Commandments monument may be moved soon

[hotwheelstx]

Monday, August 25, 2003 Posted: 12:08 PM EDT (1608 GMT)

MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AP) -- About 100 demonstrators prayed Monday outside the Alabama Judicial Building, keeping up their opposition to a federal court order to remove a 5,300-pound stone representation of the Ten Commandments from the building's rotunda.

Attorneys prepared to ask a federal court in Mobile to block the removal of the Christian monument.

The lawsuit on behalf of a Christian talk show host and would name as defendants the eight associate justices who last week overruled Chief Justice Roy Moore and directed that the federal court order be followed, said attorney Jim Zeigler.

Many of the monument supporters spent the night in sleeping bags on a plaza outside the building and nearby steps, and one scaled lattice work on the side of the building and spent the night on a ledge. The unidentified man climbed down after daybreak.

Demonstrators have said they know the monument, installed two years ago by Moore, could be moved Monday or Tuesday.

Federal courts have held that the monument violates the Constitution's ban on government promotion of a religious doctrine.

Moore, who contends it is his duty to acknowledge God in the public rotunda of the state government building, was suspended last week by a state judicial ethics panel for disobeying the order by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson to move the monument.

Moore, who was at home in Gadsden on Monday, has pledged to argue his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Whenever workers come to remove the monument, supporters of Moore intend to keep it from going anywhere by locking hands and dropping to their knees.

Some of the demonstrators have kept vigil at the courthouse since last week and are committed to staying as long as it takes to make sure the display stays put.

"I got more energy since I don't know when -- God gave me strength," said Scott Campbell, who arrived Thursday from his home in Gurley in north Alabama.

A few people outside the building Sunday wanted the monument removed.

"I'm here to check out the circus," said 21-year-old Jeremy Jordan of Montgomery. "I thought church was supposed to be separate from the state."

At Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, worshippers said they want the Ten Commandments in public life but have reservations about Moore and his handling of the dispute.

"It was forced down our throats," Debbie Stack said of the marker. "This has taken the focus off of God and put it on a man."

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[momfromTN]

It is a simple monument, thats all. And the commandments are good rules to live by, and most are LAW anyway. It is ok to teach Islam in public school, but a monument has to be moved? I will never understand.

[stresseater]

I'm with you mom, that being said I'm running outta here,before I get myself into a lot of trouble standing on a soapbox.

[HaveKids,LostMind]

I dont know why anyone would have complained about it being there in the first place. Our country has so much to deal with right now, this seems so trivial.

I like the fact that this judge is standing up for what he believes in. And I believe he will be rewarded in heaven.

But honestly, although I am a Christian and I think its great that this monument was put there, I still think it will end up being removed. Because of the whole "seperation of church and state" thing.

That's not what I agree with, but that's what I think will end up happening....Our country just keeps swirling further down the toilet....

[cleaningla]

I don't see what the big deal is. You can look at the 10 commandments anytime you want.

Carry a copy in your pocket, display them on a t-shirt, wear them around your neck if you like.

I just don't get why people feel a need to have these types of things in a public place when they really belong in a church.

[eeigh33]

They moved ours here in KC...it moved from out front of the court house to across the street in front of the Catholic Church...I find it very silly and a waste of time. There are so many other issues that need to be focused on. If only "the powers that be" would spend as much time in other areas, maybe we would have a great healthcare system, an increase in employment, and a rising economy.

[Willow]

Originally posted by cleaningla
I don't see what the big deal is. You can look at the 10 commandments anytime you want.

Carry a copy in your pocket, display them on a t-shirt, wear them around your neck if you like.

I just don't get why people feel a need to have these types of things in a public place when they really belong in a church.

Exactly! If they are going to allow one type of religious monument they are going to have to allow one for every other religion.

[angelinwaiting]

I am totally with Judge Roy Moore on this one and that is all I will say about that, but it hasn't been moved yet

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by Patchouli
Exactly! If they are going to allow one type of religious monument they are going to have to allow one for every other religion.

Then I guess it is ok for a priest or preacher to teach a class in Catholocism or the King James Bible.(yeah~riiiiight LOL!) That is what chaps my hiney. They go and teach Islam in the schools, but want to remove an old monument. I think it is NOT harming anyone, and leave it the heck alone. What a waste of time and energy and tax money on this issue. I am totally and fully supportive of the judge. If people would read more about the separation of church and state thing, they would realize that society today has it all screwed up. It was supposed to be freedom of religion, not freedom FROM religion. The intent was so that the government could not dictate a religion that people HAD to follow. Not so that God could be kicked out of every facet of public life. The ten commandments are used by several religions, including Judaism. I do not see the big deal. And like I said before, most of the commandments ARE the law of the land now anyway and are good rules to live by no matter what.

I think this is just another example of people not having enough to do and who seriously need to tackle more serious issues.

[hotwheelstx]

Originally posted by eeigh33
They moved ours here in KC...it moved from out front of the court house to across the street in front of the Catholic Church...I find it very silly and a waste of time. There are so many other issues that need to be focused on. If only "the powers that be" would spend as much time in other areas, maybe we would have a great healthcare system, an increase in employment, and a rising economy.

I personally am NOT a religious person but, I think there are "better" issues that need to be addressed.

Isn't freedom of religion, speech, race...what our country is based on???

I'm sorry but to me it would be an awful BORING world if everyone thought alike, dressed alike....just a thought.

[momfromTN]

Originally posted by Fireball
The distinction is between practicing your religion in the privacy of your home and church. You are more free to do that in the US than anywhere in the world.

The pulic state government may not, however, condone any one religion.

The 1st Amendment to the US Constitution reads:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

It protects the rights of citizens to worship as they please and the right not to be forced to support someone else’s religion.

That means worship as you please in the privacy of your own home and church. Not force others to follow your religion. Not be forced to follow a state sanctioned religion. Keep personal religious practice and state governance seperate. Keep religion out of the state. Do WHATEVER you want at home.

I wasn't trying to make it sound trivial. It obviously is not. But I can see why you might think so.

I take this kind of thing rather seriously. Let me ask YOU? Just how the heck is an old monument trying to force YOU to be one religion or another? How is it trying to sanction one religion? The ten commandments is used by a LOT of religions! How is it making YOU support someone else's religion? And BTW Fireball, since we are on the subject, do you think that the California schools who were teaching Islam in PUBLIC school were wrong too? Or is it just Christianity that is supposed to be suppressed and shut up at all costs? Just wondering.