Court Decisions on the Ten Commandments: Monuments, Displays, and More
Should displays of the Ten Commandments be allowed in public buildings? Should large monuments be erected on the grounds of courthouses or legislative buildings? Should there be posters of the Ten Commandments in schools and other municipal buildings? Some argue that they are part of our legal history, but others contend that they are inherently religious and, therefore, cannot be allowed.
ACLU v. McCreary County (Supreme Court, 2005): Ten Commandments Displays
Many Ten Commandments monuments in America are decades old, but various local governments put up new displays as well. McCreary County, Kentucky, put up a Ten Commandments display in the county court house. After it was challenged, the county added several more documents referencing religion and God. In 2000, this display was declared unconstitutional. The court noted that the County selected only documents or portions of documents expressing favoritism towards certain religious ideas...
Many Ten Commandments monuments in America are decades old, but various local governments put up new displays as well. McCreary County, Kentucky, put up a Ten Commandments display in the county court house. After it was challenged, the county added several more documents referencing religion and God. In 2000, this display was declared unconstitutional. The court noted that the County selected only documents or portions of documents expressing favoritism towards certain religious ideas...
Van Orden v. Perry (Supreme Court, 2005): Ten Commandments Monument in Texas
Court houses and public parks all around the nation have had Ten Commandments monuments of one sort or another erected in them. Many Ten Commandments monuments were erected by the Fraternal Order of Eagles in the 1950s and 60s. One six foot tall monument was placed on the Texas state Capitol grounds in 1961. According to the legislative resolution accepting the gift, the purpose of the monument was to 'recognize and commend a private organization for its efforts to reduce juvenile delinquency.'
Court houses and public parks all around the nation have had Ten Commandments monuments of one sort or another erected in them. Many Ten Commandments monuments were erected by the Fraternal Order of Eagles in the 1950s and 60s. One six foot tall monument was placed on the Texas state Capitol grounds in 1961. According to the legislative resolution accepting the gift, the purpose of the monument was to 'recognize and commend a private organization for its efforts to reduce juvenile delinquency.'
Glassroth v. Moore (2002): Judge Roy Moore & His Ten Commandments Monument
Can a government official erect a massive monument to the Ten Commandments in a government building by asserting that they have a secular rather than a religious purpose? What if that official has a long history of supporting displays of the Ten Commandments for religious reasons?
Can a government official erect a massive monument to the Ten Commandments in a government building by asserting that they have a secular rather than a religious purpose? What if that official has a long history of supporting displays of the Ten Commandments for religious reasons?
O’Bannon v. Indiana Civil Liberties Union (7th Circuit Court, 2001): Ten Commandments Monument
Is a massive monument displaying the Ten Commandments constitutional and secular when it includes other legal documents from history - like the Bill of Rights? To what extent does the religious nature and significance of the Ten Commandments override the secular aspects of other near-by displays?
Is a massive monument displaying the Ten Commandments constitutional and secular when it includes other legal documents from history - like the Bill of Rights? To what extent does the religious nature and significance of the Ten Commandments override the secular aspects of other near-by displays?
Books v. Elkhart (7th Circuit Court, 2000): Ten Commandments Monument
Are the Ten Commandments a secular or a religious document? Just how far can a government go in displaying the Ten Commandments? Can large, expensive monuments to the Ten Commandments be erected on public property by arguing that they played a role in the development of secular laws and, hence, that the monument itself is secular?
Are the Ten Commandments a secular or a religious document? Just how far can a government go in displaying the Ten Commandments? Can large, expensive monuments to the Ten Commandments be erected on public property by arguing that they played a role in the development of secular laws and, hence, that the monument itself is secular?
DiLotero v. Downey Unified School District (9th Circuit Court, 1999): Ten Commandments in Schools
Can a school refuse to publish or post a paid religious message if it allows other paid messages and advertisements? Can the school refuse to publish or post any paid messages at all in order to avoid having to include religious messages?
Can a school refuse to publish or post a paid religious message if it allows other paid messages and advertisements? Can the school refuse to publish or post any paid messages at all in order to avoid having to include religious messages?
Stone v. Graham (Supreme Court, 1980): Posting the Ten Commandments in Schools
Are the Ten Commandments secular enough to warrant posting in all public school classes, or are they so religious that such postings would amount to a government endorsement of religion aimed at impressionable children? Does the fact that the government says their purpose is secular suffice to regard the actions as actually secular?
Are the Ten Commandments secular enough to warrant posting in all public school classes, or are they so religious that such postings would amount to a government endorsement of religion aimed at impressionable children? Does the fact that the government says their purpose is secular suffice to regard the actions as actually secular?