Alabama Chief Justice Calls Homosexuality 'Evil' in High Court Decision

Nando Times / AP ^ | 2/18/2002 | Phillip Rawls

[ex-Texan]

Alabama Chief Justice Calls Homosexuality 'Evil' In High Court Decision

By Phillip Rawls

Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - In awarding custody of three teenagers to their father instead of their gay mother, Alabama's chief justice on Friday wrote that homosexuality is "an inherent evil" that should not be tolerated.

The nine-judge Alabama Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of a Birmingham man and against his ex-wife, who now lives with her gay partner in southern California.

The parents weren't named in court documents to protect the identity of the children, ages 15, 17 and 18.

Chief Justice Roy Moore wrote that the mother's relationship made her an unfit parent and that homosexuality is "abhorrent, immoral, detestable, a crime against nature, and a violation of the laws of nature."

Moore also quoted scripture, historical documents and previous state court rulings that he said backed his view.

Moore is known for his decision to place washing machine-sized monuments of the Ten Commandments in the state judicial building after he became chief justice last year. He earlier became known nationally as the "Ten Commandments judge" when he fought to keep a plaque of the Biblical commandments in his courtroom as a district judge.

David White, state coordinator for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Alabama, said Moore's opinion reflected outdated thinking.

"It's unfortunate Alabama is going to be embarrassed once again by a religious fanatic in a position of power in Alabama," White said. "It's obvious he cannot judge a gay person fairly and he should be removed from office."

John Giles, state president of the Christian Coalition, said Moore's decision protected the institution of marriage and strengthened the traditional family.

The father had held custody since 1996, but the mother petitioned for custody in June 2000, contending the father had been abusive.

John Durward, the father's attorney, said his client "is very relieved." The mother's attorney, Wendy Crew, did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

[cactmh]

I am sorry, but your welfare system and the sex ed controversies from your state don't paint a pretty picture. The people I've met from Mass. have all been pretty liberal by Alabama standards. Perhaps you're right, I don't feel like looking up your local reps right now. I guess you live there, so you'd know...

[Torie]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion. The facts and the available evidence will decide these kinds of things in most places however, and not our suppositions. Thank heavens.

[Burkeman1]

Ersnt Rohm was gay as was his top leadership and Hitler knew this. But I am less than convinced that Hitler was himself gay. There is ample record to say that Hitler had at least three female lovers in his life- one the older wife of Wagner- the composer- who died still admiring Hitler even if disavowing his crimes. I think the "gay" rumor about Hitler is a bit over the top. We want to think that Hitler was a complete monster and if he was a sexual pervert as well then that makes us sleep better at night. I think the truth is Hitler was more normal than we imagine and that is what is truly horrifying and that we can't deal with. So we make him out to be a misfit and a pervert. I love the documentaries about him on tv. He was a "drifter" and had no job after WWI- he lived a life on the edge of radicalism they all say. Who didn't in Germany after WWI- no one had a job- people were dying of starvation in Germany in the 20's!

We examine every aspect of hitler's life and want to find something very wrong with him- to make him inot a monster. The sad fact is that he was most likely more or less a normal man who could have run for president in normal times in this country. His evil we want to explain away. His evil is what we as humans are all capable of if we submit to it.

[Burkeman1]

No- the "facts" and available "evidence" won't on the Left coast and the east where PC intimidation makes any discussion of "gay" issues almost impossible. Even when confronted with death- the gay lobby in this country treated facts about Aids with contempt- and thousand of gays went to their deaths as a result of gay lead policy on Aids. Facts and evidence are the most hated in both coasts when it comes to certain subjects.

[cactmh]

BTW, it's really hard to believe what you say when your highest rep has a score of 10! I also remember the case where you shipped your child molestor to Montana and he killed and probably ate a child. Just like your politicians, you export the worst?

[Torie]

No dicussion of gay issues is quite possible on the Left Coast, you just don't like the drift of the discussion. But you are absolutely right about the AIDS thing and the gay community. There is a wonderful book about it, something like The Band Played On (who also fingers a host of other malefactors including the the Red Cross and the CDC), by a gay author now dead who died of AIDS. It is one of those true stories that could never have been written as a novel, because the plot would have been too far fetched.

