Oklahoma House passes measure on Ten Commandments monument

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma House has adopted a resolution that asks voters to return a Ten Commandments monument to the Oklahoma Capitol grounds.

The House voted 86-10 for the measure Wednesday and sent it to the state Senate, which is also expected to adopt it.

The resolution calls for a statewide vote of the people on whether to abolish an article of the Oklahoma Constitution that prohibits the use of state funds to support a religion. The state Supreme Court relied on that constitutional requirement in June when it ordered a Ten Commandments monument removed from the Capitol grounds.

The 6-foot-tall granite monument was authorized by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2009 and was erected in 2012. Its placement led other groups to seek their own statues.

According to a Gayly story last February, Article II, Section 5, of the Constitution decrees that, “No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such.”

Last August, state Rep. Donnie Condit (D-McAlester) reminded his legislative colleagues to “be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.” Striking Article II, Section 5 from the Constitution would indeed enable the Ten Commandments monument to remain right where it is, Condit acknowledged. It also would open the door to others who might want to erect a monument to, say, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism or Zoroastrianism, or even Satanism, Condit speculated.

Supporters of the resolutions say the monument's removal struck a nerve with Oklahomans who want to bring it back.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt released this statement on the ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court last year: “Quite simply, the Oklahoma Supreme Court got it wrong. The court completely ignored the profound historical impact of the Ten Commandments on the foundation of Western law. Furthermore, the court’s incorrect interpretation of Article 2, Section 5 contradicts previous rulings of the court. In response, my office will file a petition with the court for a rehearing in light of the broader implications of this ruling on other areas of state law. In the interim, enforcement of the court’s order cannot occur.”

But opponents like Ryan Kiesel of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma say the monument is being used by politicians looking to score political points.

If the monument is returned, Kiesel vowed to challenge it again in federal court.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Gayly- 3/9/2016 @ 12:11 PM CST