AU opposes Commandments display in Saginaw.A Michigan county council is considering a proposal to install a Ten Commandments Ten Commandments or Decalogue [Gr.,=ten words], in the Bible, the summary of divine law given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. They have a paramount place in the ethical system in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. monument in a government building. Patrick Wurtzel, a member of the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners, wants to donate a $10,000 Commandments display to be placed in the lobby of the Saginaw County Government Center. Americans United for Separation of Church and State Americans United for Separation of Church and State (Americans United or AU for short) is a religious freedom advocacy group in the United States which promotes the separation of church and state, a legal doctrine seen by the AU as being enshrined in the Establishment has urged board members to reject the plan. In a March 26 letter, AU Senior Litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. Counsel Alex Luchenitser said the display would violate the First Amendment. It would, he said, "divide the community, and convey to persons who do not adhere to adhere to verb 1. follow, keep, maintain, respect, observe, be true, fulfil, obey, heed, keep to, abide by, be loyal, mind, be constant, be faithful 2. the religious beliefs represented by the Commandments that they are second-class citizens in Saginaw County" Citing media reports, AU's letter noted that Wurtzel's purpose is religious. Earlier in the year, The Saginaw News The Saginaw News is a Booth Newspapers-owned publication serving the Saginaw, Michigan area in the United States. The Saginaw News has a circulation close to 50,000 per day. References quoted Wurtzel as saying, "The county was founded and our Constitution established on Judeo-Christian foundations." In a letter to the newspaper, Wurtzel claimed that the "message now portrayed by the minority is that belief in God never has been, nor ever will be, a part of this country. Their rants threateningly predict the demise of our freedom should something as righteous as the Ten Commandments be allowed to be displayed in our courthouse." |
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