Ala. Judge Loses Ten Commandments Appeal

Washington Post ^ | July 1, 2003 | Associated Press

[Lurking Libertarian]

ATLANTA - A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that a Ten Commandments monument the size of a washing machine must be removed from the Alabama Supreme Court building.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed a ruling by a federal judge who said that the 2 1/2-ton granite monument, placed there by Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, violates the constitutional separation of church and state.

[snip]

Moore put the monument in the rotunda of the courthouse in the middle of the night two summers ago. The monument features tablets bearing the Ten Commandments and historical quotations about the place of God in law.

[click link to read remainder of article]

[First Amendment]

Can you imagine this happening here, in the United States? A person getting arrested on Federal felony charges for displaying the Ten Commandments? How much longer before Christians will be worshipping in the catacombs again? We need a President like Emperor Constantine, who will make Christianity legal again.

Can this be appealed to the SCOTUS? I am not learned in the ways of court appeals. (Not that it will do any good, the way things are going.)

I really do think that it is time for what might be termed "civil disobedience". The left likes that term, let them feel it from the other side, coming at them. If the 10 Commandments aren't allowed, maybe citizens can come daily and nail up new ones, one after another.

[lugsoul]

Thanks. I now see I apparently hit a wrong click as well. When I checked to see who I was first responding to, I obviously hit the wrong name because an Arizona flag popped up. If I'da known you were a 'Bamian, I would've left out the sarcasm.

I am hopeful that the state will get its act together. But as long as the government is dominated by the AEA, the plaintiff's lawyers, and the state employees union, I am doubtful.

[montag813]

Would everyone here feel the same way if Judge Moore had placed a huge monument to the Koran on the courthouse lawn?

That would be akin to erecting a statue of Adolf Hitler.

[lugsoul]

He will surely file an appeal. The SCOTUS gets to decide whether they want to take or not. They won't touch this one. Then it is over, and the decision of the 11th stands.

[lugsoul]

Which of your rights is Moore protecting with this display? And why wouldn't you have those rights without this display?

[First Amendment]

He's a moron. A dolt. An idiot.

Opinions, opinions. Saying words loudly or offensively doesn't make them so.

On the contrary, I consider him a brave and honorable man, as he is willing to stand up to the authority of the courts because he considers them to be in the wrong, even at the risk of his career. And there are many who think the same.

[Porterville]

He shouldn't have done it in the first place and he knew it. That's why he did it during the cover of night.

[Porterville]

He shouldn't have done it in the first place and he knew it. That's why he did it during the cover of night.

[lugsoul]

Oh, by the way - citizens can do it (as long as the state doesn't mind them nailing things up on state property). The state can't do it. And if the state lets citizens put them up, it can't pick and choose items from one religion to allow and not allow others.

This isn't about the Ten Commandments. It is about the state preferring one view over another.

[auboy]

I am hopeful that the state will get its act together. But as long as the government is dominated by the AEA, the plaintiff's lawyers, and the state employees union, I am doubtful.

Amen to that. AEA's Paul Hubbard IS the most powerful person in Alabama, I'm afraid.

Have a good night!

[First Amendment]

A Buddhist lawyer or a Hindu defendent might feel that by the court's endorsement of the 10 commandments, it is prejudicial against them or their clients.

I am a Hindu and I would be honored by seeing the 10 commandments or any religious rules that help people become more faithful and moral. Sectarianism and atheism are the problems, not religion. This country was founded on basic religious principles, by mostly Christians, and the 10 commandments are held in honor by Jews and Christians alike, and are therefore have historical relevance. If I, as a Hindu don't mind, and in fact support such display, maybe a poll can be taken. (sarcasm)

Better yet, just read what the writers and signers of the Constitution thought about displaying the 10 Commandments.

[First Amendment]

Black is white, and up is down. There is a backlash developing. I intend to encourage it.

This, and the SCOTUS decisions this week - especially the sodomy one, are I HOPE waking people up. The slippery slope of moral relativism/leftist/homo-promoism/atheism has turned into a screaming nose dive.

[First Amendment]

Nor is honoring God a bad thing. Who could possibly be intimidated or distressed by this beautiful moral code? Only the enemies of God.

Note my above post. Unfortunately, the atheists who hate God (can substitute "secretly fear that He may actually exist") are very numerous. And by removing any public reference to His existence, they hope to increase their numbers.

[PatrioticAmerican]

"Now to replace it with a statue of two men engaged in anal sodomy. "

Of a young buy wearing a Boy Scout uniform.



It seems our religion is once again under attack.

[Iconoclast2]

Insofar as it is a gross afront to the sovereignty of the State of Alabama for the United States to presume to dictate what kinds of statues Alabama chooses to have it its Supreme Court building, I would think it appropriate if Justice Moore and the Alabama State Police battled it out with the Federal marshals to see whether the statue would stand. There may be no other way to restore state sovereignty.

It is remarkable the degree to which the Federal courts are solicitous to invent any and all rights in derogation of state sovereignty, and utterly oblivious to the most fundamental rights of property of the citizens of the United States. The fathers of our country would weep and rage if they saw the perversion of their brilliant design.

[PatrioticAmerican]

This makes our Declaration if Independence in violation, our money inviolation, our oaths of office in violation, our country and our way of life in violation.

[lugsoul]

Interesting post. Off topic: Tell me, is there any difference in your faith between homosexuality and any other form of non-procreative sex? Do you believe that the government should be involved in prohibiting all non-procreative sex?

[First Amendment]

Not ever having a comparative religion class, I've often wondered which one of these rules for living(the big 10) could be offensive to other religions. Do those religions endorse murder, stealing from or lying to others? Maybe screwing someone elses wife--please fill me in about what makes these "rules" so intimidating to others.

I made a similar point above. Only a rabidly sectarian person or atheist would object. The 10 Commandments were essential to the founding of this country and even though some here might not call me a Christian (although it would make for an interesting discussion) I hold them dear, and the more people who try to follow them the better the world would be. I don't consider there is a "Christian God" or a "Jewish God" or a "Hindu God". "God" means the Supreme God, Supreme Being. Supreme means One.

[Nowhere Man]

Disgusting. As I see more and more of this going on, sometimes I wonder if Andrew Jackson was right, "The Supreme Court (well here the 11th "short" Circuit Court) made their decision, let them enforce it." What if the local court decided to "flip 'em the bird" and say, we are keeping the Ten Commandments up? I dunno, I'm just blowing off steam here, but it seems like these libertines are getting their way, sometimes I wonder if we actually won the Cold War, militarily yes, economically yes, spiritually and ethically, no.

IIRC, the 11th Circuit is the one that signed Elian Gonzales to his fate three years ago, so why should I be surprised.

[MatthewViti]