Commandments Monument Backers Hold Vigil

Associated Press ^ | August 20, 2003 | Bob Johnson

[Selmo]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)--Supporters of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore gathered Wednesday for a candlelight vigil, hoping to convince state and federal leaders that his Ten Commandments monument should not be removed from the state judicial building.

Nine pastors led some 30 worshippers from across the country in prayer just after midnight, the deadline set by a federal judge for Moore to remove the 5,300-pound monument.

``Even if they should remove this monument--and God forbid they do--they'll never be able to remove it from our hearts,'' said the Rev. Greg Dixon of Indianapolis Baptist Church.

Moore, who has said he will not follow the judge's order, earlier lost two last-minute pleas for a stay.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Chief Justice Roy Moore's request for a stay Tuesday morning, and Moore immediately asked the panel to reconsider. Tuesday afternoon, the appeals court turned him down once more, saying he had failed to ask for a stay within the legal time frame after it ruled against him July 1.

Moore, who installed the monument in the rotunda of the judicial building two years ago, contends it represents the moral foundation of American law and that a federal judge has no authority to make him remove it.

The 11th Circuit earlier this year agreed with a ruling by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, who held the monument violates the constitution's ban on government promotion of religion.

Moore's supporters announced plans for a series of protests that an organizer promised would be ``Christ-centered, peaceful and prayerful.''

Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said the protests would begin with a prayer vigil on the steps of the court building at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

``Every minute that monument stays in the building after Aug. 20 is a victory,'' Mahoney said.

Thompson has said he may fine the state about $5,000 a day if the monument is not removed by the end of the day Wednesday. He has said it would be permissible for the monument to be moved to a less public site, such as Moore's office.

[goldstategop]

Its about standing up to federal judicial tyrants and the ACLU theophobe acolytes who've spent decades erasing our nation's religious heritage with scant resistant from believers. The issue in Alabama isn't about separation of church vs. state - its about who do we acknowledge is the supreme fount of our laws - the Supreme Judge Of The World or mere men? What is at stake is nothing less also than our traditional American understanding of the rights of the people as God-given. We all pray for Chief Justice Roy Moore and hope that truth and justice will prevail in our land.

[Diverdogz]

``Every minute that monument stays in the building after Aug. 20 is a victory,'' Mahoney said.

Every dollar the State of Alabama has to pay in fines is a loss.

[Diverdogz]

...and the minutes ...er victories come at a bargain price the first week, $3.47/minute.