Posted on 12/20/2005 2:01:25 PM PST by churchillbuff
A U.S. appeals court today upheld the decision of a lower court in allowing the inclusion of the Ten Commandments in a courthouse display, hammering the American Civil Liberties Union and declaring, "The First Amendment does not demand a wall of separation between church and state."
Attorneys from the American Center for Law and Justice successfully argued the case on behalf of Mercer County, Ky., and a display of historical documents placed in the county courthouse. The panel voted 3-0 to reject the ACLU's contention the display violated the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.
The county display the ACLU sued over included the Ten Commandments, the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the Magna Charta, the Star Spangled Banner, the National Motto, the Preamble to the Kentucky Constitution, the Bill of Rights to the U. S. Constitution and a picture of Lady Justice.
Writing for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Richard Suhrheinrich said the ACLU's "repeated reference 'to the separation of church and state' ... has grown tiresome. The First Amendment does not demand a wall of separation between church and state."
Suhrheinrich wrote: "The ACLU, an organization whose mission is 'to ensure that ... the government [is kept] out of the religion business,' does not embody the reasonable person."
The court said a reasonable observer of Mercer County's display appreciates "the role religion has played in our governmental institutions, and finds it historically appropriate and traditionally acceptable for a state to include religious influences, even in the form of sacred texts, in honoring American traditions."
Francis J. Manion, Counsel for the ACLJ, argued the case before both the 6th Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
"This is a big victory for the people of Mercer County and Kentucky generally," said Manion in a statement. "For too long they have been lectured like children by those in the ACLU and elsewhere who claim to know what the people's Constitution really means. What the Sixth Circuit has said is that the people have a better grasp on the real meaning of the Constitution; the Court recognizes that the Constitution does not require that we strip the public square of all vestiges of our religious heritage and traditions."
"Fortunately, the reasonable person is not a hyper-sensitive plaintiff."
Boy! If that isn't an accurate description of the ACLU, then I don't know what is.
100% CORRECT!!
I never thought I'd see the day when a judge makes that admission after all these years.
I would loved to have seen the face and know the thoughts of the ACLU lawyer when they read that. His jaw probably hit the floor as he quietly gasped "Oh, my god! They know!"
" I never thought I'd see the day when a judge makes that admission after all these years."
Not 'one' judge. But 'three' judges!
Decision was 3-0...
A perfect trinity of judges. ;-)
"Simply having religious content or promoting a message consistent with a religious doctrine does not run afoul of the Establishment Clause."~~snip~~
"In short, “proving” that the Ten Commandments themselves are religious does not prove an Establishment Clause violation."
Ouch ACLU, bet that one hurt! (hahaha)
http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/05a0477p-06.pdf
WOO HOO!
ping
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Many Freepers , myself included would interpret that as meaning the Govt. should not establish an official religion for the country. As is often done in some other countries. i.e. Islam.
Not only 'would' we interpret it that way, we 'do' interpret it that way.
(I know I do at least)
Wow!
Wonderful news!
Any time the ACLU is defeated is a time for celebration. The .00001% of the cases they litigate for reasons of true civil liberties does not justify their existence.
We need to help finance the ACLJ so that they have the financial firepower they need.
"The ACLU....does not embody the reasonable person."
Make 'em write it out ten thousand times, your honor.
A glorious smackdown of the commie ACLU!
About freakin' time someone with half a brain looked at this case.
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