Today, I will cite a very relevant example regarding the First Amendment. It states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Many of you may not remember Judge Roy S. Moore. He was the Supreme Justice for the Alabama Supreme Court from 2001 - 2003. He was later removed from office for refusing a federal court order to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the State Judicial building rotunda. Initially, Judge Moore had a wooden plaque of the Ten Commandments above his bench in the courtroom when he was a Circuit Court Judge.
Once Judge Moore became Alabama Supreme Court Justice in 2001, he commissioned the monument to remind people that the Ten Commandments are the moral foundation of US law. He said that it "reflects the sovereignty of God over the affairs of men". However, this stirred up quite a bit of controversy. Several groups including the ACLU of Alabama (American Civil Liberties Union), filed a lawsuit in federal court asking that the monument be removed because it "sends a message to all who enter the State Judicial Building that the government encourages and endorses the practice of religion in general and Judeo-Christianity in particular."
At the center of the controversy was the practiced doctrine of separation of church and state. This doctrine is supposed to guarantee that no one may be compelled to finance any religion or denomination through the government and its laws. Moore argued that "the Judeo-Christian God reigned over both the church and the state in this country, and that both owed allegiance to that God", although they must keep their affairs separate.
Because Judge Moore is a political figure, he lost his job and career for standing up for what he believes. Does his actions violate the First Amendment? Does his removal from office violate his freedom of religion and speech? This issue has and will continue to have strong proponents on both sides.
However, there is something wrong with a country that violates one of its foundations in the Pledge of Allegiance that says "One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Why should we totally be removed from our beliefs simply because somebody thinks that it is a violation of the separation of church and state?
To close, here is a poem that Judge Roy S. Moore wrote regarding the moral conditions of our country. It sums it up quite well.
America the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride;
I'm glad they'll never see.
Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.
Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain.
From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray.
We've kept God in our temples,
how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.
We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges,
who throw reason out the door,
Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.
You think that God's not angry,
that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?
How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?
If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way.
Then God will hear from Heaven
and forgive us of our sins
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.
But, America the Beautiful,
If you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride;
I'm glad they'll never see.
Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.
Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain.
From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray.
We've kept God in our temples,
how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.
We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges,
who throw reason out the door,
Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.
You think that God's not angry,
that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?
How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?
If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way.
Then God will hear from Heaven
and forgive us of our sins
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.
But, America the Beautiful,
If you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee.
~~Judge Roy Moore~~
Tell the righteous it will be well with them,
for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them!
They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
The LORD takes his place in court;
he rises to judge the people.
The LORD enters into judgment
against the elders and leaders of his people:
"It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
the plunder from the poor is in your houses. Isaiah 3:10-11, 13-14 (NIV)
If you have comments or questions, please feel free to contact me at the address below.
Email: DeltaInspire@panama-vo.com
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