Federal judge orders Ten Commandments removed from Dixie courthouse

[rug]

Dixie County has 30 days to remove a granite monument of the Ten Commandments from atop the steps of the county courthouse in Cross City, where it has sat since 2006, according to a federal court ruling Friday.

Karen Voyles/Staff/File The ruling, by U.S. Senior District Judge Maurice Paul, came after the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida sued to have the monument removed, saying that it violates the separation of church and state, even though the monument was paid for and maintained by a private resident.

“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 ACLU of Florida. “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.”

Dixie County officials said they are reviwing the ruling.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110718/ARTICLES/110719637

[saras]

1. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in its mother's milk

It pisses off CPS something fierce.

[Warpy]

2. They commission those ridiculously heavy granite monuments

and pay a fortune to have them transported and dumped onto government property, but not one of those old boys could be arsed to read the first three commandments and think about why they could be a problem for anyone who isn't Judeo/Christian.

No one who isn't could possibly expect justice from a courthouse that tells them their gods are false and their religions are garbage right at the entrance.

[Angry Dragon]

3. I would ask then why we are paying to have clergy in

both houses of Congress ..........

Swearing on a Bible to tell the truth
God on our money
It seems we have as many contradictions in government as there are in the Bible

[Taverner]

4. Good. Only 2 of the commandments are laws anyway.

Bearing false witness isn't perjury btw...

[struggle4progress]

5. ... Dixie County argued in the court that the monument was not owned or controlled by the county

but by a private citizen, Joe Anderson, Jr., who paid for, placed and maintained the monument, which was a private expression of free speech. But the court ruled it still violated the separation of church and state. After the lawsuit was filed in 2007, a plaque was added to the back of the monument which reads, “Placed, Owned and Maintained by Joe Anderson, Jr.” Later, the county had to place another sign, saying, “The items placed in this forum do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners and are not sponsored or endorsed by the Board” ...
Wed, Jul. 20 2011 07:45 AM EDT
Dixie County Ten Commandments to Go; Appeal Decision Awaited
By Anugrah Kumar | Christian Post Contributor
http://www.christianpost.com/news/dixie-county-ten-commandments-to-go-appeal-decision-awaited-52538/

I think this is kinda what the law might sound like to somebody smokin a whole lotta crack. Oh, but, wait! there's more:

... Skipper Jones, former owner and publisher of the county's weekly newspaper ... served as spokesman Monday for Joe Anderson Jr., one of the leaders of the effort to have the monument constructed and situated at no cost to the county ... The concept of a Ten Commandments monument was endorsed by county commissioners, according to the minutes of the Jan. 19 regular board meeting ... After then-county attorney Joey Lander told the board he would defend any lawsuits stemming from the decision for free, commissioners voted in favor of allowing the project to proceed ...
Dixie courthouse unveils the Ten Commandments
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20061128/LOCAL/211280341

So the county attorney promised to defend the project pro bono, the county commissioners then approved it, the monument was erected, a lawsuit followed, and then the county stuck up two signs saying, "Hey! This is Joe's deal! We didn't mean nothin by allowing it!" I expect they're all still confused about why the court gobsmacked em, bless their pointy little heads

:rofl: