It's troubling when voluntary, non-disruptive expressions of religious faith are forbidden by a court or by public officials.
The First Amendment to the Constitution simply doesn't prohibit free expressions of faith. In fact, it protects the right to engage in religious speech and activity or to refrain from doing so, according to individual choice.
So it is fortunate that the United States Supreme Court recently turned back one of the many attempts to silence free religious expression.
It rejected an atheist's demand that presidents not utter the phrase "So help me God" in the oath of office when they are inaugurated.
Though presidents may freely choose to use or not use that phrase, Michael Newdow had said the reference to God infringes on his beliefs.
But the right to one's beliefs does not include a right to silence the beliefs of others.
The Supreme Court acted correctly and constitutionally in rejecting the atheist's case.