Tag Archives: Ten Commandments

Man smashes Arkansas Capitol’s new Ten Commandments monument

A statue of the Ten Commandments is seen after it was installed on the grounds of the state Capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. June 27, 2017. REUTERS/Steve Barnes

By Steve Barnes

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) – A newly installed Ten Commandments monument on Arkansas state Capitol grounds was destroyed on Wednesday by a man police said drove his vehicle into the granite slab and posted the incident on Facebook.

“It was shattered into a lot of pieces,” Chris Powell, a spokesman for the Secretary of State and Capitol Police, said in an interview.

The suspect, identified as Michael Reed, 32, was arrested on three charges, including defacing an object of public interest. Police did not release Reed’s motive for toppling the monument installed in Little Rock on Tuesday.

Republican state Senator Jason Rapert, the main backer of the monument, said a replacement has been ordered.

“Frankly this guy was in a state of mind that he could very well have hurt somebody,” he said at a news conference.

A Facebook Live video posted to the account of a person named Michael Reed appears to show the slab’s destruction.

In the vehicle, a person can be heard saying: “Oh my goodness. Freedom,” and driving more than 20 mph (32 kph) until a smashing noise is heard.

“He actually was videoing it and broadcasting it live on Facebook as it happened,” police spokesman Powell said, adding an officer patrolling nearby arrested Reed.

No lawyer was listed for the suspect in online jail records.

In 2014, a person with the same name and age as the suspect used a vehicle to smash a Ten Commandments monument on Oklahoma Capitol grounds, law enforcement in Oklahoma said.

Reed then fled the scene and went into a federal building. He made threats against then President Barack Obama, they said. News reports in Oklahoma said he was never formally charged.

Arkansas has not officially confirmed whether the same Reed was involved in Wednesday’s incident, Powell said.

The 6-foot (1.8-meter) monument in Little Rock was funded with $26,000 in private donations. Legislation permitting it on the Capitol grounds was enacted in 2015, and whether that was appropriate has been debated ever since.

Courts have ordered the removal of similar religious monuments erected in Alabama and Oklahoma, which had rebuilt its monument after it was destroyed.

A civil liberties group has pledged a court challenge in Arkansas, saying the monument showed an unconstitutional government preference for a certain religion.

Since Arkansas’ Ten Commandments monument act was proposed, satanists and other groups have sought state permission to place markers on Capitol grounds, but their requests were rejected.

(Reporting by Steve Barnes in Little Rock and Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas; Editing by Taylor Harris and Grant McCool)

Ten Commandments monument installed in Arkansas; ACLU vows court fight

A statue of the Ten Commandments is seen after it was installed on the grounds of the state Capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. June 27, 2017. REUTERS/Steve Barnes

By Steve Barnes

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Reuters) – Arkansas installed a Ten Commandments monument on the state’s Capitol grounds on Tuesday, and a civil liberties group pledged a court challenge, saying it showed an unconstitutional government preference for a certain religion.

Legislators approved the act for the monument in 2015, and whether it was appropriate for the public grounds has been debated since. Similar monuments erected in Oklahoma and Alabama were ordered removed by courts.

At the installation ceremony for the some 3,000-pound (1,360 kg) granite slab in Little Rock, state Senator Jason Rapert noted that the Ten Commandments were chiseled into the portals of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“If it’s good enough for the U.S. Capitol, it’s good enough for the state of Arkansas,” said Rapert, an evangelist who sponsored the legislation permitting the new monument.

But Rita Sklar, executive director of the Arkansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the group is preparing to file a lawsuit over the monument’s placement.

“It’s a visible symbol of government endorsement of one particular religious belief over others, or over no belief,” Sklar said.

Since Arkansas’ Ten Commandments monument act was proposed about two years ago, Satanists and other groups have also sought state permission to place monuments on capitol grounds but were rejected.

Rapert and other supporters of the monument noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005 had ruled in favor of a similar memorial on the Texas state capitol grounds. They said they were confident the Arkansas version would withstand a legal challenge.

But Sklar said the Supreme Court had noted the Texas monument had been in place for decades, giving it historical value.

In 2015, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ordered a Ten Commandments monument to be removed from capitol grounds there because the state’s constitution bans the use of state property for the benefit of a religion.

