Posted on 06/22/2005 11:37:27 AM PDT by JZelle
BALTIMORE -- A privately owned Ten Commandments monument may remain on display in a Frederick city park, a federal judge ruled yesterday. U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles Jr. concluded that no reasonable observer would think the 5-foot-tall granite marker is meant as an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. Judge Quarles also found that the city's sale of the monument and an accompanying strip of parkland to the local Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) chapter in 2002 was proper. Plaintiffs Roy J. Chambers and the District-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State had claimed the transaction was a sham designed to keep the monument on what appeared to be city land. Frederick Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty said the ruling affirmed the the city's decision to sell the monument to avoid a legal battle with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The sale caused the ACLU to drop a lawsuit challenging the display. "We sold the land, and the Eagles could do with it what they will, and they have, and that's that. And I hope this puts an end to it," Miss Dougherty said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Maybe I read it wrong, but I think the park is public land . . . only the monument is privately-owned.
Whoops! Nevermind, re-read it and saw that they sold the small strip of land. My bad.
Nope...Monument and An accompanying strip of Parkland....
I'm an atheist and have never had a problem with displays like this. As long as the government doesn't pay for it, I'm fine with it.
Maybe cities are getting smarter and selling both the monuments and the land to citizens, trying to get the ACLU off their backs.
"Maybe cities are getting smarter and selling both the monuments and the land to citizens, trying to get the ACLU off their backs."
EXCELLENT!
I guess there reeeeely is more than one way to skin a 'Rat! LOL
Hot diggity dog! Best news I've read all day.
>>>Maybe cities are getting smarter and selling both the monuments and the land to citizens, trying to get the ACLU off their backs.
But what happens when another group want to purchase land in the park for their monument? If the city does not agree to the sale they will have the ACLU on their backs once again.
I think you can tell from the story that the ALCU will always be trying to remove faith from our country. It is their goal and they have rigged the system so that their lawyers are always paid. The long term answer is to amend the constitution, but until then, selling the monument and the land to someone who can hold on to it seems to be the only answer for now.
Hey, if the wiccans want to pay 143 million dollars for two square feet ... sell it to 'em !
What really kills me is that this ever got to a federal (or any) court.
In what way do you suggest amending the constitution?
Yeah, to whom does one sell the Supreme Court Building in Washington where the Ten Commandments are displayed in various locations?
It's already been sold to the socialists, who erect new monuments to their beliefs there on a regular basis.
The ACLU is already filing an appeal...
So you were expecting a total solution? That would have to be through a Constitutional Amendment. Temporary solutions must be used till an ultimate solution is put in place.
Sorry, I am not God and do not have all the answers.
Aw. What a gyp! ;o)
I'm not a genius or a lawyer. But for the problem of activist judges redefining marriage, we need a constitution amendment defining what it is and that it can't be tampered with.
And the same thing in this case, that a memorial to historic document (such as the Ten Commandments) does not constitute and endorsement of Religion by the Government.
The same thing needs to be done for our flag.
All it takes for evil men to prevail is for good men to do nothing.
It seems the God haters don't like it that even thout the 10 Commandments is on the "accompanying strip of land" make it APPEAR that the monument is on public land. So just "appearing" to be on public land is an affront to their sensibilities.
(Later pingout.)
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