The House of Representatives recently passed Representative Robert Aderholt's Ten Commandments Defense Act by a vote of 248-180. The voted caught many liberals flat-footed, but now they have begun to mount an attack on the bill.
Barry Lynn of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State says, "Congress probably should spend more time obeying the Ten Commandments and less time trying to exploit them for crass political purposes." Maureen Dowd says that Congress went the craven route by passing a measure to allow the Ten Commandments in classrooms. She believes that "Before Congress hangs the Ten Commandments in the schools, it should make sure they are hanging where they are broken daily: Congress and the White House."
Even though they are meant as criticisms, these are good ideas. But that doesn't answer the key question of whether the Ten Commandments should be allowed to hang in public places. Ostensibly the High Court answered that question years ago in Stone v. Graham. The court ruled that the Ten Commandments could not hang in a public classroom in Kentucky even though the Ten Commandments were chiseled in marble in the very court that handed down the ruling.
Representative Aderholt used to be a judge in Alabama, and he is aware of another judge in Alabama (Judge Roy Moore) who does hang the Ten Commandments in his courtroom. His bill would be an attempt to extend that right to others.
Representative Bob Barr said that if the Ten Commandments had been posted at Columbine High School, the April 20 massacre would not have happened. I don't believe that. But I do believe that posting the Ten Commandments could make a difference in some students' lives by showing that there are a few absolutes left in society.
I'm Kerby Anderson of Probe Ministries, and that's my opinion.