Judge Orders Ten Commandments Plaque Covered
Chester County Wants To Wait For Appeal
The debate over separation of church and state in Chester County was back in court today, and those people in favor of removing a plaque from the courthouse won a victory.
The hearing was scheduled to decide the issue about whether a bronze plaque bearing the Ten Commandments will remain at the West Chester courthouse.
In the latest ruling, a federal judge gave Chester County officials until April 22 to cover the plaque with a beige cloth that matches the courthouse's facade. The plaque will then be obscured until the case's appeal is heard.
A federal judge had ordered the plaque to be removed in early March, but the county wanted the plaque to stay up while the decision was appealed.
The latest hearing discussed possible damage the plaque's removal might cause to the 155-year-old building.
The plaque is inscribed with a version of the Ten Commandments from the King James version of the Bible, used by Protestants.
The initial ruling came after a two-day trial that included testimony from theological scholars and members of the Freethought Society, which describes itself as a group of atheists, agnostics, humanists and others.
The ruling may influence Northampton County officials, who are awaiting the outcome of the Chester County lawsuit before deciding whether to remove a Ten Commandments display from a courtroom.
The plaque was donated to Northampton County in 1955 by the Bethlehem and Easton Area Jewish Communities, according to an inscription.
Related Resources:
Sound Off On 10 Commandments Issue
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The hearing was scheduled to decide the issue about whether a bronze plaque bearing the Ten Commandments will remain at the West Chester courthouse.
In the latest ruling, a federal judge gave Chester County officials until April 22 to cover the plaque with a beige cloth that matches the courthouse's facade. The plaque will then be obscured until the case's appeal is heard.
A federal judge had ordered the plaque to be removed in early March, but the county wanted the plaque to stay up while the decision was appealed.
The latest hearing discussed possible damage the plaque's removal might cause to the 155-year-old building.
The plaque is inscribed with a version of the Ten Commandments from the King James version of the Bible, used by Protestants.
The initial ruling came after a two-day trial that included testimony from theological scholars and members of the Freethought Society, which describes itself as a group of atheists, agnostics, humanists and others.
The ruling may influence Northampton County officials, who are awaiting the outcome of the Chester County lawsuit before deciding whether to remove a Ten Commandments display from a courtroom.
The plaque was donated to Northampton County in 1955 by the Bethlehem and Easton Area Jewish Communities, according to an inscription.
Related Resources: Sound Off On 10 Commandments Issue
Previous Stories:
- March 12, 2002: Northampton May Remove 10 Commandments Plaque
- March 7, 2002: Judge Orders Removal Of 10 Commandments Plaque
Copyright 2002 by NBC10.com The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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