Differing "Decalogue Displays" to be Considered in 10 Commandment Cases

October 23, 2004

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55480-2004Oct22.html?referrer=email

On October 23, 2004 The Washington Post reported, "sometime in late winter, advocates for and opponents of public displays of the Ten Commandments will argue the issue before the U.S. Supreme Court for the first time in 25 years. Litigators on both sides agree that the justices probably will set parameters on what constitutes an acceptable display of the commandments, relying partly on the court's previous decisions on the display of Nativity scenes in town squares and courthouses... They disagree, however, on whether the existence of different versions of the Ten Commandments -- reflecting theological differences among Protestants, Catholics and Jews -- will or should affect the court's decision... That debate will be part of a broader First Amendment argument over whether the displays constitute government endorsement of religion or government allowance of the free expression of religion."