Post by Southron on Sept 15, 2003 15:46:30 GMT -5
Bill Would Let States Decide Whether to Display Ten Commandments
By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
September 15, 2003
WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) introduced a bill in the House that would defend the right to display the Ten Commandments on the basis that this is a Tenth Amendment issue reserved for the states to decide.
The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that any powers not specifically delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states.
Aderholt believes individual state legislatures should decide whether or not the Ten Commandments can be posted in public places. This bill, however, does not mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in any state.
"The Ten Commandments Defense Act," or H.R. 2045, points to the First Amendment protection of free speech and religion, the Ninth Amendment protection of the rights of the people, and the Tenth Amendment as its legal justification.
Also, the proposed legislation cites Article 3, Section 2, clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution as the legal basis for becoming a codified law. This passage in the Constitution states that the jurisdiction of federal appellate courts can be regulated by Congress when it deems an exception must be made.
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) held a press conference with Aderholt and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins late last week asking the members of the House to support this bill and pleading with House leadership to bring the bill to the floor for a vote.
"The American people overwhelmingly support non-coercive display of the Ten Commandments," Pence stated. "And our founders prohibited the establishment of religion, but they certainly established respect for religion in the law."
Pence pointed to a quote from a famous American president who relied on his faith in God to help him endure the trials in his life to underline why he supports this bill.
"As Abraham Lincoln said, 'Only those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord,'" Pence quoted. "For all those reasons, the Ten Commandments Defense Act is vitally important."
A federal judge recently ruled that displaying the Ten Commandments in the rotunda of the Supreme Court building in Alabama was a violation of the government displaying neutrality towards religion.
Opponents of this ruling said that the U.S. Constitution protects their freedom of religion. Regardless, the Ten Commandments monument that was placed there by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore was ordered to be removed.
Aderholt's current bill in Congress is another of many pieces of legislation he has been trying to get passed into law for the past six years that would limit the role federal judges can have in regards to the display of the Ten Commandments.
Aderholt is hoping the recent controversy over the monument removal in Alabama will help his latest effort be more successful.
"The federal courts should not be telling individual states there is no room for the display of the Ten Commandments," said Aderholt, who also happens to be Moore's Congressman.
Aderholt is receiving support from his in-state colleague in the House, Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), who also believes federal judges should not be interpreting laws that run counter with what the people in a given state want.
"When judge-made laws conflict with the will of the people, the appropriate course of action is for the democratically elected representatives of the people to express the people's will through legislation," Bachus said.
But the leader of the liberal group Americans United for Separation of Church and State believe that this bill is an unconstitutional promotion of organized religion.
"Aderholt wants government to promote religion," stated Executive Director Barry Lynn. "He's on the wrong track. Religion does not need government help to remain healthy and prosper, and the First Amendment prohibits government promotion of religion."
H.R. 2045 has 85 co-sponsors in the House and has been referred to the House Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Meanwhile, a similar piece of legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO) in August.
"The Religious Liberties Restoration Act," or S. 1558, would restore many of the religious freedoms that have been taken away by the federal courts in recent years, including the right to display the Ten Commandments. It does not currently have any co-sponsors in the Senate, but it is under consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Copyright © 2003 Talon News -- All rights reserved.
From GOP US Web Site
__________________________________________
There needs to be a Bill past that says we can display the 10 Commandments in Public so we would have modern ground to work with. The 10 Commandments should be in every court room and in every public place without any official saying if it can or not. Our nations was founded by Christians and should be ruled by Christians.
By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
September 15, 2003
WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) introduced a bill in the House that would defend the right to display the Ten Commandments on the basis that this is a Tenth Amendment issue reserved for the states to decide.
The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that any powers not specifically delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states.
Aderholt believes individual state legislatures should decide whether or not the Ten Commandments can be posted in public places. This bill, however, does not mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in any state.
"The Ten Commandments Defense Act," or H.R. 2045, points to the First Amendment protection of free speech and religion, the Ninth Amendment protection of the rights of the people, and the Tenth Amendment as its legal justification.
Also, the proposed legislation cites Article 3, Section 2, clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution as the legal basis for becoming a codified law. This passage in the Constitution states that the jurisdiction of federal appellate courts can be regulated by Congress when it deems an exception must be made.
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) held a press conference with Aderholt and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins late last week asking the members of the House to support this bill and pleading with House leadership to bring the bill to the floor for a vote.
"The American people overwhelmingly support non-coercive display of the Ten Commandments," Pence stated. "And our founders prohibited the establishment of religion, but they certainly established respect for religion in the law."
Pence pointed to a quote from a famous American president who relied on his faith in God to help him endure the trials in his life to underline why he supports this bill.
"As Abraham Lincoln said, 'Only those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord,'" Pence quoted. "For all those reasons, the Ten Commandments Defense Act is vitally important."
A federal judge recently ruled that displaying the Ten Commandments in the rotunda of the Supreme Court building in Alabama was a violation of the government displaying neutrality towards religion.
Opponents of this ruling said that the U.S. Constitution protects their freedom of religion. Regardless, the Ten Commandments monument that was placed there by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore was ordered to be removed.
Aderholt's current bill in Congress is another of many pieces of legislation he has been trying to get passed into law for the past six years that would limit the role federal judges can have in regards to the display of the Ten Commandments.
Aderholt is hoping the recent controversy over the monument removal in Alabama will help his latest effort be more successful.
"The federal courts should not be telling individual states there is no room for the display of the Ten Commandments," said Aderholt, who also happens to be Moore's Congressman.
Aderholt is receiving support from his in-state colleague in the House, Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), who also believes federal judges should not be interpreting laws that run counter with what the people in a given state want.
"When judge-made laws conflict with the will of the people, the appropriate course of action is for the democratically elected representatives of the people to express the people's will through legislation," Bachus said.
But the leader of the liberal group Americans United for Separation of Church and State believe that this bill is an unconstitutional promotion of organized religion.
"Aderholt wants government to promote religion," stated Executive Director Barry Lynn. "He's on the wrong track. Religion does not need government help to remain healthy and prosper, and the First Amendment prohibits government promotion of religion."
H.R. 2045 has 85 co-sponsors in the House and has been referred to the House Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Meanwhile, a similar piece of legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO) in August.
"The Religious Liberties Restoration Act," or S. 1558, would restore many of the religious freedoms that have been taken away by the federal courts in recent years, including the right to display the Ten Commandments. It does not currently have any co-sponsors in the Senate, but it is under consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Copyright © 2003 Talon News -- All rights reserved.
From GOP US Web Site
__________________________________________
There needs to be a Bill past that says we can display the 10 Commandments in Public so we would have modern ground to work with. The 10 Commandments should be in every court room and in every public place without any official saying if it can or not. Our nations was founded by Christians and should be ruled by Christians.