Remember Roy Moore? While serving as Alabama's contentious ultra-conservative Chief Justice, Slate reminds us that Moore...
...commissioned a massive granite monument to the Ten Commandments to be placed in the Alabama State Judicial Building. (Moore actually copyrighted the monument’s design.) The ACLU and other civil liberties groups brought suit, arguing that the monument violated the Establishment Clause. In 2003, a federal judge agreed, ordering the Decalogue removed. Moore refused—and was swiftly removed from office by Alabama’s judicial ethics panel.
That was in 2003 and Moore's future prospects looked dim. But as we've learned, in the conservative cosmos, if you just hang around long enough, you'll often get another chance. And so it was for Moore, who ran for Chief Justice last year, won that race, and last Friday in Montgomery was sworn back into his old office nine years later. Not everyone is thrilled by Moore's return.
Richard Cohen, president of the Southern Poverty Law Center, said Moore’s return to the court marked a sad day for the state. Cohen said he was concerned that Moore never admitted error on the refusal to follow the federal judge’s order to remove the Ten Commandments. “He’s unrepentant,” Cohen said. “He’s never said, ‘I learned a valuable lesson.’ Instead, he says he’s proud of what he’s done, despite the fact this his conduct was ruled to be a violation of the U.S. Constitution and the integrity of the state courts.”
At his investiture, Chief Justice Moore said,“We've got to remember that most of what we do in court comes from some scripture or is backed by scripture.” Also?:
“I’m proud to join this court. I think it’s a good court. I think this court is poised to make a difference, not only in our state but in our nation. Alabama has always led our nation. We've led in civil liberty, the restoration of civil liberty. We've led in religious liberty. We've led in state’s rights. And most recently, we've led in college football the last four years.”
BCS title, or no BCS title, the rest of America would like to know what "poised to make a difference" means. Roll, tide.
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You know, we hear about America being the most religious of the top tier countries, and I used to think that was a good thing. I was taking that to mean that people generally tried to live their lives according to guidelines set forth by their preferred religions, making this country a kinder, gentler place. But not so much any more.
Now it seems that religion has become a weapon. Or at least it's a shield used to hide behind when hurling hateful sentiments at anyone who doesn't fit with that person's pictures of being a "good person." It's like there's far too little space for tolerance and inclusion among religious people, and since they're all "holier than thou," they're above reproach. Criminy!
And before I get bombarded, I wasn't writing that about EVERYBODY who considers themselves religious. I know that the people described in my first paragraph do exist. But the meaner ones seem to have taken center stage in recent years.
JL in Montana, Don't worry, I agree with you on this, and I am a devout Catholic. These fools don't speak for Christians.
"Led in civil liberty"?
"letter from Birmingham Jail" was written from Birmingham, England?
His idea of Civil Liberty is different than mine.
I agree. When he said "We've led in civil liberty", I think he was comparing Alabama to Mississippi.
That's like comparing Genghis Khan to Attila the Hun...
The day Alabama leads this nation is the day I use my passport.
And, no, unlike the terminator, I won't be back.
I'm seeing too much of the Alabama mentality as it is.
This is not the country in which I grew up. I don't even recognize it any more.
The first of the ten commandments is " thou shall not have any other god before me". So much for religious liberty.
And this posted in a court house no less.
I guess we can't kick Alabama out of the union. Dang.
But maybe, to avoid making spending cuts to the safety net, the federal govt. could only send Alabama the amount of dollars Alabama is able to pay back.
We in California are getting tired of supporting states like Alabama. They constantly refer to budget balancing - so let's start by balancing that aspect of the budget.
This court is poised to make a difference.
Sounds just like Rachel's NRA segment. We're gonna get rickrolled by the Alabama court and their "make a difference" suggestion.
And for fun...
The current state treasurer in Alabama is "Young Boozer"
Truth is weirder than anything we could make up.
Alabama has always led our nation.
In being obtuse, ignorant, racist, violent, scum and traitors. They sure have been #1 at all that. When it comes to anything worthwhile, they've been dead last, along with the rest of the traitors of the Confederacy.
American South: go find yourself another country to be part of.
A-men, TC.
What's that quote about the definition of insanity again?
A great man once said "Religion Poisons Everything"
I wonder why many people only want to obey the ten commandments when there are 613 commandments in the old testament. Most people don't even follow the ten. Most religions don't remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. It seems to me that too many religious people tend to be rather mean and dogmatic. Like the missionary's who said "convert or we'll kill you". Jesus said help the people who need it. Many so called Christians say if you need help it's your own fault so deal with it. Unfortunately many people agree with Roy Moore, and they don't all live in Alabama. Alabama is so up to date, that there is still a section in their constitution that makes it illegal for blacks and whites to go to school together. It has been on the ballot, at least twice, to change it, but the people will not change it even though it can't be enforced. I think that speaks volumes about how people think,
yep, I can bet ol idiot Moore eats shrimp, works on Sundays, hasn't killed a single homosexual (we can hope), hasn't made a woman marry her rapist, hasn't made sure he wasn't sitting where a menstruating woman sat, worn cloth of mixed fibers, etc. The laws are supposedly *all* from this god and to *all* be followed until this heaven and earth pass away. Hasn't happened yet, so TrueChristians like Moore will be clogging up hell so much that us poor non-TrueChristians won't be able to get in.
How many of those laws have to do with what I can do/not do with my penis?
200?
how Christians lie, tsk: "Alabama has always led our nation. We've led in civil liberty, the restoration of civil liberty"
No, no, and no. Alabama has done quite a bang up job in almost leading our nation in least tolerant, lowest home values, entrepreneurship, child well-being, etc.