10 Commandments Ordered Removed From Florida Courthouse By Federal Judge

A federal judge has ordered a granite monument of the 10 Commandments removed from a Dixie County courtroom in Florida. County officials have 30 days to comply.

Via an ACLU statement:

“We hope that Dixie County officials will find a permanent place for it at a church or other house of worship, which is the appropriate place for religious monuments,” said Howard Simon, Executive Director of the ACLUFL. “Removing the monument is the right thing to do. It is not the business of government to promote religious messages about monotheism, idolatry, taking the Lord’s name in vain or honoring the Sabbath.”

ACLUFL sued in early 2007 to have the monument removed because the official government display of a religious monument is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which prohibits governments from establishing religion. Courts have held that the “establishment” portion of the First Amendment includes official sponsorship or promotion of religion including, as in this case, what a “reasonable observer” may conclude about government sponsorship of religious views based on a monument in a public space.

The five foot tall, six ton granite monument sits prominently in front of the Courthouse (pictures below) and features the version of the Ten Commandments as included in the Christian Bible as well as the additional phrase, “LOVE GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS”

A local Florida newspaper editorial today states:

Simply put, it is inappropriate for government to endorse or promote religion. It was also inappropriate for Dixie County commissioners to commit scarce resources to waging a legal battle the county was doomed to lose.

Some will criticize this ruling as yet another attempt to take God out of public life. But when government advocates a specific religion over all others — and that is very much what Dixie County commissioners have chosen to do — it thrusts itself into a role that inherently divisive, not to mention unconstitutional.

The courthouse is the seat of government for all Dixie County residents; those who adhere to specific religious faiths as well as those who follow no religion at all.

The act of posting the Ten Commandments at the courthouse door sends the message that not all are equally welcome in that seat of government. Judge Paul’s ruling should serve to make the courthouse a more all-inclusive place in which to conduct the people’s business.

While another local Florida paper adds, “Dixie County Attorney Jennifer Ellison says county commissioners will probably take their time deciding whether to appeal a federal judge’s decision ordering the removal of a six-ton granite monument of the Ten Commandments in front of the county courthouse in Cross City.”

“The 10 commandments does not extablish [sic] religion,” says Evangelist Greg Monroe who instructs a Youth Group Biblical Outreach Ministry, in this video, who obviously has absolutely no concept of the separation of church and state, slavery, law…