A federal appeals court has rejected a Dallas-area parent's bid to have "under God" removed from the Texas pledge of allegiance that is recited every day by public schoolchildren.

Attorney General Greg Abbott says Wednesday's ruling is a victory for the constitutionally protected rights and freedoms of all Texans.

The words "under God" were added to the pledge in 2007.

U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade ruled in 2009 that the Texas pledge can reference God because several other state pledges and the national pledge reference God or divine grace.

On Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed.

David Croft had sued, arguing that the words are unconstitutional and violate the separation of church and state.