at the school in question – Chukker Creek Elementary. She reported being utterly shocked by the omission.

"It was like an 'Oh my gosh' type of feeling," Andrews told Fox News.

"It's outrageous, to be honest.

"It seems like the government is doing everything they can to take God out of everything."

Controversy over the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance has also been reported in Wisconsin, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and other states.

"We are so quick to change our religion to accommodate everyone else," Andrews said. "It seems like Christianity is getting taken out of everything."

Chukker Creek Principal Amy Gregory said that the misprinted Pledge was not intentional, however.

"This was a single mistake by a very embarrassed and apologetic teacher," Gregory told Fox News.

"In order to assist her new students with our morning announcements, a teacher made copies of the pledge and national anthem for her class.

"She cut and pasted these from a website and in doing so, this line was omitted.

"The teacher failed to proof the paper."

The teacher, who has not been identified, issued the correct version of the Pledge of Allegiance to her students, along with a message to their parents.

"I do apologise," she wrote. "Please forgive me. I respect our country and what it was founded on."

Andrews, who has five other children, said she turned the incident into a learning experience for her daughter.

"I told her the government and a lot of people don't like God," Andrews said. "Some people are offended by Christianity. I try to be as real with my kids about their faith as I can be. I don't want to sugarcoat everything."

News
MP calls for emergency meeting to end case against suspended Christian nurse
MP calls for emergency meeting to end case against suspended Christian nurse

Shadow equalities minister, Claire Coutinho MP, has called for an end to the case against Christian nurse Jennifer Melle, who is facing disciplinary proceedings for misgendering a convicted paedophile.

Hundreds of churches in Germany being targeted with vandalism and theft
Hundreds of churches in Germany being targeted with vandalism and theft

The cost of the damage to both churches and chapels runs into hundreds of thousands of euros.

Nigerian authorities secure release of 100 kidnapped Catholic school children
Nigerian authorities secure release of 100 kidnapped Catholic school children

The fate of more than 160 other students and staff members abducted in the same attack remains unknown.

EU urged to combat violations of religious freedom in South Asia
EU urged to combat violations of religious freedom in South Asia

Citing a dramatic escalation of targeted attacks against Christians and other minorities in their countries, human rights advocates from South Asia called for stronger EU engagement on freedom of religion or belief at a conference in Brussels on December 4.