Posted on 08/26/2003 7:06:51 AM PDT by padfoot_lover
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.
There isn't a Seperation of Church and State!
It is people like you that do not acknowledge God as the soveriegn God that shaped this great country...You need a history lesson!
When you went to skool, you didn't lurn speling or histry did yu?
"We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come." -- Samuel Adams
"Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraint." --Daniel Webster
"Your love of liberty -- your respect for the laws -- your habits of industry -- and your practice of the moral and religious obligations, are the strongest claims to national and individual happiness." --George Washington
"Reading, reflection and time have convinced me that the interests of society require the observation of those moral precepts ... in which all religions agree." --Thomas Jefferson
"It would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe." Washington continued: "No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency." --George Washington
You cannot change history to the way you want it, Atheistic...
Amendment 1 - CONGRESS SHALL NOT MAKE ANY LAW...
This requires a ZOT!
Name one Christian hellbent on killing innocent people?
By installing a bible, or the ten commandments in a state judicial setting we are saying that we believe that justice rests on the word of god - Our Laws are based on the Perception of God given morals. Laws are not made for the God fearing man, but those that do not head the Word of God, which not all people in America believe in. - No, but the majority of the people do...get over it.. When I go to a government office the last thing I want is someones religious beliefs crammed down my throught throat-1 sp - Name one public Government place religion was forced in your Throat. If a bible or the ten commandments are to be displayed, I think we shoud surround them with the Koran(the islamic "bible"), Darwins book Evolution of Species, and a relich from every other religion practiced in the world today. I am not telling you to not believe in god. I am saying that there is no evidence that proves that you are right and everyone else is wrong. - And what if we are right and you are wrong? Are 1 billion people in china supposed to burn in hell because they do not believe in god? - Yes, those that do not accept Jesus as Christ will suffer. God isn't the loving God people put Him to be. God does love us but he is a Just God, He will judge sin. But He provided a way for us to get to Him, reject that and you will be without God for eternity let's get serious. keep god and jesus away from government buildings and operations. - Why, what has it hurt since 1607 (Jamestown) till now? Our Government is based on Biblical principles. I sure hate to see your judgement on that day!
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