CROSS CITY, Florida - July 18, 2011 - A federal judge in Gainesville has ordered Dixie County to remove a six-ton granite monument of the Ten Commandments and directing viewers to "Love God and Keep His Commandments," from the front of the county's courthouse in Cross City.
The Dixie County Commission gave the OK for the monument in 2006, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida sued.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Maurice Paul ruled against the county and ordered the monument removed.
The ACLU had argued the monument represented government speech, violating constitutional prohibition against government promotion of religion.
Dixie County argued that it was merely providing a forum for a local citizen who made the monument - and continues to own it - to express his religious beliefs, and that the monument was therefore protected by the First Amendment.
"The monument is five-feet tall, made of six tons of granite, and sits alone at the center of the top of the steps in front of the county courthouse that houses every significant local government office," Paul's opinion noted. Citing a previous precedent-setting case, Paul found that the by putting it there, the county was sending "an unmistakable message that it supports and promotes the religious message that appears on it."
Howard Simon, state director of the ACLU, said the right place for the monument is at a church.
"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," Simon said in a statement.
Ed. Note: Here is another opportunity for courageous soldiers of God to resist tyranny and refuse to take down the Ten Commandments. What an amazing symbolic gesture that would be! Think of it; if masses of believers simply refused to allow anyone to take down the Creator’s Laws… unfortunately, it will probably never happen in the Fascists Police States of Amerika!
