County Sued Over Court Bible Display

Houston Chronicle ^ | 8/26/03 | Allan Turner

[jimt]

County sued over court Bible display

Alabama case sparks local call for removal

By ALLAN TURNER
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle

Citing concern over what she perceives as growing religious fundamentalism, a Houston woman filed suit Monday in federal court against Harris County, demanding it remove a King James Bible from a monument near the Fannin Street entrance of the civil courthouse.

The Bible, tattered and waterstained, has occupied the lighted display case since 1995, when an employee of then-state District Judge John Devine's court undertook an effort to refurbish the neglected monument. The 4-foot-tall pedestal was erected in 1956 to honor industrialist William Mosher for his philanthropic contributions to the Star of Hope Homeless Programs.

"It's unconstitutional and I expect our elected officials to follow the law," said real estate agent Kay Staley, explaining her suit. Staley, who also is a lawyer, is a member of the Houston chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The lawsuit was filed by civil rights attorney Randall Kallinen.

Late last week, Kallinen indicated the lawsuit would be filed only if further negotiations with the county, started in May, proved fruitless. Early Monday, however, he announced he would move forward with the legal action.

Staley said controversy surrounding Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's defiance of a court order to remove a monument bearing the Ten Commandments from the state's judicial building prompted her to move ahead with the lawsuit.

County Judge Robert Eckels, who has defended the monument, said Monday that the Harris County monument is "fundamentally different" from the one in Alabama. In the local case, he said, the Bible simply is a component in a tribute to Mosher, a devoutly religious man.

"I've talked to the county attorney and he's ready to defend us," Eckels said. "We believe the monument is appropriate. If someone disagrees, well, that's what courts are for."

Staley, a graduate of Baptist-affiliated Baylor University, said she is concerned about growing religious fundamentalism as reflected in the monument.

The 1995 effort to refurbish the neglected monument, which had become filled with garbage, was led by Karen Friend, a member of Devine's court staff. Contributions from members of First Baptist Church were used to repair the monument and to put a new Bible in it.

Devine, who served as a civil court judge from 1995 to 2001, said refurbishing the monument became his "personal cause," and he directed his staff in the work.

"We have this insane rush to eliminate every Christian tradition and symbol from our culture," Devine said. "As much as the Bible is a religious text, it is a book of law. It's always had a position in the courtroom since the early 1800s. Witnesses and jurors were sworn in on the Bible."

Devine dismissed the concept of separation of church and state as "falsity," saying it was supported neither in the Constitution nor Declaration of Independence.

"The Bible is not welcome anywhere in the American system, it appears," Devine said. "I think that's outrageous. It's been here 200 years, and now someone has the harebrained idea it doesn't belong."

The courthouse Bible dispute marks the second time this year that religious exhibits on public property have stirred controversy in Harris County.

In March, Gail Hurley, longtime chairwoman of the Tomball Park, Recreation and Beautification Advisory Board, lost her position in what she described as retribution for her criticism of a Ten Commandments monument in the town's Heritage Plaza.

Hurley took exception not to the religious content, she said, but to a city decision to place a plaque bearing the names of advisory board members next to the commandments.

City council members denied that her criticism led to her replacement.

For fair use and discussion only.

[jimt]

The "separation of church and state" lady is barking up the wrong tree with this one. It is entirely a historical display that happens to include a Bible. The person who it honors was a long time Houstonian who did many civic works, and was also deeply religious.

The display is entirely proper. She's gonna lose.

[sauropod]

"Citing concern over what she perceives as growing religious fundamentalism, a Houston woman filed suit Monday in federal court against Harris County, demanding it remove a King James Bible from a monument near the Fannin Street entrance of the civil courthouse.

The Bible, tattered and waterstained, has occupied the lighted display case since 1995, when an employee of then-state District Judge John Devine's court undertook an effort to refurbish the neglected monument. The 4-foot-tall pedestal was erected in 1956 to honor industrialist William Mosher for his philanthropic contributions to the Star of Hope Homeless Programs.

"It's unconstitutional and I expect our elected officials to follow the law," said real estate agent Kay Staley, explaining her suit. Staley, who also is a lawyer, is a member of the Houston chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The lawsuit was filed by civil rights attorney Randall Kallinen.

Problem is bigger than Alabama.

[Delmarksman]

Soon we can expect to see a lawsuit over swearing an oath of honesty on a Bible before testifying.

ie: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?

[Delmarksman]

ps, Judge Moore can add that to his defence.

[goldstategop]

I guess the King James Bible, a classic in the literary heritage of English-speaking peoples, is now a religion! I wonder how one derives such reasoning. But don't expect liberal morons to explain it; all they need is to claim to be offended and that's it - the King James Bible MUST go!

[PatrioticAmerican]

And the fall to communism begins in freefall. This whole anti-religion things is a direct historical repeat of the communists takeover of China and the Soviet Union. It won't be two years and the practice of religion in a church will be a bad thing and teaching to your children will be considered by the state to be child abuse.

[jimt]

Problem is bigger than Alabama.

This lady is simply rabid.

Were her ideas correct, a museum display that had a Bible, or a replica of Hindu scrolls, or ANYTHING that referred to religion in any government building would be illegal.

The display in question is not remotely a religious display, it's a historical display honoring a Houston founder.

She'll lose.

[jimt]

I guess the King James Bible, a classic in the literary heritage of English-speaking peoples, is now a religion! I wonder how one derives such reasoning. But don't expect liberal morons to explain it; all they need is to claim to be offended and that's it - the King James Bible MUST go!

I for one welcome this lawsuit, because I think it will delineate how far this kind of stuff can go.

I'm on the other side in the Judge Moore thing, but this is clearly the opposite. This woman is going to lose, as she's attempting to alter a historical display to fit her religious beliefs. The historical fact is that the man honored by the display was deeply religious. He established (I think) the Star of Hope Mission to feed and house the hungry.

For him to be honored in the Courthouse as a Houston founder is entirely appropriate. For the display honoring him to hold a Bible is entirely appropriate.

She's picked the wrong fight. She will lose, and that will set a good precedent. To publicly honor religious people who've done good works is right.

[mhking]

Here we go again....

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[thackney]

bump & ping

[Hacksaw]

Careful, now we'll have FreeRepublic's "Shysters with Shingles" obsessing over this as they did with Judge Moore.

[Hacksaw]

(The "Shysters with Shingles" being those who spent 24/7 parroting often false information against Judge Moore).

[dansangel]

"We have this insane rush to eliminate every Christian tradition and symbol from our culture," Devine said. "As much as the Bible is a religious text, it is a book of law. It's always had a position in the courtroom since the early 1800s. Witnesses and jurors were sworn in on the Bible."

Duh.....

I really think we need to take .45MAN's suggestion and let's all just stop spending money because it bears God's name. The God-less ones might then stand up and take notice of how over the edge they have gone.

[Liberty Wins]

If Houston can honor one of their founders with an historical display, maybe Montgomery can, a few years hence, set up a display to remember Judge Moore, who brought fame to their little town.

How about including a granite Ten Commandments in their historical display?

[dansangel]

a nation founded on freedom and liberty.

Correct - with laws based on God's law. The founding fathers were not ashamed to admit that they received their guidance from God.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP

[Becki]

"Citing concern over what she perceives as growing religious fundamentalism, a Houston woman filed suit Monday in federal court against Harris County, demanding it remove a King James Bible from a monument near the Fannin Street entrance of the civil courthouse.

So. Now we will have to have "Free Zones" like in schools and abortion clinics? Nothing Christian within 1000 yards of a public building?

Becki

[knak]

They're comin' outta the woodwork.