KY County Changes Mind On 10 Commandments Monument

Last month in a posting I reported that Crittenden County, Kentucky officials endorsed plans of a Baptist minister to erect a Ten Commandments monument on the county court house grounds. Now the county magistrates have reversed their decision, according to a report in today's Courrier & Press. The change of heart follows advice by the County Attorney that the plans were clearly contrary to the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings and that it would cost thousands of dollars to try to defend a lawsuit. Then the Kentucky ACLU made inquiries. Judge-Executive Fred Brown said, "It's easy to say we should fight the ACLU, but if the fiscal court spends big money defending a lawsuit, I think it would pretty much be malfeasance if we indebted the county on something we've been advised not to do." He advised supporters instead to purchase a vacant lot available downtown and use it for a Ten Commandments monument. Rev. Frank McCallam, a former president of the county's ministerial association, suggested that there were better uses for the moneys the churches were raising. He said the funds should be used to provide food and clothing for the needy in the community, saying "I don't believe the ACLU would stop us from giving away food and clothing."