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World Net Daily : Decalogue Dismantled (10 COMMANDMENTS MONUMENT ALABAMA)
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | August 27, 2003 | WND

Posted on 08/27/2003 1:30:54 PM PDT by joesnuffy

LAW OF THE LAND Decalogue dismantled Workers move Alabama monument to non-public part of judicial building

Posted: August 27, 2003 10:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

The fight over the Ten Commandments monument ordered removed from the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building by a federal judge has come to a head as workers moved the two-ton Decalogue from its display area.

It took little more than an hour for three workers and a security guard to hoist the washing machine-sized granite cube onto a dolly and scoot it out of view of television cameras to an undisclosed location.

Seeking to head off any eruption of violent protest to the move, security guards sifted through the throngs of dismayed and angered defenders of "10 Commandments judge" Roy Moore gathered on the steps outside the building.

While many demonstrators knelt on the ground and prayed, others began chanting, "Put it back!"

"Get your hands off our God!" one man shouted as fellow protesters urged him to stay calm.

Vigil organizer, the Rev. Patrick Mahoney with the Washington-based Christian Defense Coalition, pledges the protesters will remain peaceful.

Mahoney told Fox News the building manager informed him the monument was relocated to a back room of the building so that it would be out of view of the public. This "temporary" relocation is described as the first step to comply with the federal court order which was upheld by Moore's eight associate justices last week.

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson ruled last year the monument violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment, which provides that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."

Thompson wrote in his opinion the monument was "nothing less than 'an obtrusive year-round religious display.'"

Moore lost an appeal July 1 at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mahoney told vigil participants the monument, which comes in two pieces, had been taken apart and the top portion – which is engraved with the Ten Commandments as excerpted from the Book of Exodus in the King James Bible – was going to be put in storage. He was told he would be allowed to view the monument to ensure it had not been damaged.

"This is a tragic day for religious freedom and the First Amendment," Mahoney said.

"It is a sad day in our country when the moral foundation of our laws and the acknowledgment of God has to be hidden from public view to appease a federal judge," Moore said in a statement.

Opponents hailed the removal.

"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, told Fox News.

Lynn's organization teamed up with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center to sue the state to have the monument removed. The Alabama lawyers argued it offends them and causes them to feel like "outsiders."

"Perhaps Roy Moore will soon leave the bench and move into the pulpit, which he seems better suited for," Lynn said.

Moore, who installed the display August 1, 2001, without consulting his colleagues, was suspended Friday by a judicial ethics panel for refusing to comply with the federal court order. He told a cheering crowd Monday he would fight to return to his elected position as the state's chief justice, declaring, "I've kept my oath."

"We should be offended when the elected representatives of this state, the governor, attorney general, and the justices of this court fail to acknowledge God as the basis of our justice system, simply because one federal judge says we can't," he said in a reference to the contention of the plaintiffs.

Acting chief justice, Gorman Houston, who took over when Moore was suspended, issued another order yesterday directing the judicial building manager to remove the monument.

A district court hearing scheduled for this afternoon in Mobile, Ala., on a motion filed yesterday by the Christian Defense Coalition to keep the monument on display has been canceled. The lawsuit asserted the forced removal of the monument would violate the constitutional guarantee of free exercise of religion.

Mahoney slammed the attorney general for moving the monument ahead of the court hearing, calling the action "utterly repulsive" and designed to "intimidate the federal judge."

"They did not have to move this until Friday. They were not facing any fines, any sanctions, any other problems," he complained.

Mahoney said the peaceful protest will continue through Sunday. Several hundred supporters maintained a vigil at the monument over the weekend, praying, singing hymns and reading Bible verses, according to the Birmingham News. Between 500 and 600 showed up Sunday night.

"We're just at the starting line in this campaign," said Mahoney who urged people to still come to Montgomery and join the protest. "Let every American come see. This is the future of the nation if we do not come now."

WorldNetDaily reported yesterday prominent evangelical leader Dr. James Dobson urged his 3 million radio listeners nationwide to head to Montgomery in a show of support.

"It's not just an Alabama issue, and it's certainly not just [about] Justice Moore," said Dobson, founder and chairman of Colorado-based Focus on the Family.

"There's much more at stake here," Dobson told listeners Monday. "This is part of a larger plan to remove every vestige of faith or reverence for God from the public square. That's where this is headed."

"We're at a pivotal point in the history of this country," Dobson said during a program featuring an interview with Moore. "Be a participant. Don't sit on the sidelines while our basic freedoms are lost."

Moore wrote a treatise on his battle to retain the monument in the July issue of Whistleblower magazine, WND's monthly print publication.

