Alabama gives 'Ten Commandments' Judge Roy Moore another shot

Voters in Alabama gave Roy Moore his seat back as chief justice after being thrown out of the office ten years ago. Moore easily defeated Democratic Jefferson County Circuit Judge Bob Vance.

Moore stated,

“It’s clear the people have voted to return me to the office of chief justice. I have no doubt this is a vindication. I look forward to being the next chief justice. Go home with the knowledge that we are going to stand for the acknowledgment of God."

The controversy surrounding Moore came when he installed and later refused a federal judge's order to remove a two and a half ton granite monument of the Ten Commandments from the lobby of the Alabama Judicial Building in 2000.

Moore was removed from his office, and still maintains the order from the judge was unlawful, and that he should not have followed it. Moore promised he wouldn't return the monument to the courthouse when he returns to the bench. He states his point has been made, and it is not about the monument, but about the acknowledgment of his God.

Moore has two failed bids for the Governorship of Alabama, and was politically irrelevant for a long time. He turned to grassroots support, along with name recognition to get his old seat back. Judge Moore also had the benefit of a base of voters who associated him with the Ten Commandments.

Alabama is one of the most religiously oriented states in the nation. A replica of the Ten Commandments adorned a table at Moore's party.

More at the Washington Post

Al Stefanelli

Al serves on the Board of Directors for The Clergy Project, and is the former Georgia State Director for American Atheists, Inc. He is a retired journalist and the author of "Free Thoughts - A Collection Of Essays By An American Atheist" and "A Voice Of Reason In An Unreasonable World - The Rise Of Atheism On Planet Earth." Al began writing in 1985, starting with the New York Times. In 1993 he joined a McClatchy newspaper, writing a weekly column for ten years. His writing continues to be widely distributed on the Internet and in print. He also produced and hosted a weekly syndicated radio broadcast for three years and was the founder and President of the former United Atheist Front, Inc., which functioned as a civil rights organization. Al is a former Southern Baptist Pastor, having served two churches and as pulpit supply for three counties. Currently, he writes for The God Discussion, hosts his own blog on WordPress, submits content to a variety of publications, and co-hosts "American Heathen Radio" and "Reap Sow Radio." Al lives in Peachtree City, GA., a suburb of Atlanta.

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