Posted on 08/27/2003 8:59:09 AM PDT by NWO Slave
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A chorus of demonstrators joined an irate man in screaming "Put it back!" Wednesday morning after a monument of the Ten Commandments was wheeled away from the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building.
"Get your hands off our God, God haters!" yelled the wildly gesturing, red-faced man who initiated the chanting.
Workers used a dolly to move the 5,280-pound granite marker from the rotunda to another, undisclosed place in the courthouse building.
Meanwhile, a Wednesday afternoon hearing to consider a lawsuit to keep the monument in the rotunda was canceled.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Mobile on behalf of a Christian radio talk show host and a pastor, says forced removal of the monument would violate the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion.
Christian Defense Coalition Director Patrick Mahoney told the crowd of demonstrators that he wasn't told where the monument had been taken.
Because of its size and weight, the marker was presumably moved to another location on the ground floor of the building.
Mahoney said the monument would not be covered, and that he would be allowed inside to see it once it was moved. Mahoney said he was informed of the plans by building manager Graham George.
Mahoney didn't know whether the monument's new location would be accessible to the public.
The federal court had said the monument could be in a private place in the building but not in the highly visible spot in the rotunda directly across from the building's entrance.
Protest organizers asked the crowd outside not to rush the building or do anything else except pray. Some people seemed to be listening, with dozens kneeling, bowing or lying face-down in prayer in front of the judicial building and on the steps before and after the monument's removal.
The marker was wheeled away in a matter of minutes.
A federal judge in Montgomery ruled last year that the monument, which Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore (search) installed two years ago, violates the Constitution's ban on government promotion of religion and ordered its removal by Aug. 20. The U.S. Supreme Court last week declined to hear Moore's appeal.
But Moore refused to comply. Eight associate justices voted Aug. 21 to remove the monument, and Moore was suspended the next day.
Attorney General Bill Pryor, defending the associate justices, filed a motion Tuesday afternoon to dismiss the latest lawsuit, saying the Mobile court lacks jurisdiction and the complaint lacks merit.
About 150 monument supporters marched on Pryor's office Tuesday, demanding he resign for supporting the associate justices' decision. Seven representatives were allowed inside to meet with Pryor's chief deputy for about 20 minutes. The rest remained outside, chanting, "Resign now! Resign now!"
Gatherings of pro-monument demonstrators outside the judicial building have grown each day in the past week to at times number in the hundreds.
People seeking removal of the monument from its public site had said they were grateful that it was finally being moved, a week after the deadline set by a federal judge.
"This is a tremendous victory for the rule of law and respect for religious diversity," the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said before the monument was rolled out of the rotunda. "Perhaps Roy Moore will soon leave the bench and move into the pulpit, which he seems better suited for."
Lynne's organization was among groups suing to remove Moore's monument, which he installed without telling the other eight Supreme Court justices.
Demonstrators promised to keep up their protests of the removal.
"If it takes 75 years to reclaim this land for righteousness, God find us and our children and our children's children ready," said the Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the national clergy council.
Affirmative Action Judge Opposing Judge Roy Moore
Her parents did not "prod" her to take her Bible to school. The girl did that on her own. As for the girl "finding religion all by herself," obviously her parents had something to do with her system of belief. So what's your point?
I don't think he wimped out at all. He did the right thing. He should have never had them in a government school to begin with.
It sounds as if maybe the little girl was supposed to be paying attention to her lessons instead of reading something else at that time--Bible or no. That may have been what happened.
Okay, my point is this: since the girl did not choose to become a Christian, it is extremely disingenous to suggest that she "chose" or wasn't "prodded" by her parents to take the bible to school. Would she have taken it if her parents hadn't forced Christianity upon her? Yes or no?
What did I say? WHAT did I say...."for me, anyway." And whether you believe it or not, whether you accept it or not, IT STILL IS GOOD NEWS...in it's totality... it truly is GOOD NEWS ... whether you choose to believe it or not. And that, sir/madam, is not just opinion, but fact.
LOL!!!! The gift shops in Salem no doubt sell trinket souvenirs related to the Salem witch trials. That hardly constitutes a religion, let alone one that threatens to encroach upon our civil liberties. But next time I'm there (if ever), I'll be sure to check it out. ; )
Do you have the moral fiber, courage and integrity to cast your eyes inside yourself? You might not like what you find...
My hate for what? People who can't communicate effectively?
The Houston situation is wholly different.
The Houston display is a monument to a man, Mr. Mosher, a noted industrialist and philanthropist who did many good works for the homeless through the Star of Hope mission. The display of the Bible symbolizes his abiding faith and honors the man. It is a historical display.
Judge Moore's statuary was snuck in in the middle of the night, and is placed there as a religious statement, to whit we are all subject to the laws of (the Christian) God as embodied in the Ten Commandments, that Judge Moore's judicial authority derives from God (not the people of Alabama). It is an exclusive religious display as Moore said no other religion could possibly have a similar display in the courthouse.
The differences are night and day. I support the Houston display, and will take bets that the nutty realtor will lose in court. I cannot support Judge Moore, as he's using his official position to advance a religious viewpoint. He's abusing his power.
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