Religious Monument Fails in Haskell

By Amy Lester, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Last session, lawmakers approved a bill to put a Ten Commandments monument at the state Capitol, and the governor signed it into law. Those against it wonder if the court ruling will help them fight the monument.

After a three-and-a-half year fight, the ACLU celebrated after the appeals court ruled that a 10 Commandments monument in Haskell was unconstitutional.

"Anytime the rights, religious freedom of Oklahomans is vindicated by a court, that's cause for celebration here," said Chuck Thorton of ACLU of Oklahoma.

The appeals court ruled the monument endorses religion, pointing to comments made by a county commissioner who said, "I'm a Christian and I believe in this. I think it's a benefit to the community."

"It's an impermissible endorsement of one religion by a government entity," Thorton said. "Certainly, we view it as the government proselytizing."

The ACLU also feels that way about the Ten Commandments display slated to go up alongside other statues at the Capitol, but supporters of the monument claim the two displays are not one in the same.

More on News9.com: Ten Commandments Bill Passes Through Committee

"We do not endorse any religion in any form," said Representative Mike Ritze (R-District 80). "It's in the bill and ours is strictly a historical display."

Representative Ritze authored the bill calling for the privately funded monument. He said it does not mean the state favors one religion over another.

The Ten Commandments wording will mirror that of the one outside of Texas' state Capitol, which the Supreme Court ruled is constitutional.

"We want Oklahomans to be able to look at their history for generations to come and their heritage and to understand that our laws come from the 10 Commandments," Ritze said.

The commandments may be placed at the Capitol as early as November, and until then, the ACLU will review the Haskell County ruling and decide if they should challenge the Capitol monument in court.

"Rest assured, it's something that we do strongly oppose," Thorton said. "It's something we're looking at."

As for the Haskell County ruling, the commissioners are disappointed and feel the judges got it wrong.

The commissioners have not yet decided if they'll appeal the decision.

Read more about the court's decision on the 10 Commandments monument in Haskell.