(Reporting by Steve Barnes; Additional reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Leslie Adler)

Where Do You Get YOUR Gospel?

There are many people that do not even want to hear the Book of Revelation.  They call ministers who preach on the prophetic events of the Bible, “prophets of doom” disregarding the fact that it is plainly written in the Bible and we’re seeing it in the daily news today!  So many in the church today are not allowing themselves to see what is happening right in front of their eyes.

Matthew 16:2-3 tells us, “When it is evening, ye say, “It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.”  “And in the morning,  It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering.  O ye hypocrites ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times.”

Luke 21:27-28 tells us,  “There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars…Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

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Ten Commandments Removed from Oklahoma City Capitol Grounds

In the quiet of night, the controversial Ten Commandments monument, located on the grounds of the Oklahoma City Capitol building, was removed.  A state hired contractor began removing the monument shortly after 10:30 p.m. The removal comes after the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision in June that the display violates a state constitutional prohibition on the use of public property to support “any sect, church, denomination or system of religion.”

Originally authorized by the Legislature in 2009, the privately funded monument was erected in 2012, bringing about a lawsuit from Bruce Prescott, a Baptist minister from Norman who complained it violated the state constitution.

“Frankly, I’m glad we finally got the governor and attorney general to agree to let the monument be moved to private property, which is where I believe it’s most appropriate,” Prescott said Monday. “The first sermon I ever preached was on the Ten commandments.  I am just opposed to it being on public property.”

Its placement at the Capitol prompted requests from several groups to have their own monuments installed, the list including a satanic church in New York that wanted to erect a 7-foot-tall statue that depicts Satan as Baphomet, a goat-headed figure with horns, wings and a long beard.

Office of Management and Enterprise Services spokesman John Estus said that the state is paying the contractor about $4,700 to remove the monument and take it to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs’ offices, a few blocks away.  Estus said the decision to remove the monument under the cover of darkness was made to avoid disturbing workers at the Capitol and to keep protesters from demonstrating while heavy equipment was being used to detach the two-ton monument from its base.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol had increased security around the monument earlier Monday, and barriers were erected to keep visitors from getting close to it.

Several conservative legislators have promised to introduce a resolution when the Legislature convenes in February to send to a public vote an amendment that would remove the article of the constitution that prevents the use of public money or property for religious purposes.

Federal Judge Dismisses Ten Commandments Lawsuit

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) to remove a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of a Pennsylvania high school.

U.S. District Judge Terrence McVerry wrote the plaintiffs had “failed to establish that they were forced into ‘direct, regular, and unwelcome contact’ with the Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of Valley High School.”

The judge also said that the female plaintiffs in the case, Marie Schaub and her unidentified daughter, had developed their sense of “offense” to the monument “only after FFRF became involved in this dispute.”

The FFRF demanded the monument’s removal in March 2012 and sued that September when the school did not bow to their demand.

The court noted that the daughter in the case never actually attended that high school and that she testified in court when she saw the monument she didn’t pay much attention to it.  The court also noted that while the mother claimed she pulled her daughter from the district to avoid the monument, the change happened after the lawsuit was filed.

“We’re pleased with the decision by the court,” New Kensington-Arnold School District Superintendent John Pallone said. “We’re glad to see this issue is hopefully behind us, and we can move on with our mission of educating children.”

Oklahoma Court Denies State’s Appeal on Ten Commandments Monument

The Oklahoma state Supreme Court has refused to hear the state’s appeal of their decision to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the state’s capitol grounds.

The ruling to reject the appeal had the same 7-2 vote as the initial decision that claimed the monument was unconstitutional.

 

The lawsuit against the monument was brought in 2013 by the American Civil LIberties Union of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin was bold in her opposition to the court’s ruling.

“The Ten Commandments monument was built to recognize and honor the historical significance of the Commandments in our state’s and nation’s systems of laws,” Fallin said in a statement. “The monument was built and maintained with private dollars. It is virtually identical to a monument on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol which the United States Supreme Court ruled to be permissible. It is a privately funded tribute to historical events, not a taxpayer funded endorsement of any religion, as some have alleged.”

Oklahoma Governor: The Ten Commandments Stay

Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin is standing up to her state’s Supreme Court and refusing to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments the court said violated their state Constitution.

