SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal appeals court has ruled that the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency do not violate separation of church and state.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel rejected the two legal challenges by Michael Newdow, who claimed that the references to God disrespect his atheist beliefs.

The same court had ruled in Newdow's favor in 2002 after he sued his daughter's school district over student recitation of the pledge. That lawsuit reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 2004, but the high court ruled that Newdow lacked the legal standing to sue because he didn't have custody of his daughter.

So Newdow, who's a lawyer, filed a new challenge on behalf of other parents.

But the appeals court ruled 2-1 Thursday that the words "under God" in the pledge are constitutional.

In a separate 3-0 ruling, the court upheld the words "In God We Trust" on coins and currency.

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