'In God We Trust' a New Trend in Orange County?

The voted unanimously Tuesday night to add the national motto "In God We Trust" to the walls of the council chambers at the

Construction on the building continues at Alicia and Crown Valley parkways and is scheduled to be completed by late August.

Before voting, officials held a public discussion at the request of Councilman Robert Ming and Mayor Gary Capata. About a dozen residents attended—three of whom chose to address the council.

Boy Scout Zachary Schwartz said, "Our founding fathers founded this country on Christianity—and they believed in Christianity—so I think we should make our motto 'In God We Trust.' "

His father, Keith Schwartz, agreed.

Resident Kris Stoddard disagreed with Schwartz and disputed a few historical facts.

"I would just like to correct the concept that the founding fathers founded our nation on Christianity," said Stoddard.  Most of them were deists."

 Stoddard also asked the council to clarify what it meant by God.

"I want to know which God we are talking about here?" Stoddard said.  "This comes to mind because of the issues we have across the world.  We have a radical Muslim God that wants to destroy us.  We have a Mormon God that has a whole different idea about how the world came about. We have a Catholic God.  I'd just like to try and diffuse the whole concept and I don't really feel that it needs to be in the chambers of our City Council."

Capata agreed and said there were many differing ideas about God.

"I just want for people to think about what God really means to them," Capata said.  "As they leave the Council Chambers, a son can see this sign, and talk with his father about what this means—whatever their religion."

Other council members also spoke in support of the motto being place at City Hall.

Councilman Robert Ming told the story of a battle that President George Washington survived—through his own admission—at the providence of God.

Mayor Pro Tem Paul Glaab said the motto can be found in every state of the nation, and urged the other council members not to succumb to what he felt was pressure to be politically correct.

Councilmember Joe Brown smiled and said, "I'll make a motion."

After calling the vote and reaching a unanimous agreement to add the motto, the City Council decided to place it on two walls, rather than one.

City councils throughout Orange County, including those in Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo and San Clemente, have voted to display the motto.

In January, the Lake Forest City Council was split in favor of posting the national motto in its chambers.