MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Haskell County, demanding that a Ten Commandments monument be removed from the courthouse grounds in Stigler.
Haskell County commissioners had no immediate comment on the lawsuit. It alleges the display violates constitutional protections against government endorsement of religion and entanglement of government with religion. The ACLU brought the complaint on behalf of Jim Green, a retired veteran and a longtime resident of Haskell County. He objects to the monument because he believes the display violates the U-S Constitution and trivializes religion. The 8-foot, $2,500 monument was funded by efforts of Stigler-area residents and church members. It was erected last November after approval from the Haskell County Commission. |
Source: Associated Press
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Bill of Rights
Amendment I
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 seems like every time i read/hear about a lawsuit against the display of some Christian symbol or something, it alway alleges some violation of the first amemdnent. its a funny thing, because as of yet, not one of the cases that i have seen make the news has been about a law that congress has made respecting the establishment of a religion or prohibiting the free exercise of one.
i dont think very many americans really know why we have the first amemnent. it was written for the exact opposite reason that most people hear expressed in the media. what a shocker….
the term "separation of church and state" is not even in the bill of rights amendment. it was in a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist convention to calm their fears concerning a rumor that was going around about the establishment of a national religion of another denomination than baptist.
a little examination of the history of intentions will provide a lot of thought provoking.