The ACLU’s One Commandment

“Thou Shalt Not Post”
The battle over the Ten Commandments began in Kentucky and may ultimately be decided here
From, The Kentucky Citizen Digest, January/February, 2001.

Within 60 days the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed two lawsuits against posting the Ten commandments in public places. Most recently, the ACLU filed suit on July 10, to block the state of Kentucky from displaying a six-foot high Ten Commandments monument on the Capitol grounds.

The monument was placed in storage in the late 1980s during a construction project and ordered back onto the grounds when the General Assembly passed Senate Joint Resolution 57 (SJR 57) after significant debate last session.

Besides restoring the monument, the Resolution encouraged public schools to “post and teach from historic displays of original documents reflecting American history, which may include the Ten Commandments.” It also intended to “remind Kentuckians of the Biblical foundations of the laws of the Commonwealth.” This drew harsh criticism from ACLU lawyers who claimed the Legislature’s action was illegal.

David Friedman, an ACLU attorney, called Kentucky lawmakers cowardly and irresponsible in a story reported by Louisville’s Courier-Journal. “The political reality is, it’s much easier to have what’s popular but unconstitutional struck down by a federal judge and then you can blame the judge, blame the ACLU, and moan and groan,” said Friedman. “It’s an irresponsible position to take.”

Rep. Tom Riner, D-Louisville, retorted that “the [ACLU] are the ones being irresponsible.” He pointed out that the issue has been litigated in four federal jurisdictions and each time the right to display the Ten Commandments was upheld.

Riner authored the final version of SJR 57 that passed by a combined vote of 110-19 in both legislative houses. When asked if he thought it possible for legislators to remain neutral on moral issues he stated, “when legislation is enacted, somebody’s morality is enforced. . . . Traditionally in America we have had Biblical values as a basis for our laws.”
 
 

Key Family Foundation Contacts: Kent Ostrander, Executive Director Martin Cothran, Senior Associate Policy Analyst