Ten Commandments Lawsuit Over, For Now

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Posted: 11:36 AM May 23, 2008
Last Updated: 6:38 PM May 23, 2008

28 comments

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The case against the Garrard County Fiscal Court over a ten commandments display is over, at least for now. A ruling in 1999 ordered the display be removed.

Court offcials complied. In January 2008, a new display was put up at the courthouse.

The judge executive there says the new display is "educational" and shows the "history" of the commandments.

The U.S. district court dismissed this lawsuit over the original display since it was removed.

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Posted by: Wow Location: Richmond on May 26, 2008 at 09:25 PM
@NANCY Location: HARLAN Related to president Bush are we? To be so sure that your fairy tale could save the world Id say youd have to be his family. After all Im sure the jews and muslims would love for you to force your ways on them. Take notice all fools freedom of religion means you can practice what you wish without repercusions. WHen fools force their ways into government buildings and laws it violates others freedom. You freedom ends where everyone elses begins!

Posted by: BLACKSHEEP Location: EVERYWHERE on May 26, 2008 at 08:13 PM
GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OUT OF THE SCOOLS,COURTHOUSES, AND EVERY PUBLIC PLACES. TO THE PEOPLE WHO DONT BELIEVE IN GOD, KEEP PROTESTING TO KEEP RELIGION OUT OF OUR SCHOLLS AND PUBLIC PLACES. TODAY THE NUMBER 1 RELGION IN THE WORLD TODAY IS ????.......ISLLAM. THATS RIGHT!!.. THE VERY SAME ONES THAT WE ARE FIGHTING AGAINST IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IS NOW THE # 1. YOU FREAKS KEEP IT UP GOING AGIANST GOD AND THE HOLY BIBLE, BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WE ARE ALL READING THE KARAN. ISLAM IS SLOWLY TAKING OVER OUR WORLD AND YOU NONBELEIVERS ARENT EVEN WORRIED ABOUT IT. SO PRAISE TO ALLAH THAT WILL BE OUR NEXT MAJOR RELIGION HERE.

Posted by: Bart Location: Harrodsburg on May 26, 2008 at 05:56 PM
No, it would not, JPB, because what else is on that wall in the Surpreme Court? The South Wall Frieze includes figures of lawgivers from the BC times, and includes Menes, Hammurabi, Moses, Solomon, Lycurgus, Solon, Draco, Confucius, and Augustus. The North Wall Frieze shows lawgivers from the AD era and includes representations of Justinian, Muhammad, Charlemagne, King John of England, King Louis IX of France, Hugo Grotius, Sir William Blackstone, John Marshall, and Napoleon. That's not the Ten Commandments, it's Moses along with a bunch of other religious and secular lawgivers. Your example FAILS! Here, learn something: http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/capital.asp

Posted by: NANCY Location: HARLAN on May 26, 2008 at 12:28 PM
YA PUT GOD AND THE 10 COMMANDMENTS BACK IN OUR SCHOOL AND SEE HOW FAST THE GUN AND DRUGS GET OUT WE SHOULD ALL PUT GOD FIRST I SAY THEY SHOULD PUT PRAY BIBLE AND THE 10 COMMANDMENTS BACK IN ALL OUR SCHOOL AND IF SOME ONE DONT WHAT TO READ IT THEY DONT HAVE 2 AND MAY GOD HELP US ALL

Posted by: Aggie Location: KY on May 26, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Here is a good article some of you might actually want to read: http://www.lc.org/radiotv/nlj/nlj1201.htm

Posted by: JPB Location: KY on May 26, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Completed in 1935, Moses and the Ten Commandments occupy the central position over the Chief Justice's seat at the United States Supreme Court. Moses with the Ten Commandments occupies the same central location over the speaker's seat at the U.S. House of Representatives. In order to view the original Constitution and Declaration of Independence at the National Archives, one must first view the Ten Commandments at the entrance to the building. I would say that was "an example" of the ten commandments hanging in a courthouse before 1950, wouldn't you?

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lexington on May 26, 2008 at 09:17 AM
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. Put a little love in your heart for others, and stop trying to push your own agenda. You will never bring anyone to God by putting Commandments on a wall in the courthouse, but by loving others unconditionally as Christ loved you...you will be blessed and people will be convinced to follow Christ. So stop this nonsense about your "idol" and start using love to get your point across and you will see a much better reception of your message.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lexington on May 26, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Even Moses didn't take the tablets with the Ten Commandments and demand that they be put in the Temple or Courthouse. He did, however, relay to the people that we were to follow these in our lives. Putting it on a wall in your home, in the courthouse, on a billboard, etc will not make you anymore "Godly" or "Holy" unless you actually LIVE by the words on that God spoke. Apparently a LOT of people haven't read these 10 Commandments because they are violating the first one right off the bat when they put so much significance in posting these on the wall instead of living in God's Truth, they have idolized the Ten Commandments, when in the Bible there are hundreds of commandments he gave all through the Epistles which these same people violate everyday. Read 1 Corinthians 13 and tell me where you've taken this a little too far. I will quote it in another post.