[Burkeman1]

Look- there are things you like about Alabama and things you must hate. Same with me. I lived in Connecticut for three years and it was like being on another planet for me even though I was a three hour drive from home. I can't live anywhere else but here.

I have been to the South- and I can't stand it. I don't want to talk to people at the check out line at the grocery store and I don't want to talk to pretend to be nice to people I don't know or hate like many phonies from the south do all the time (some of the worst backstabbers are Southern- all nice to your face but gossips behind your back). Give me Northern New England standoff attitudes- where friends are friends till death and have to be earned rather than Southern phoniness and fake "get to know you" banter any day of the week.

[Crawdad]

Ms. Gun: If you mean "interpret" as in "interpret the Constitution", then I'm way ahead, I fear (pun intended), of even you. I believe that God is more intersted in helping me than in "gettin" me. Reverence for God, yes. Fear of God, no.

[Crawdad]

I agree. I've got a lot of Biblical fear.

[kickme]

Amen!

Thank the Living God for a judge that fears Him.

As for the commies...well, "every knee shall bow" - it isn't written that most knees will bow.

[The Cuban]

As a Conservative with a capital C as in the classic conservatism of philosphy I am sick of the people with this issue.

Evil is not a legal standard. It is a religious based standard that should not be injected into a legal proceeding in our system. Maybe in the Vatican or in Iran such a decision is proper.

ALL I AM SAYING IS --- This decision could have been based on different legally based criteria that would have achieved the same result.

Let me ask you this, If Alabama was majority Moslem (God Forbid) would you be as gung ho in your hapiness if he ruled a woman without a towel on her head was "Evil?" No you wouldn't. Remember the seperation of church and state protects us civically as it does from government intrusion on our religious beleifs.

[Burkeman1]

Hmmm interesting. When confronted with death of thousands the PC crowd hid the truth and refused honest debate. But somehow you think you will get an honest discussion of Gays rearing children or adopting? What planet do you live on?

[Mark Turbo]

There is ample record to say that Hitler had at least three female lovers in his life- one the older wife of Wagner- the composer- who died still admiring Hitler even if disavowing his crimes. I think the "gay" rumor about Hitler is a bit over the top. We want to think that Hitler was a complete monster and if he was a sexual pervert as well then that makes us sleep better at night. I think the truth is Hitler was more normal than we imagine and that is what is truly horrifying and that we can't deal with. So we make him out to be a misfit and a pervert.

IMO Hitler was a pervert, but not for being homosexual. One of his lovers was his half-sister's daughter, Geli Raubal, who committed suicide around 1931 IIRC. There's a book called Hitler, the Psychopathic God that I read back in college (not for a class) that goes into considerable detail into his sexual makeup and his relationships with both Geli and Eva Braun.

[Mahone]

God bless Judge Roy Moore!

I have no doubt he is and will continue to do so and God Bless Alabama!

[Torie]

The beauty of America is that all can join the discussion, and adduce the available evidence. And the courts will seek that. Those evil gay militant agenda types you so traduce will not be the only voices heard. Unlike AIDS early on, when many did not care because it seemed to be killing only gay people, and it was more convenient to be in a state of denial, this issue has greater resonance, as I am sure you would agree.

[martian_22]

I agree. It is about time one vocalizes the opinions that got him elected or appointed.

Too bad the only time anyone pays attention to what they say is when they speak from the bench.

Judges should be guests on political talk shows. It would give the public(such as it is) to get a glimpse of their thinking, valuable insights, etc.

[LionsDaughter]

"It's unfortunate Alabama is going to be embarrassed once again by a religious fanatic in a position of power in Alabama," White said. "It's obvious he cannot judge a gay person fairly and he should be removed from office."

Alabama is quite obviously not embarrassed at all by Judge Moore or else he would have been removed from his office long since. It has been several years since he posted the Ten Commandments and he is still there.

[P-Marlowe]

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

[Amerigomag]

No dicussion of gay issues is quite possible on the Left Coast, you just don't like the drift of the discussion.

It's not that we don't like the drift of the discussion it's that we don't encourage discussions that include the words homosexuals and children.

[kickme]

The facts and the available evidence will decide these kinds of things

Pardon me, but the Creator has already decided these things inspite of our intelligent(?) decisions. Kind Regards,