AMERICAN ATHEISTS ACTION ALERT

September 7, 2003

SPEAK OUT TO STOP
"TEN COMMANDMENTS BULLYING ACT"

Proposed bill would permit unconstitutional display of religious monuments, remove First Amendment violations from judicial scrutiny!

Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt has introduced a so-called "Ten Commandments Defense Act" (HR 2045) to promote the unconstitutional display of the Decalogue and other sectarian religious monuments.

The bill is in response to recent federal court decisions which have ruled that in many cases, presentation of the Commandments on government property is illegal state promotion of religion. In Alabama recently, defrocked State Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore lost his bid to have a 5,280-lb. granite monument of the Decalogue displayed prominently in the Judicial Building. Moore, like Aderholt, believes that states have every right -- even a duty -- to promote "the public acknowledgement of God."

The courts, and the First Amendment of our Constitution, say otherwise.

Aderholt's bill disingenuously argues that that states have the right to display the Ten Commandments and other religious symbols, mottoes and monuments. It also declares that federal courts "shall exercise ... judicial power in a manner consistent..." with his claims that belief in and recognition of a deity is the basis of all federal and state law, and that states may "recognize God as the source of the blessings of liberty."

This legislation would effectively try to remove any litigation over display of the Ten Commandments (and other religious slogans and symbols) from the authority of the federal courts.

* Your letters, phone calls and faxes are needed now to stop "The Ten Commandments Defense Act of 2003," HR 2045.

Get contact information for your congressional representative and check out our TIPS ON CONTACTING CONGRESS.

* Read the text of "The Ten Commandments Defense Act of 2003," HR 2045.

* Send us copies of your letters to Congress and we will display them on this Action Alert web site!

* We have several stories on our web site about the recent controversy over the Ten Commandments.

Alabama commandments monument is down -- but is it gone? 9/6/03

Moore suspended as confrontation looms over unconstitutional Ten Commandments monument, 8/22/03

Time for Moore to roll that rock! Justices, AG says Commandments monument must go! 8/22/03

Braggadocio, Hyperbole as Commandments supporters rally behind Moore in Montgomery, 8/19/03

Judge says commandments monument must go, will Moore comply? 8/7/03

House attempt to circumvent Constitution, federal courts? Lawmakers vote against enforcement on Ten Commandments, Pledge decisions 8-2-03

On to the Supreme Court? Moore announces appeal... 7/4/03

Office of the Alabama State Director, American Atheists

Moore files appeal notice on removal order, 12/14/02

Moore in exclusive film deal with televangelist, 11/26/01

Rehnquist and the Ten Taboos, by Frank Zindler

Hang 'Em All -- Completely! by Frank Zindler

Which Ten Commandments, by Cliff Walker

Post The Commandments, Spare Not The Rod! by Conrad F. Goeringer)

Darby speaks out on Moore press conference, 7/4/03

Circuit Court rules for 'aphorisms' as squabbles over religious sloganeering, commandments continue, 8/2/02

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.