Posted by: Fred Location: Lexington on May 26, 2008 at 09:01 AM
You know, what really cracks me up are all of the non-Christians that are sooo terrified of a piece of paper or a phrase in the pledge. Deep down, are you all afraid the Christians are right? Is that why you lash out? For GOD's sake, if you don't want to look at it, don't. If you don't want to say the pledge, don't. If this country is as free from oppressin as you say, then quit oppressing my right to see the Ten Commandments and say "Under God" if I want to.

Posted by: Steve Location: Lexington on May 25, 2008 at 11:02 PM
I love reading comments when it's something Biblical. Hypocrites like Falwell, Robertson, etc have convinced you that God wants you to hate other people in order to glorify Him. Those of you that believe that (and by the comments a lot of you do) are NO BETTER than the Sunni and Shiite factions killing in the name of Allah in Iraq right now. You are just like them except you haven't progressed to killing yet. But when you, a supposedly civilized people, tell others that if they don't support your religion that they should move out of your county, or stay out of the schools, or not be a part of this civilization because of their beliefs to not believe, you are worse than they are, and are no closer to going to Heaven than they are. Read your Bibles, change your ways, love other people unconditionally as Jesus did you and has commanded you to do, and try to bring people to Him through His love, not through hate. If you can't do that, you're not a follower of Jesus.

Posted by: Wow Location: Richmond on May 25, 2008 at 06:39 PM
@Zatoichi Location: Richmond If you went to school in madison county you were FORCED to say the pledge till about high school. SO yes fellow wkyt regular Zatoichi you are under oppressed unfluence of a religious group. Funny I never read of that bumwine b4 as Im not a drinker. I guess that its more the people you associate withs speed? Lemme guess you want clinton to get in office while she cant even keep a story straight while campaigning? Guess you are another high school drop out huh? Ever even heard of NAFTA?

Posted by: Bart Location: Harrodsburg on May 25, 2008 at 11:39 AM
What they have done, Jeannie, is set up an idol to worship. The Ten Commandments have become an idol - a golden calf. They weep and wail over a plaque hanging on the wall! When they die, they will have to answer for it.

Posted by: Chris Location: LEX on May 25, 2008 at 09:00 AM
I am a God following spirtual man whom very much respects the Bible and The Ten Commandments. I too am smart enough to know unfortunately through translations, the Bilbe has been sadly misintrepreted. Now read on here. I think removing the Ten Commandments from anywhere in the world is WRONG,WRONG. Now consider this further. Kentucky if you keep voting for these scathing Liberals such as Obama, Billary, Chandler, Lunsford and Beshear, expect this garbage against Christianity to get bigger. The DNC is fully backed by a group of radicals and they want in Our KY Home bad to corrupt it. KY you already fell for Beshear for GOV and shame on Metro LEX for giving Chandler an office in the House. I am not a religous fanatic, however, I do not want the DNC to have anymore leverage in KY than they currently have. Vote for Conservative candidates this fall, it's so vital to KY'S future.

Posted by: Jeannie on May 25, 2008 at 08:12 AM
Way to go Stephanie! Reading these posts makes me want to donate my estate to the ACLU when I die. You so-called God-fearing Christians have absolutely no respect for others at all. I do not want my tax dollars being spent on your crazy ideas. I am a Christian, but I believe some of you proscribe to cultism. You believe in freedom to worship the God that you choose, not the God that each of us chooses for ourself. You are asking for a Holy War within the borders of our country. Many of you need to understand the true teachings of Jesus. Jesus wants us to love and respect each other. This does not appear what many of you espouse.

Posted by: Wesley Location: Pike Co Ky on May 24, 2008 at 11:39 PM
this is stupid.. no wonder this country is in such a bad shape. its like ppl are tryin to remove God.. i think they should be allowed anywhere and everywhere.. if you take notice.. when the ten commandments were in school DRUGS! AND GUNS WERENT! the ppl that push for this need to read the bible.. one verse says.. if you deny me before others i will deny you in front of my father.. not an exact quote by the way..

Posted by: Zatoichi Location: Richmond on May 24, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Wow of Richmond, I have never been under the influence of Knights of Columbus but you seem to be under the influence of Wild Irish Rose or you must be an Obama supporter.

Posted by: Zatoichi Location: Richmond on May 24, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Fred, give the ACLU a call, they will send your wife a real nasty letter.

Posted by: Bart Location: Harrodsburg on May 24, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Can any of you find an example of the Ten Commandments hanging in the courthouse of any American county before the 1950's? If the Founders wanted religion to be mixed with government, wouldn't they have made that clear? In fact they wanted to be careful not to have religion mixed with government because of the bad taste The Church of England left in their mouths. Hanging the Ten Commandments in the courthouse is about as unamerican as you can get.

