Harris County (Houston, TX) must remove Bible displayed at courthouse

Houston Chronicle ^ | 8/10/04 | RAD SALLEE

[truthandlife]

.S. District Judge Sim Lake ruled today that a Bible displayed in a monument outside the Harris County Civil Courts Building must be removed within 10 days and that the county must pay $41,000 in court costs and attorney fees.

Real estate broker and attorney Kay Staley sued the county in federal court to have the monument removed, contending the display violates the First Amendment ban on an establishment of religion.

The King James Bible rests under glass inside a 4-foot stone monument on the west side of the Civil Courthouse, 301 Fannin.

The monument was constructed with private funds in the 1950s as a memorial to philanthropist William S. Mosher.

During a two-day hearing last week, the county contended that the display primarily honors Mosher, while the plaintiffs said it unconstitutionally promoted a specific religion at a government facility.

[thackney]

Houston ping

[HipShot]

"Logic and/or reason has nothing to do with anti-God leftist ""thinking"" (term used loosely in their case)."

The court should've laughed her out onto the street and told her to go back to school.

Since that didn't happen I can only assume that we have a runaway legal system with an unconstitutional agenda.

I know it's not news, but the blatant behavior stuns me sometimes.

[Askel5]

=== Being judgemental and condescending is SO much more reflective of Christianity.

Yeah well ... looks like I'll have to defer to your SO patently obvious expertise in this regard.

[jimt]

The County is expected to appeal the decision.

As well they should.

This is not a monument to religion, or to religious practices. It's a monument to honor a man who did great things for Houston and its residents.

The judge has his head where the sun don't shine.

[k2blader]

Surely you jest?

[Askel5]

=== I finally figured out that, if I ever DO start understandting them, I'll be doomed, just as they are.


First of all, no one is "doomed". We can't comprehend it and so are bound not to anticipate God's judgment and mercy where His -- and His alone -- perfect knowledge of each man's heart is concerned.

Second, I suggest strongly you do seek to understand them. How else will you ever be able to "speak their language" such or have the real sympathy necessary to reach them ... as is your obligation as a Christian.

[Peach]

Ugg - you have heard of re-election and future appointments to the bench, haven't you?

[Dog Gone]

Interestingly, the District Judge who made this ruling is a Reagan appointee. I fear this is the fallout of what Judge Moore did in Alabama, where he did just about everything he could do to lose that case.

It will be interesting to read the opinion in this case and see how much influence the Moore rulings had on the decision.

All is not lost, though. The 5th Circuit will review this case, and they are the most conservative court in the country. The facts in this case are NOT like the ones in Judge Moore's case, and it's possible we'll see a reversal. If we don't, then we're in deep constitutional trouble.

It won't just be "the separation of church and state." It will be "separation of church and state by a moat, landmines, and a razor fence."

[HipShot]

Did you know that dictatorial hypocrisy is an unattractive attribute? It's right up there with self righteousness; the same self righteousness that pushed this woman to misrepresent the first amendment and which allowed the judge to validate it.

Amazing but true!

[Mockingbird For Short]

Do you have to be a Houstonian to have a voice in a citizen's action committee?

[DocRock]

I was present at the unveiling of the American Heritage Foundation Rock in our county administration building. If you want to see how to legally display the 10 Commandments on government property, you may want to check out this LINK. This was installed on Sept. 11, 2003, (after the Judge Roy Moore problem), with a parking lot full of TV satellite trucks, reporters crawling over each other and overflow attendance. Yes, the ACLU was there, threatening to sue but there wasn't a peep out of them or the media because it can be done legally. Unfortunately, it probably can't be done with a Bible, only our founding documents which include religious references and the 10 Commandments. Good luck and God Bless.

[Askel5]

Keep 'em coming ... I'm taking notes.

[DirtyHarryY2K]

Well Don't count us out just yet, If it gets much worse we may have to succeed from the union, declare Texas a Idependent nation, elect W as president, and write our own constitution and put the bible back where it belongs!

[HipShot]

Keep what coming? Are you learning something?

A little hint would be nice.

[beelzepug]

"...I'm taking notes."

Try taking a Midol.

[Askel5]

=== If it gets much worse we may have to succeed from the union, declare Texas a Idependent nation, elect W as president


Or -- given the way the Republicans are drafting in an semi-official underclass from Mexico -- you could always consider a post-secession conquer of that Catholic nation and elect Jorge III El Presidente.

Something to think about .... after all, these things take time. =)

[deport]

DG... I've not seen the monument and assume you have. I'm assuming it had other items or tributes to Mosher included in it besides the Bible. Thus the monument stays but just the Bible is to be remove? Do you know if the Bible was a Mosher family Bible?

[Askel5]

I'm learning a lot about you.

And -- quite frankly -- I think you need to learn the difference between Judgment and Discerning.

I've not condemned anyone on this thread for their asinine statements or their calls to "fight fire with fire" or even attempt a run-around by doing what damage they can to the cretin's real estate business.

But thank you for singling me out and lording it over me with the lessons in being a true Christian. Your work is probably never done.


(P.S. The Tick IS cool.)

[Askel5]

=== Today I have zero tolerance for them. I'd just as soon smack one as look at him.


And you think I'm the one who needs medicating?

[Dog Gone]

I don't know if the original bible in the monument was a Mosher bible or not, but the one there now is a replacement. The monument was vandalized many years ago, and was basically used as a trash can. It was restored in 1995.

I haven't seen the monument in person. I don't live in Harris County, so I have no need to go to the courthouse. My understanding, though, is that the Bible is the only object in the monument. There probably is a placard explaining who the monument is dedicated and his work with the Star of Hope mission.