Jewel
August 26, 2003, 11:49 AM
from HoustonChronicle.com (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2065668)
Citing concern over what she perceives as growing religious fundamentalism, a Houston woman filed suit today in federal court against Harris County demanding it remove a King James Bible from a monument near the Fannin Street entrance of the civil courthouse.
The Bible, tattered and waterstained, has occupied the lighted display case since 1995, when an employee of then-state District Judge John Devine's court undertook to refurbish the neglected monument. The 4-foot-tall pedestal was erected in 1956 to honor industrialist William Mosher for his philanthropic contributions to its Star of Hope Homeless Programs.
"It's unconstitutional and I expect our elected officials to follow the law," said real estate agent Kay Staley, explaining her suit. Staley, who also is a lawyer, is a member of the Houston chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The lawsuit was filed by civil rights attorney Randall Kallinen.
Late last week, Kallinen indicated the lawsuit would be filed only if further negotiations with the county, started in May, proved fruitless. Early Monday, however, he announced he would move forward with the legal action.
Staley said controversy surrounding Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's defiance of a court order to remove a monument bearing the Ten Commandments from the state's judicial building prompted her to move ahead with the lawsuit.
Citing concern over what she perceives as growing religious fundamentalism, a Houston woman filed suit today in federal court against Harris County demanding it remove a King James Bible from a monument near the Fannin Street entrance of the civil courthouse.
The Bible, tattered and waterstained, has occupied the lighted display case since 1995, when an employee of then-state District Judge John Devine's court undertook to refurbish the neglected monument. The 4-foot-tall pedestal was erected in 1956 to honor industrialist William Mosher for his philanthropic contributions to its Star of Hope Homeless Programs.
"It's unconstitutional and I expect our elected officials to follow the law," said real estate agent Kay Staley, explaining her suit. Staley, who also is a lawyer, is a member of the Houston chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The lawsuit was filed by civil rights attorney Randall Kallinen.
Late last week, Kallinen indicated the lawsuit would be filed only if further negotiations with the county, started in May, proved fruitless. Early Monday, however, he announced he would move forward with the legal action.
Staley said controversy surrounding Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's defiance of a court order to remove a monument bearing the Ten Commandments from the state's judicial building prompted her to move ahead with the lawsuit.