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Pro-Family Law Center
Sues California Superior Court to Protect
Theodore Roosevelt Historical Quote from Removal from Riverside County
Historic Courthouse
perspective: pro-family
from the 'Legal Issues'
topic
06-Oct-2004
Source: Pro-Family Law Center
Author: Pro-Family Law Center
Abstract:
The Pro-Family Law Center is
suing the operators of the Riverside County Historic Courthouse in Riverside, California.
The lawsuit, being filed Thursday, relates to a threat of further litigation by
the liberal Anti-Defamation League ("ADL"). Earlier this week, the
ADL threatened the Riverside County Superior Court with legal action if it did
not remove a quote that is engraved in gold on the mahogany wall one of the
courthouse departments.
<http://www.abidingtruth.com/pfrc/tellafriend.php?type=news&id=3221218>
]
________________________________
RIVERSIDE,
CALIFORNIA, Sept. 30, 2004 /Christian Wire
Service/ -- The Pro-Family Law Center is suing the operators of the Riverside
County Historic Courthouse in Riverside,
California. The lawsuit, being
filed this afternoon, relates to a threat of further litigation by the liberal
Anti-Defamation League ("ADL"). Earlier this week, the ADL threatened
the Riverside County Superior Court with legal action if it did not remove a
quote that is engraved in gold on the mahogany wall one of the courthouse
departments. Courthouse personnel are now proposing that the quote be covered
up with a loose piece of wood, which would alter the historic building.
The historical quote from
President Theodore Roosevelt states: "The true Christian is the true
citizen." The quote is one of many diverse quotes from other presidents
contained within the courthouse, and it has been there since 1930 without any
material complaint. The quotes, some secular in nature, reflect the personal
and diverse philosophies of our nation's past leaders, including Abraham
Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson. The ADL claims that the Roosevelt
quote 'marginalizes' non-Christians coming into contact with the courthouse.
Ironically, however, the ADL has not challenged photographic images of Jews and
other religious references placed throughout other courthouse buildings in the
same judicial district. The PFLC complaint alleges that the ADL is acting to
censor and single out Christians by its threat of litigation against the
Superior Court.
PFLC is suing the ADL, and
the operators of the courthouse, under historical preservation laws that make
it a crime to alter a historical site in any way. The Riverside
courthouse was designated a "cultural resource" and a "designated
historical site" many years ago. The building was refurbished in 1995.
Even with the assistance of many persons of differing religious beliefs, the
refurbishment of the building included preservation of the presidential and
other religious references in the building. The ADL is apparently the only
organization that has sought to single out the reference to
"Christian" for censorship. Richard D. Ackerman, the lead attorney
and plaintiff in the action says, "This is not surprising, given that the
ADL hatefully accuses evangelical Christians of "subterfuge and
deception" on its website. Nevertheless, the engravings in the walls of
the courthouse must be taken in their historical context and separated from the
ADL's absurd allegations. The quotes from the various presidents represent a
diversity of cultural and historic views. Removal of any one of the quotes
would take away from the cultural diversity that is represented throughout the Riverside judicial system by historical engravings,
photographic images of practicing Jewish people on open display, and through
the very cornerstone of the courthouse, which was placed there by a Masonic
Lodge in 1903."
PFLC views this as a case
that is designed to protect all Christians across the nation, and to preserve the
integrity of a nation whose historical identity is permanently affixed to the
contributions of Christians and other persons of faith since its founding.
To read the filed complaint,
go to our "resources" page or use the following link: http://www.defendthefamily.com/_docs/resources/4161827.pdf
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