Federal Judge Rejects Challenge To Ten Commandments Monument In Stigler

Friday, August 18th 2006, 4:40 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A federal judge Friday rejected a challenge to a Ten Commandments monument and will allow it to remain standing on the grounds of the Haskell County Courthouse in Stigler.

US District Judge Ronald -A- White in Muskogee ruled that the county did not "overstep the constitutional line demarcating government neutrality toward religion."

Attorney Kevin Theriot represented the Haskell County commissioners. He says a significant factor was that other monuments recognizing war veterans, unmarked graves and an American Indian tribe also sit on the courthouse lawn.

He says people can't single out one of the historical monuments and say it means that the government is impermissibly endorsing religion.

An attorney representing the American Civil Liberties Union said the court's decision represents "a loss for religious freedom."