The case involving the mention of God on U.S. currency was brought by Colorado members of the Freedom from Religion Foundation. The justices on May 20 declined to take up this most recent case. City of Edmond v. Robinson , No. Gaylor v. U.S . Church officials recently demanded that an Oregon district attorney destroy the recording of a Lane County inmate's confession.
Catholics consider the sacrament of reconciliation permanently private under all circumstances.
Furthermore, Oregon law exempts ministers from being questioned by police about confidential exchanges. District Attorney Doug Harcleroad originally justified the court-authorized taping by saying that burglary suspect Conan Wayne Hale might also be connected to the unsolved murders of three teenagers. Neither Hale nor the priest who heard his confession was informed that the April 22 conversation in the jail visiting area would be recorded. Bowing to pressure from church and civil-liberties groups, Harcleroad recently apologized for threatening to use the tapes.