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Let's Hear From the People
09/09/03Recently, I joined many of you in watching the national media cover the removal of the Ten Commandments display from Montgomery’s State judicial complex. To actually have the Ten Commandments carted out of that building’s lobby is a scene one would expect to see in the former Soviet Union, not the United States of America.
When I returned to Washington after the August Congressional recess, I renewed my calls for the United States House of Representatives to act to protect the public display of the Ten Commandments.
Earlier this year, I re-introduced the Ten Commandments Defense Act (HR 2045). This bill is designed to protect the authority of individual States to display the Ten Commandments in public places. The basis of this legislation is the Tenth Amendment, which states that those powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states. This legislation also ensures the freedom of religious expression under the First Amendment to the Constitution. The bill in no way mandates that the Ten Commandments be displayed at any time, any place or in any state. It does not compel the states to display the Ten Commandments in any way.
It is difficult to explain why – right here in Washington – the chamber of the United States House of Representatives can prominently display a relief of Moses, and a frieze of the Ten Commandments can be displayed in the United States Supreme Court Chamber, yet at the same time – in Montgomery – a display of the Ten Commandments is deemed unconstitutional because it is in a state court building.
As I have long said, the federal courts should not be telling a state that there is no room for the public display of the Ten Commandments in our public buildings. We know that the founding fathers did not want to establish a religion here in this nation. However, it is difficult to understand how the actions of the Alabama State Supreme Court Chief Justice in this case could be considered an establishment of a religion? The Christian faith is not centered around the Ten Commandments, but rather a personal decision of faith in Jesus Christ. I will submit that if you were trying to establish a particular religion, then the Ten Commandments would be more appropriate for the establishment of Judaism – not Christianity.
Over the past fifty years, we have seen the courts’ attempts to censor anything that has to do with religion. Discrimination against religion under the guise of separation of church and state must end.
We have heard from the judges, now it is time that we hear from the people on this issue. Again, the founding fathers did not want the establishment of a religion. However, the single display of the Ten Commandments can in no way be considered establishing a religion. Now, more than ever, Congress must set the record straight as to the public display of the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments is simply a part of the history of our nation. The founding fathers did not try to hide the fact that biblical principles played a large part in developing the United States. The Ten Commandments, for example, form the basis of so much of our legal system here in America. No one can deny the fact that the founding fathers used them as foundations for our government.
It is now time for that very government to act, and allow true freedom of speech on this important issue. As I said, let’s allow the people to speak on this issue.