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Judge Refusing to Remove Ten Commandments Monument
Aired August 20, 2003 - 14:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Alabama's chief justice in the fight of his life over the Ten Commandments, bringing the thorny debate of separation of church and state right into the national spotlight.
Our Eric Philips in Montgomery, Alabama, with details on the looming deadline.
Hello, Eric.
ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, Chief Justice Roy Moore saying, "I shall not obey the federal court."
That order came down 15 days ago, saying that the monument to the Ten Commandments here at the state judicial building in Montgomery, Alabama, had to be removed by midnight tonight.
But Chief Justice Roy Moore has already said repeatedly that he will not remove the monument. He says to do so would be to not acknowledge God's law in terms of it being one of the sources or one of the foundations for American law, which is why he said he spent his own money and put the monument here in the building to begin with.
But those who are opposed to the monument being here is saying it's a violation of church and state, the separation of church and state. And that they are offended every time they walk into a public building and see this monument in the rotunda.
Over the past few days, several groups, including the Christian Defense Coalition, have been in town holding prayer vigils and just rooting in favor of Chief Justice Moore, and over the last couple days, once again he has affirmed his position.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF JUSTICE ROY MOORE, ALABAMA SUPREME COURT: The question is, can the federal courts come into the state of Alabama and threaten to release our inalienable rights? Are we willing to give up the fact that God gave us a right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
You see, you've got to remember, Soledad, it's not about a monument. It's about the fundamental acknowledgement of God, which this nation is founded.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILIPS: That was actually a statement given by Chief Justice Moore this morning during a press conference.
The monument was moved into the state judicial building about two years ago by Chief Justice Moore. Again, he spent his own money to build it. It weighs about two tons. It was brought in after the close of business on one of the days. They moved the monument here, they came back to work the next day. Workers came back in. The monument was there.
And the controversy began almost immediately, with people saying that there's no reason for this monument to the Ten Commandments to be in this public building.
Again, if Chief Justice Moore does not comply with the federal court order to remove the monument from the building by midnight tonight, fines could be imposed upon the state of Alabama of $5,000 a day for each day the monument remains here in the building.
Chief Justice Moore has appealed to the Supreme Court, and he is waiting now on a response.
Live in Montgomery, Alabama, I'm Eric Philips. Miles, back to you.
O'BRIEN: Eric, the chief justice paid to put it there. Will he pay for the fines if they become applicable?
PHILIPS: If the fines become applicable they will be charged to him, however, since he is a state officer and he holds a government position, the fines will actually be paid by the state.
So really, if he's fined it's really a matter of fining the people of Alabama. And that is the case that many people are building against Judge Moore who say, "Look, you're about to cost us a lot of money, $5,000 a day for each day that the monument remains here and then after a week that fine will double to $10,000 a day."
So that's money that will be coming from the people of Alabama. And that's why many people are saying, "You are one of the gatekeepers of the law. You know the rules. You know the law. You ought to step aside and do the right thing by removing this monument.
Of course, those in the Christian Defense Coalition are saying he needs to stick by his guns, and that's what he's doing.
O'BRIEN: It could be a pricey point. All right. Eric Philips in Montgomery, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 20, 2003 - 14:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Alabama's chief justice in the fight of his life over the Ten Commandments, bringing the thorny debate of separation of church and state right into the national spotlight.
Our Eric Philips in Montgomery, Alabama, with details on the looming deadline.
Hello, Eric.
ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, Chief Justice Roy Moore saying, "I shall not obey the federal court."
That order came down 15 days ago, saying that the monument to the Ten Commandments here at the state judicial building in Montgomery, Alabama, had to be removed by midnight tonight.
But Chief Justice Roy Moore has already said repeatedly that he will not remove the monument. He says to do so would be to not acknowledge God's law in terms of it being one of the sources or one of the foundations for American law, which is why he said he spent his own money and put the monument here in the building to begin with.
But those who are opposed to the monument being here is saying it's a violation of church and state, the separation of church and state. And that they are offended every time they walk into a public building and see this monument in the rotunda.
Over the past few days, several groups, including the Christian Defense Coalition, have been in town holding prayer vigils and just rooting in favor of Chief Justice Moore, and over the last couple days, once again he has affirmed his position.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF JUSTICE ROY MOORE, ALABAMA SUPREME COURT: The question is, can the federal courts come into the state of Alabama and threaten to release our inalienable rights? Are we willing to give up the fact that God gave us a right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
You see, you've got to remember, Soledad, it's not about a monument. It's about the fundamental acknowledgement of God, which this nation is founded.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILIPS: That was actually a statement given by Chief Justice Moore this morning during a press conference.
The monument was moved into the state judicial building about two years ago by Chief Justice Moore. Again, he spent his own money to build it. It weighs about two tons. It was brought in after the close of business on one of the days. They moved the monument here, they came back to work the next day. Workers came back in. The monument was there.
And the controversy began almost immediately, with people saying that there's no reason for this monument to the Ten Commandments to be in this public building.
Again, if Chief Justice Moore does not comply with the federal court order to remove the monument from the building by midnight tonight, fines could be imposed upon the state of Alabama of $5,000 a day for each day the monument remains here in the building.
Chief Justice Moore has appealed to the Supreme Court, and he is waiting now on a response.
Live in Montgomery, Alabama, I'm Eric Philips. Miles, back to you.
O'BRIEN: Eric, the chief justice paid to put it there. Will he pay for the fines if they become applicable?
PHILIPS: If the fines become applicable they will be charged to him, however, since he is a state officer and he holds a government position, the fines will actually be paid by the state.
So really, if he's fined it's really a matter of fining the people of Alabama. And that is the case that many people are building against Judge Moore who say, "Look, you're about to cost us a lot of money, $5,000 a day for each day that the monument remains here and then after a week that fine will double to $10,000 a day."
So that's money that will be coming from the people of Alabama. And that's why many people are saying, "You are one of the gatekeepers of the law. You know the rules. You know the law. You ought to step aside and do the right thing by removing this monument.
Of course, those in the Christian Defense Coalition are saying he needs to stick by his guns, and that's what he's doing.
O'BRIEN: It could be a pricey point. All right. Eric Philips in Montgomery, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
