Ten Commandments Battles Erupt In State Legislatures.

At least 11 state legislatures are grappling with proposals to promote posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools and other government buildings.

In Indiana, both chambers of the state legislature have approved legislation that would allow the posting of the Ten Commandments in all government buildings, including public schools, provided they are part of a larger display that also includes other "historic documents." The measure passed the state Senate on a vote of 38-9 Jan. 25 and cleared the House 91 to 7 Feb. 7. It is headed to Gov. Frank O'Bannon (D), who has indicated he will sign it into law.

Indiana senators debated the measure for about an hour. Bill sponsor, Sen. Kent Adams, a Republican from Bremen, asserted that, "America has become the greatest nation on the face of the earth today because children from generation to generation have been taught about our heritage. The Ten Commandments are part of that heritage."

But Sen. Anita Bowser, a Democrat from Michigan City, argued against the bill. "It is unconstitutional," she said, "and so will be declared by the Supreme Court of the United States." Bowser also charged that most of the senators know the bill violates the First Amendment, but said, "They're so worried about the election coming up they'll prostitute their beliefs for a vote."

A similar measure has cleared the South Dakota Senate. S.B. 54 would permit public schools to put up the Ten Commandments and other religious documents as long as the action is for an "educational" purpose. It passed the state senate unanimously on Jan. 24.

Originally the bill, introduced by Sen. Jim Lawler, an Aberdeen Democrat, was limited to the Ten Commandments. Lawler said he believes children should be taught the difference between right and wrong and argued that there have been too many violent acts in schools.

Lawler also said he was unconcerned about the bill sparking a lawsuit, saying that even if defending the measure cost $350,000, that would only be 50 cents per state resident. "It's not a big price to pay to get our children back," he said.

The measure is pending in the South Dakota House of Representatives.

In Colorado a bill that would have required every public school in the state to post the Ten Commandments in "the main entryway" appears to be dead. The Senate bill went so far as to include specific wording for the commandments. It also required public schools to open each day with a "period of quiet reflection for not more than sixty seconds" and permitted "student-initiated voluntary prayers at schools or school-related events that are nonsectarian and non-proselytizing in nature."

The measure was introduced by Sen. John Andrews, an Englewood Republican. During the debate, Andrews insisted that his bill is constitutional because it is "educational and civic" and not meant to be religious.

The measure died Feb. 14 when the Senate voted 18-17 to reject a greatly watered-down version of Andrews bill that would have only recommended that public schools begin each day with a moment of silence. Andrews, realizing failure was imminent, withdrew the bill.

Perhaps the most curious feature of Andrews' original proposal was that it listed a version of the Ten Commandments that schools would have been required to post. The version appears to be the one found in the Douay (Roman Catholic) version of the Bible, although it has been altered. For example, while the Second Commandment omits the prohibition against graven images, as in the Catholic version, the Ninth Commandment, which in the Catholic version warns against covering "thy neighbor's wife" becomes "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house" in Andrews' version.

The prohibition against coveting a neighbor's wife appeared in Andrews' Tenth Commandment, along with prohibitions against coveting a neighbor's manservant, maidservant, cattle or any other property. (Prohibitions against coveting a neighbor's "ox or ass," found in the King James Version, are missing entirely.)

Andrews has said that he asked a committee of clergy members to draw up the list.

Perhaps the most radical Ten Commandments measure is pending in Georgia. State Rep. Judy Poag would require public schools to hang the Ten Commandments in classrooms as a condition of receiving state funds. The measure has been lodged in the House Education Committee.

Gerry Weber, legal director for the Georgia affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, told the Freedom Forum's online newsletter free! that Poag's bill is "an invitation to litigation if it passes. The bill would essentially condition funding for every school district upon their endorsement of Judeo-Christian commandments"

An Americans United analysis shows that Ten Commandments legislation has been introduced in Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Missouri, New Mexico and Oklahoma. In addition, bills are expected in Minnesota and North Carolina.

In other news about the Ten Commandments:

* Altoona, Pa., school officials have agreed to post the Ten Commandments alongside a secular humanist list of principles in school libraries for a period of 25 days. Last year the school board considered a proposal to display the Ten Commandments alone. The board rejected the Rev. Gary Dull's plan as unconstitutional but adopted a new policy that allows local citizens to donate religious and historical documents, which are then posted on a temporary basis in the district's 13 schools.

In addition to the Ten Commandments and the humanist document, school officials have given tentative approval to a document titled "American Atheists: An Introduction" a pamphlet titled "What Is A Freethinker?" and material from a Wiccan group.

Dull, a Baptist, is working with the National Clergy Council, a Washington-based Religious Right group, in the hopes of taking the plan nationwide.