by Kimberly Blaker

The desire of some Americans, including politicians and government officials to post the Ten Commandments in public places is nothing new; though for many, it’s merely a misguided attempt to make our nation a kinder, safer place.  This is evident by the fact that the Christian right often gains unexpected support in its attempts to place the Decalogue in public schools, following tragic shootings, and in courthouses, particularly since 9-11. 

But for Alabama’s Chief Justice Roy Moore, his erection of the Ten Commandments goes beyond a concern that citizens adhere to our laws. For him, this Constitutional violation is a God-given duty to appoint his used designer dresses Christian god as Supreme Ruler of the land. Roy Moore is a dilemma Alabamians have dealt with for some time, particularly since he took it upon himself to situate the 5,280-pound monument in the lobby of Alabama’s state judicial building, two years ago.  But because of the high-position he holds, the extremity of his actions, and the possibility such a challenge could be repeated elsewhere, necessitates the need for all to pay heed.

Because the first four of the Ten Commandments (among others) have nothing to do with unlawful behavior, and instead prescribe religious behavior, such as “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me,” most realize that our government and public buildings are no place for this Judeo-Christian edict.  This is not the case, however, for the Chief Justice, who’s fully aware of the implications of the Decalogue.

To put it into perspective, at a Christian rally in 2002, Moore proclaimed, after stating that Christians must take back their land: “Since September 11, we have been at war. I submit to you there is another war raging - a war between good and evil, between right and wrong. For 40 years we have wandered like the children of Israel. In homes and schools across our land, it’s time for Christians to take a stand. This is not a nation established on the principles of Buddha or Hinduism. Our faith is not Islam. What we follow is not the Koran but the Bible. This is a Christian nation.” 

As would be hoped, the ruling by U.S District Judge Myron Thompson, that the monument is a Constitutional violation of the Establishment Clause, was upheld by the Circuit Court of Appeals on July 1st. But Moore and his Commandments haven’t budged.

His next options are to ask the full 11th Circuit Court to hear the case or to go straight to the top—ask to have it reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

What troubles many is the question: to what extreme will the Chief Justice go to preserve his monument?  When asked what he’ll do should the U.S. Supreme Court order its removal, rather than stating he would abide by the law, Moore confessed, "Once I've acknowledged God, then to take it out and say you can't acknowledge him any more, that's a very serious consideration. I'll have to make a decision when that time comes.”

Supporters of the National Clergy Council and the Christian Defense Coalition, it has been reported, already have a plan of action: to kneel around the monument and act as a barricade. This is similar to actions that ensued in June, when four public high schools in Ohio that had placed displays of the Commandments in their buildings were ordered by a U.S. Magistrate Judge to take them down, even following two U.S. Appeals Court rejections to hear the case.  The displays were finally removed in June, but not without an episode from protestors resulting in 30 being taken into custody.

Because the U.S. Supreme Court has already rejected hearing several other appeals, one as recent as April 2003, where the display of Ten Commandments monuments in judicial buildings had been forbidden, Moore’s odds of a reverse decision are slim. Still, it does offer him more time to stall.

The unwillingness by those who support the erection of the Ten Commandments in public places to abide by the law should, in itself, reflect the necessity of keeping these religious monuments off public property, as even before they become legalized, those who support them have a tendency to deem themselves above U.S. law. 

Kimberly Blaker’s The Wall™ appears weekly. She is editor and coauthor of the The Fundamentals of Extremism: the Christian Right in America. Send your comments to Kimberly Blaker: TheWall@TheWall-OnChurchAndState.com  © 2003, Kimberly Blaker