The governor noted that Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has asked the Oklahoma Supreme Court to reconsider the 7-2 decision which supported a challenge by the ACLU of Oklahoma.

The justices said the monument violated Article II, Section 5 of the state constitution:  “No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such.”

Legislators are pushing to allow a vote of the citizens to remove that passage from the state constitution.

“Oklahoma is a state where we respect the rule of law, and we will not ignore the state courts or their decisions,” Fallin said. “However, we are also a state with three co-equal branches of government.”

“Legislators and supporters of the monument intended it as a tribute to the importance of the Ten Commandments in our history and our system of laws,” Fallin added in a statement. “Celebrating the historical importance of religions and religious values is not a new idea. Our nation is steeped in references to God and the rights He bestows on all men and women.”

“None of these represent state endorsement of or support for any religion. They are celebrations or visual representations of our culture and events of historical importance,” she added.

Attorney General Pruitt noted that the monument is almost identical to one in Texas that the Supreme Court ruled constitutional.  The monument was erected by private donations, not with state funds.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules 10 Commandments Monument Must Be Removed

The Oklahoma Supreme Court wants the Ten Commandments removed from the state capitol grounds.

A monument with the Ten Commandments was placed on the capitol grounds in 2012 and was paid for by private funds.  The court ruled that the Ten Commandments “indirectly” benefits the Jewish and Christian faiths and thus violates the state constitution.

The court rejected the argument of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt that the monument was nearly identical to a monument in Texas that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled as constitutional.  The Oklahoma justices said it violated the state constitution.

“Quite simply, the Oklahoma Supreme Court got it wrong,” Pruitt told reporters after the meeting.  “The court completely ignored the profound historical impact of the Ten Commandments on the foundation of Western law. Furthermore, the court’s incorrect interpretation of Article 2, Section 5 contradicts previous rulings of the court. In response, my office will file a petition with the court for a rehearing in light of the broader implications of this ruling on other areas of state law. Additionally, we are requesting a stay of the enforcement of the court’s order until the court can consider the petition for rehearing. Finally, if Article 2, Section 5 is going to be construed in such a manner by the court, it will be necessary to repeal it.”

The monument has been the target of various groups who demanded they be allowed to place their own monument in the complex including a group of satanists.

Biblical Soap Opera Massive Hit in Brazil

A soap opera based on the Biblical story of the Ten Commandments is a massive hit that is allowing its network to challenge the top channel in the country.

The program is driving the Rede Record television network to the top of the ratings.  The network, owned by the founder of Brazil’s biggest pentecostal church, has suddenly become a major player in broadcasting.

TV critics and analysts suggest the family oriented script of the program is what drives the sky-high ratings.

“There is a more conservative audience in Brazil that we’ve seen is quite strong,” said Bruno Dieguez, a communications professor at Rio’s Pontifical Catholic University.

“The Ten Commandments” has earned ratings triple any previous offering by its network.  The network has also spent more money on the show than any previous production.

“In my opinion, there should only be soaps like this one – to teach about the Bible, about family and values,” hairdresser Cristiana da Silva said, dividing her attention between the evening’s last customer and the action on screen. “This is the best soap.”

The show could be heading to the United States.  MundoFox, Fox Television’s Spanish-language channel, is negotiating for the television rights.

Arkansas Lawmakers Vote For Ten Commandments Monument At Capitol

Arkansas lawmakers have passed a proposal to place a monument to the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the state capitol and Governor Asa Hutchinson is expected to sign the bill.

As we previously reported, State Senator Jason Rapert proposed the moument, which will be funded by private citizens.  The senator referenced other monuments in Texas and Oklahoma, which courts have found as Constitutional.

“The Secretary of State shall permit and arrange for the placement on the State Capitol grounds of a suitable monument commemorating the Ten Commandments,” SB 939 reads in part. “The Secretary of State shall arrange for the monument to be designed, constructed, and placed on the State Capitol grounds by private entities at no expense to the State of Arkansas.”

“The placement of the monument under this section shall not be construed to mean that the State of Arkansas favors any particular religion or denomination over others,” it continues.

The bill passed the Arkansas House 72-7 on Wednesday.

“The 10 Commandments monument is a visible reminder intended to keep us focused outside of ourselves, just as the founders looked outside of themselves for guidance,” Rep. Kim Hammer said, according to the Arkansas News.