Posted on 08/22/2003 4:25:33 AM PDT by kattracks
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's top judge refused to back down in his fight to keep a Ten Commandments monument and lashed out at his colleagues who ordered it removed from the rotunda of the state judicial building."I will never deny the God upon whom our laws and country depend," Chief Justice Roy Moore said in a fiery defense of the 5,300-pound granite marker, as supporters cheered and prayed on the building's steps.
The monument was still in the building's rotunda early Thursday evening, and court officials did not say when or where it would be moved.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, who had ruled the monument's placement violated the Constitution's ban on government promotion of a religious doctrine, has said it could be moved to a private place still within the building. He had threatened $5,000-a-day fines if Moore left the monument in the public rotunda.
Moore installed the monument two years ago and contends it represents the moral foundation of American law.
"Not only did Judge Thompson put himself above the law, but above God as well," Moore told his supporters Thursday.
The chief justice had appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency stay of the removal order, but the court rejected it Wednesday. Moore said Thursday he would file a formal appeal with the high court soon "to defend our constitutional right to acknowledge God."
"I cannot forsake my conscience," he said.
His supporters, meanwhile, promised to block any effort to remove the monument.
"We will kneel at the doors. We will prevent forklifts or trucks from coming in," said Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, which is organizing around-the-clock demonstrations.
Moore's eight colleagues on the state Supreme Court intervened after Thompson's midnight deadline for removing the monument passed and the monument remained. In ordering the monument moved, the justices said they were "bound by solemn oath to follow the law."
Justice Gorman Houston said all eight instructed building manager Graham George to "take all steps necessary to comply" with the removal order. George declined to comment when asked when, how or where the monument would be moved.
Attorney General Bill Pryor filed a notice with the federal district court after the justices' issued their order and said he believed that would remove any risk of fines.
Taxpayers "should not be punished for the refusal of the chief justice to follow a federal court order," he said.
A partition was put in front of the monument early Thursday but was removed after about three hours. Houston said the building manager may have erected it to comply with the order.
Gov. Bob Riley said in a statement that he supports public displays of the Ten Commandments, but also supports the decision of associate justices to "uphold the rule of law."
In his speech Thursday, Moore said he was "disappointed with my colleagues" and lashed out at "this so-called rule of law" that they cited. He said such blind obedience would have allowed slavery to continue.
Richard Hahnemann of Huntsville, the monument's sculptor, said he expects voters to remember what the justices did come election day.
"They have their opinion. Justice Moore was elected by the people to do what he did," Hahnemann said.
Richard Cohen, an attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center — which sued along with the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State — praised the eight justices.
"Their courageous actions reflect that Justice Moore is a disgrace to the bench and ought to resign or be removed from office," Cohen said.
Still, protesters outside the building said they were willing to stand in the Alabama heat and risk arrest for days or weeks to keep the monument inside. Twenty-one were arrested Wednesday night on trespassing charges for refusing to leave the monument when the building was closing.
Stephen Hopkins, pastor of Burnet Bible Church in Burnet, Texas, was one of those arrested. He said he was willing to be arrested even though he has 10 children.
"This is a great hypocrisy," Hopkins said. "This is an assault on God. They're saying we're going to cover up God."
CNN, eh?
Maybe if we play by their rules, they'll give us a fair deal?
If a granite monument of the Ten Commandments is an "idol" then each copy of the Bible is an idol.
This issue is much larger than the placement of a monument in an Alabama courthouse. This is about challenging the core deathforce that permeates every part of the foul, liberal and atheist libertarian agenda that has rotted and canckered the soul of this nation over the past 70 years. You have chosen your side; we have chosen ours.
(Sigh...)
Paul had great instructions for his friends seeking to win bonus points with God through unnecessary activism:
"1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. " -- Romans 13:1-7
If Paul could say that about the Roman authorities (which were a little more hostile to Christianity and the 10 Commandments, if you didn't know), then how much more does it apply to a state government that is more permissive of Christian practice than possibly any other place on Earth, now or at any time in history?
Oh, believe me, I definitely think he wants the national coverage. Big time. They just aren't going to spin this the way he, or any Christian in Alabama or elsewhere, wants them to.
Yes, you are.
You are jealous, resentful, and spiteful, and the most cursory reading of your mean-spirited posts to this thread prove it.
....this the part of the monument that's troubling you, Bama?
X. Thou shalt not covet any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Unflinching and flint-chinned, he is demonstrating leadership. I hope there are enough solid Americans in Alabama to elect him Governor.
Indisputable proof of the identity of the spirit that motivates them.
Indisputable proof that Moore is doing the right thing.
I wish that was the case.
"Unnecessary"???
Values are under total assault from the liberals 24/7, mate.
At just what point do you think activism will become necessary?
It's really a shame that you and I can't peer into Roy's soul, and find out whether Roy would really choose having the Ten Commandments in the courthouse over being governor, if push came to shove and he could only have one of them.
I know someone who can, though, and I'm fairly confident that Roy Moore will find the justice he seeks someday. He may not like it, but I think he'll find it.
...you guys have got a green-eyed focus, on the salary thing.
Would it be OK for him to stand on principle, if he was poor?
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