I'm not even so sure we disagree on the ruling. Thompson applied the law exactly as required. The only way he could have ruled differently is to chuck SCOTUS precedent, which he is not empowered to do. I haven't said that I agree with that precedent, at all. The Lemon test is cumbersome. But, at the moment, it is the test, and Thompson had to apply it, and under these facts, its application is easy. Moore TRIED to violated it.
I am not a lawyer, thus I do not know what Thompson is legally able to do. What he is bound by.....if he is able to rule in a way that would encourage the SCOTUS to revisit the area......