Tim Wildmon

AFA president

October 2003 – We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments. 

James Madison, Father of the Constitution,
who introduced the Bill of Rights to Congress

High atop the Washington Monument overlooking our nation’s capital is engraved the Latin phrase Laus Deo which means, “Praise be to God.” But wait a minute. Isn’t that a violation of the First Amendment? It’s going to take quite the cherry picker to sandblast that off when the American Civil Liberties Union convinces some federal judge that this is unconstitutional. 

Embedded in the entry way of the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. are the Ten Commandments (yes, those Ten Commandments) for all to see. 

These are but two examples of the numerous acknowledgments of Almighty God in Washington, D.C. I could go on and on with other examples. And I could give similar examples from government buildings and the text of constitutions in many of the 50 states. Yet Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore puts a monument of the Ten Commandments in the rotunda of the Supreme Court building of his state – paid for with private money and a monument that nobody has to read if they don’t want to – and a federal judge (Myron Thompson, appointed by President Carter) rules that doing so is an “establishment” of religion? That is absurd. 

In the first place, I don’t see this as a federal issue. It is a state issue. The people of Alabama elected Justice Moore. He has a history. They knew what they were getting. And with his position comes responsibility for the decor of the building and grounds. It’s none of the federal government’s business. How this monument is “establishing” a state religion is beyond me. Does Roy Moore force anyone to read the monument? No. Are people who come before the Supreme Court of Alabama forced to recite the Ten Commandments before they have a trial? No. Is there a First Church of Roy Moore that those who visit the building are required to attend? No. 

It’s no surprise that – once again – it is the ACLU that brought this case to federal court. The ACLU is the same organization that is currently going after the state of Colorado for a statute requiring public school students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to start their day. (There is an opt-out for those students and teachers who wish not to participate.) The ACLU is an organization totally committed to removing any and all vestiges of religion (particularly Christianity) from the public domain. This is what they get up each morning to do. It’s a seek-and-destroy mission. 

Here is what the Preamble to the state constitution of Alabama says: 

“We, the people of the State of Alabama, in order to establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of government for the State of Alabama.” 

What was Chief Justice Moore doing by displaying the Ten Commandments of “Almighty God,” other than “invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God?” He says he was following the constitution of Alabama. Seems logical to me. 

Liberal federal judges basically rule our country now. And the Democrats in Congress want to keep it that way. Issues that liberal lawmakers know they could never win at the ballot box, they know they can win if they ideologically control the federal bench. That is why Senate Democrats have taken the unprecedented role of blocking President Bush’s federal court appointments from even being voted on. 

President George Washington – the Father of America – said in his Farewell Address: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.” 

Are you listening, Judge Thompson?