Posted by: Mike Location: Danville on May 24, 2008 at 02:11 PM
The problem with the country and society as a whole today, not that we are not allowed to hang the Ten Commandments in our schools, courthouses, or other public buildings. The problem here is that the Ten Commandments are not hanging in our homes. We all want to press the issue of the Ten Commandments not hanging in our public places, but I wonder how many of us have them hanging in our homes. Another problem is that hanging the Ten Commandments will not change our lives in anyway, until we live what is written for us in the Bible. And as far as the tax dollars purchasing these documents, that has nothing to do with it, most documents like these are purchsed by local churches and given to the counties to hang. But they are still not allowed. It has nothing to do with their tax dollars being used. It has to do with everyone other that Christians standing up for their rights.

Posted by: Fred Location: Lexington on May 23, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Zat - Good idea. My wife has banned the posting of Hustler at our house... :(

Posted by: Wow Location: RIchmond on May 23, 2008 at 09:54 PM
Sweet! Now if we can just get the "one nation under god" out of the pledge added in 1954 to the original written in 1892 by president Eisenhower under influence of Knights of Columbus. Now have fun googling all that all those who doubt it was unconstitutional.

Posted by: Stephanie Location: Lancaster on May 23, 2008 at 08:59 PM
The ACLU doesn’t try to suppress anyone’s beliefs. You’re all free to believe as you wish. What you aren’t free to do, however, is to use the tax money, which is provided by ones who may NOT share your beliefs, to further your religious agenda. If you would like to paint the 10 commandments all over your house, then you can & the ACLU will fight for YOUR right to do that if anyone tries to stop you. As for the schools, what about the children who practice Judaism Islam Buddhism Hinduism etc. Should we post each of their religious beliefs too? They pay their share of taxes the same as the Christians. And the Atheists? They’re tax-paying citizens too. Atheism does not mean one is a “devil-worshipper”. It simply means that they do not believe in the concept of supernatural beings & do not rely on scriptures that rule life. Many atheists can be very moral & upstanding citizens. I find it humorous that it is always the “Christians” who are name-calling when it comes to this issue. WWJD?

Posted by: Zatoichi Location: Richmond on May 23, 2008 at 05:04 PM
If they would display Hustler magazine the ACLU would give them a pass. ACLU would say it is Freedom of Speech.

Posted by: johnna Location: berea on May 23, 2008 at 03:30 PM
I am glad they put up another display of the Ten Commandments! It needs to be displayed in every county.

Posted by: Diane Location: Mt. Sterling on May 23, 2008 at 02:59 PM
The ACLU is the Most hateful, anti-American group in existence. They go around the world trying to suppress any religious exercise of faith. Which is unconstitutional if they read the 1st Amendment as fact. They all need to be arrested and thrown in jail for the damage they've done to religious liberty in this country! And if anyone who values free speech had any sense they would realize that if someone suppresses free speech because of faith they will suppress any speech for any reason that suits them.

Posted by: David Location: Winchester on May 23, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Oh wah, the ACLU will cry foul and appeal to get the venue changed to the 9th Circus Court of Appeals, so that they can get the result that they want. Bottom line, the will of the few should not be imposed on the many. I thank God for judges with common sense.

Posted by: Zatoichi Location: Richmond on May 23, 2008 at 02:34 PM
I bet if Garrard County Fiscal Court displayed a copy of Larry Flynt's pornographic Hustler magazine the ACLU would say it was just an expression of freedom of speech. No problem then.

Posted by: Brad Location: Salyersville on May 23, 2008 at 02:24 PM
This is unbelievable. If the Ten Commandments bothers the stupid ACLU then they do not need to look at it. The courts allowed Larry Flynt to produce and sell poronography but will not allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed in a public building. The ACLU needs to be done away with, they are trouble makers who want recognition for being stupid. The ACLU are a few people, it is past time for the majority of the people to stand up and start suing for the Ten Commandments to be in every government building and school in the country. The majority also needs to rid this world of the NAACP, they are just like the ACLU, trouble makers.

Posted by: gale Location: lancaster on May 23, 2008 at 02:19 PM
Keep the 10 commandents up. All it mounts to is the adist that ran against Judge Wilson and lost. The adist can shut up and go read his Bible...if he has one. Garrard County people don't want you. If you do not the 10 Commendents up -then move.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Winchester on May 23, 2008 at 01:28 PM
GOOD!And people wonder why our country is going to H-E-Double Toothpick in a hand basket?? This country was founded on strong beliefs in God, Christianity, and morals. Now you know why our kids are into drugs, alcohol, "The Gimme Society". They want Mommy and Daddies life-style and priviledges, but God forbid they lift a finger to earn it. They want it handed to them. Put God and the 10 Commandments back in our public facilities and schools, start teaching it again. We need to save our country and citizens now while we still can!! Do away with the legal ability to initiate frivilous lawsuits like this, it is a FREE country-freedom of speach, the right to bear arms, All men (and women) are created equal, and freedom of Religion! Ok, so the athiest next door don't like my beliefs, and I don't like his. Fine! Don't preach the devil to me, and I won't preach God to you. The ACLU needs to get a life and start fighting the oil companies-try helping ALL of us, not the privileged few!!

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