Selma gives opinion in Commandments case

By Sajit Abraham / Selma Times – Journal

A number of ministers in Selma said that they are against the Ten Commandments memorial being removed from the state Judicial Building in Montgomery.

Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore has indicated he will appeal last week’s decision by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson that the monument being placed in the state Judicial Building is unconstitutional because it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits government-sponsored religion.

Unless Moore backs down, the case is headed for the federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

If the case is appealed, the case would be heard by a panel of three randomly selected judges.

The panel’s decision can then be appealed to all of the circuit’s judges, if they decide to accept the appeal.

The Rev. George M. Sedberry, pastor at Church Street United Methodist Church, said that he was against the memorial being removed.

Dr. Kenny Hatcher, pastor at Northside Baptist Church, also said he was firmly against the memorial being removed.

Hatcher said that the United States is built on Judeo-Christian values, and that removing the memorial would be going against the values of this country.