In the August issue, entitled "LAW-LESS: Why many Americans fear attorneys and judges more than terrorists," Roy Moore is the subject of an in-depth profile. Subscribe to Whistleblower magazine.

Previous stories:

Dobson urges: Go to Alabama

Justice Moore suspended

Moore faces suspension?

Moore: Fight 'will continue'

Judge Roy Moore: 'Captain America'

10 Commandments showdown tonight

Judge Moore stands firm

Backers of 10 Commandments to rally

'10 Commandments judge' given ultimatum

House rebuffs court on 10 Commandments

Judge Moore to appeal to Supreme Court

Judge loses 10 Commandments appeal

10 Commandments judge defies court order

Hundreds rally for '10 Commandments judge'

'10 Commandments judge' continues fight

Experts disagree over 10 Commandments


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS: 10commandments; abraham; aclu; alabamacourthouse; betrayal; bible; churchstate; constitution; foundingfathers; god; judgemoore; monument; pilgrims; scotus; tencommandments

1 posted on 08/27/2003 1:30:55 PM PDT by joesnuffy
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To: joesnuffy
Don't care whether it offends ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, or Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Frankly, the groups should be "tarred and feathered and run out of Dodge."
2 posted on 08/27/2003 1:34:33 PM PDT by lilylangtree
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"We're at a pivotal point in the history of this country," Dobson said during a program featuring an interview with Moore. "Be a participant.


3 posted on 08/27/2003 1:53:17 PM PDT by Vindiciae Contra TyrannoSCOTUS
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To: joesnuffy
FYI Links...


WorldNetDaily.com: "ANOTHER BIBLE MONUMENT, ANOTHER LAWSUIT CHALLENGE Woman Objects to King James Display Near Entrance to Houston Courthouse" (August 27, 2003) (Read More...)

WorldNetDaily.com: "'JESUS CHRIST' BANNED AT TOWN HALL Wiccan High Priestess Won Federal Court Ruling on Council's Prayers" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Council members in a South Carolina town can no longer mention the name of Jesus Christ or another specific deity in their prayers during meetings. The federal court ruling referred to a case brought by a Wiccan high priestess in Great Falls, the local Chester County Herald reported. Darla Kaye Wynne, a Great Falls resident, claimed in her suit the town violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution by using the name of Jesus Christ in prayers offered before or after meetings, the paper said. Great Falls Mayor H.C. "Speedy" Starnes, Jr., pointed out praying in Jesus' name has been the practice "ever since we've had a council." The town was incorporated in 1968.") (August 26, 2003) (Read More...)
CHARLOTTE.com - THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: "WICCA HIGH PRIESTESS BATTLES TOWN ON PRAYER She Wants Jesus Christ Taken Our of Premeeting Entreaty" by Dan Huntley (ARTICLE SNIPPETS: "The council ignored Wynne's request and she sued in August 2001. Recently, the American Civil Liberties Union began handling Wynne's litigation. The ACLU says the case is the first of its kind in South Carolina. A judge is expected to rule by mid-fall." ... "Wynne, 39, is also media savvy. She's done more than 300 interviews in the past decade explaining why Wiccans are good witches and not devil-worshipping Satanists. She's assistant national director for WARD (Witches Against Religious Discrimination) and has worked with the N.C. and S.C. departments of corrections in their prison ministries.") (August 10, 2003)

4 posted on 08/27/2003 2:26:46 PM PDT by Cindy
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To: joesnuffy
Looks like the Good Lord is going to have to abolish our system of government soon, and set up His Kingdom. This is not why he gave us this country and its freedoms, so a bunch godless socialistic fools could take it over, and use it for their own selfish purposes. These high-minded judges will soon be on their knees begging forgiveness for their stupidity and evil ignorance. Otherwise, they will be cut off from the land of the living, by the wrath of God, that will be poured out on all who reject the preaching of the gospel of the KINGDOM, by Christ's anointed Army/Bride.

I know they will laugh at what I say now, but will quickly remember these words when the "time of trouble" hits this planet in the near future. If you are not in the "secret place of the most high" (your completely redeemed, born again eternal physical body), its going to be very difficult to survive the transition from this hellish world into heaven. A manifested Son will have the power and authority through Christ to transform whosoever will from corruptible to incorruptible through the blood of Christ and the word of His testimony. Yes, all this old time religion will pass away as God does a new thing. You don't have to believe a word I'm telling you now. But don't forget that I told you. Isaiah 42 lays it out. Read it carefully in the context of what I just said. One day it may just save your life, unlike 99.99 percent of everything that has ever been posted on FR.

Isaiah 42
1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant?
20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?
24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

5 posted on 08/27/2003 2:28:54 PM PDT by Russell Scott (Without massive intervention from Heaven, America doesn't have a prayer.)
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