CLEVELAND -- A federal court's ruling has made the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional.

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NewsChannel5 first reported the decision Wednesday. In breaking news late Thursday afternoon, Newschannel5 learned that one of the appeals judges has put a hold on the ruling.

As a result, the appeals court will now rehear the case with the same three judges or an 11-judge panel.

NewsChannel5's Leon Bibb got a range of government reaction to the original decision from the U.S. Capitol to The Cleveland City Council.

Symbolically, virtually the entire U.S. Senate and House showed up for a Thursday morning prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Legislators affirmed the United States was "one nation under God." This after a federal appeals court declared Wednesday the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional.

A ninth U.S. circuit court of appeals three-judge panel Wednesday ruled the use of the words "under God" violates the Constitution's clause barring establishment of religion. If the ruling stands, it would bar schoolchildren from reciting the pledge in the nine western states covered by the court. Michael Newdow of Sacramento brought the case to the court.

"I have nothing against saying the Pledge of Allegiance," Newdow said. "I have something against the Pledge of Allegiance that is infused with religious dogma that I disagree with, and that is the key issue."

Referring to the "under God" phrase in the pledge, the American Civil Liberties Union agrees with the ruling. However, its Ohio office officials declined to be interviewed.

Cleveland City Council chambers and council meetings begin with a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. This tradition will continue, for now, as the appeals court ruling does not apply in Cleveland.

"There is no separation of what people believe in terms of religion or otherwise what they do on a daily basis," Frank Jackson, council president, said. "Government is a day-to-day operation, and sometimes we need a few prayers."

Constitutional scholars told Newschannel5 that if the ruling is not overturned by the full appeals court, the U.S. Supreme Court probably would review the case next year.

The Pledge of Allegiance has not always read as its reads today. In 1954, President Eisenhower signed the insertion of the phrase "under God" into law.