Michael Harris
09-11-2003, 10:15 AM
Ala. governor unveils display; includes Ten Commandments
By Kyle Wingfield Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala, - Gov. Bob Riley opened an exhibit at the Capitol yesterday that included a small plaque of the Ten Commandments, keeping a promise to supporters of a massive granite monument removed by court order from the state judicial building. The plaque was given to Riley by supporters of the 2 ½ -ton Ten Commandments monument.
"Just as the Ten Commandments are exhibited in similar displays in the U.S. Supreme Court and in our nation's Capitol building, I feel it is important to display them in our Capitol, as well," the Republican said in a statement.
Riley and Alabama's attorney general included other historical documents, including the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights, in the display to make it more legally defensible than the 5,300-pound monument that sat alone in the rotunda of the Supreme Court building, the governor's spokesman said.
Richard Cohen, attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which sued to have the large monument removed; said the center would wait to see what statements Riley makes about the plaque before deciding whether to sue.
"Teaching history by state officials is not unconstitutional," Cohen said. "Promoting religion is."
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who was suspended for refusing to comply with a federal court order to remove his commandments monument from the Supreme Court building, said a display like Riley's is unacceptable.
"To put things around the Ten Commandments and secularize it is to deny the greatness of God," he told a crowd of about 1,500 people Monday at a fundraiser for his legal defense.
Like too many fundamentalist Christians, Moore is not willing to make any compromises. His stubbornness will undo any good that the Governor is trying to accomplish.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has better things to do than worry about making the Ten Commandments illegal.
By Kyle Wingfield Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala, - Gov. Bob Riley opened an exhibit at the Capitol yesterday that included a small plaque of the Ten Commandments, keeping a promise to supporters of a massive granite monument removed by court order from the state judicial building. The plaque was given to Riley by supporters of the 2 ½ -ton Ten Commandments monument.
"Just as the Ten Commandments are exhibited in similar displays in the U.S. Supreme Court and in our nation's Capitol building, I feel it is important to display them in our Capitol, as well," the Republican said in a statement.
Riley and Alabama's attorney general included other historical documents, including the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights, in the display to make it more legally defensible than the 5,300-pound monument that sat alone in the rotunda of the Supreme Court building, the governor's spokesman said.
Richard Cohen, attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which sued to have the large monument removed; said the center would wait to see what statements Riley makes about the plaque before deciding whether to sue.
"Teaching history by state officials is not unconstitutional," Cohen said. "Promoting religion is."
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who was suspended for refusing to comply with a federal court order to remove his commandments monument from the Supreme Court building, said a display like Riley's is unacceptable.
"To put things around the Ten Commandments and secularize it is to deny the greatness of God," he told a crowd of about 1,500 people Monday at a fundraiser for his legal defense.
Like too many fundamentalist Christians, Moore is not willing to make any compromises. His stubbornness will undo any good that the Governor is trying to accomplish.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has better things to do than worry about making the Ten Commandments illegal.