Washington D.C., Mar 2, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Yesterday, Pat Trueman, Senior Legal Council for the Family Research Council called the day’s arguments in the cases of McCreary County Kentucky v. ACLU of Kentucky and Van Orden v. Perry, Governor of Texas “encouraging for those who wish to preserve our religious heritage in America.”
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in the two cases, which are being called the two most important to date regarding displays of the Ten Commandments.
The central debate rages around whether or not displays of the Ten Commandments on government property violate the separation of church and state.
Trueman observed yesterday that, “the clear Supreme Court majority appeared very reluctant to suggest that the Ten Commandments violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.”
“Most Justices”, he added, “indicated a great reluctance to suggest that the Ten Commandments are inappropriate given our nation's religious heritage. To require removal of Ten Commandments displays would show hostility to religion and nothing in the U.S. Constitution requires such an extremist viewpoint.”
A decision in the cases is expected sometime in June, but in the meantime, all eyes are on the Supreme Court who could, as the Family Research Council says, “redefine religion in America” with their decision.
Trueman however, expressed optimism, noting that he would be “surprised if the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Ten Commandments displays in question violate the U.S. Constitution."