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To: E Rocc
False. George Bush can go to church and even speak to an interviewer about his Christian faith, and there is no legal sanction. Roy Moore could have put his slab in his yard or even his office. The Establishment clause means that government and its agents, the latter in the official role, cannot take actions which promote or inhibit religion.

You are wrong. The First Amendment says the government can't establish a religion. Roy Moore can put the Ten Commandments anywhere he wants, including in the court house lobby. If he told everybody that came in the building that they had to switch to Christianity when they came through the door, he would be violating the Constitution. If you listen to groups like the ACLU they will argue that putting that symbol in the court house IS establishing a religion. They are wrong, just like quite a few of the people who post in this forum are wrong.
153 posted on 03/31/2004 7:29:25 AM PST by coffeebreak
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To: coffeebreak
False. George Bush can go to church and even speak to an interviewer about his Christian faith, and there is no legal sanction. Roy Moore could have put his slab in his yard or even his office. The Establishment clause means that government and its agents, the latter in the official role, cannot take actions which promote or inhibit religion.

You are wrong. The First Amendment says the government can't establish a religion. Roy Moore can put the Ten Commandments anywhere he wants, including in the court house lobby. If he told everybody that came in the building that they had to switch to Christianity when they came through the door, he would be violating the Constitution. If you listen to groups like the ACLU they will argue that putting that symbol in the court house IS establishing a religion. They are wrong, just like quite a few of the people who post in this forum are wrong.

Establishment does not mean merely saying that this church is the official church of the government. It also means deeds that do the same thing. Moore gave the Protestant version of the Ten Commandments exclusive access to his courtroom in a manner that clearly implied endorsement of that message by an agency of the government.

-Eric

159 posted on 03/31/2004 8:05:59 AM PST by E Rocc (Democrats are to the economy what Round-up is to grass.)
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To: coffeebreak
Roy Moore can put the Ten Commandments anywhere he wants, including in the court house lobby.

No, he cannot. He is not free to use his official position, public funds or a public building to promote his religious beliefs. If Judge Moore wants to spend his free time promoting religion, more power to him. He cannot do so, however, on the taxpayer's dime.

191 posted on 03/31/2004 12:10:45 PM PST by Modernman (Chthulhu for President! Why Vote for the Lesser Evil?)
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