As previously reported, last September the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed suit against the Connellsville, Pennsylvania school district challenging a Ten Commandments monument that has stood near the auditorium entrance of a now-junior high school building for over 50 years. In March, the court denied defendants' motion to dismiss. The Pennsylvania Record reports that last week the court agreed that plaintiffs in the case can proceed anonymously. Supporters of the monument meanwhile have been active. Yesterday Trib Live reported that they have organized a "Thou Shall Not Move" committee, and have raised funds by sale of Ten Commandments yard signs. The money will be used to put up Ten Commandments stone monuments at 25 local churches that want them. Meanwhile the committee put up the first of its monuments at the Fraternal Order of Eagles building, recognizing the FOE's role in placing Ten Commandment monuments at public locations around the country decades ago.
In a separate Florida case, a new settlement has been reached in a suit by American Atheists challenging a 5-foot high granite Ten Commandments monument that had been erected in the courtyard of the Bradford County Courthouse. As previously reported, to avoid litigation costs the county directed the Community Men's Fellowship, the group that sponsored the monument, to remove it. However the group refused, and apparently filed its own lawsuit against the county. That led to a mediation conference and all all parties agreeing on an alternative settlement arrangement. (Full text of March 13 mediation report and agreement.) The Ten Commandments monument will remain up, but American Atheists will place next to it a 1,500-pound granite bench engraved with quotations from Thomas Jefferson, Madalyn Murray O’Hair, Benjamin Franklin, and others. The unveiling of the monument is scheduled for June 29. (American Atheists May 29 press release). ABA Journal reports on developments.
