Thursday, May 20, 1999
Ohio House backs Commandment monuments at schools
Resolution won't affect lawsuit against Adams County
BY MICHAEL HAWTHORNE
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS — An emotional debate about displaying the Ten Commandments outside four Adams County high schools spilled over Wednesday into the Ohio House.
Rejecting protests from legislators who said the General Assembly should stay out of the dispute, House members voted 80-15 to approve a resolution offering their “support, understanding and sympathy” to school officials fighting to keep the granite monuments.
A federal lawsuit filed in February demands the removal of the year-old monuments from school grounds, contending they violate the constitutional separation of church and state.
While the resolution approved by the House won't af fect the lawsuit, supporters said they needed to strike a blow in the national battle between civil libertarians and religious conservatives.
“I don't understand the fuss,” Rep. Joy Padgett, R-Coshocton, said in response to colleagues who argued the resolution favors Christianity over other religions. “Which religion says "Do kill,' "Do commit adultery' and "Do not honor thy mother and father?'”
Critics decried the resolu tion as a “feel good” measure intended to score political points for lawmakers preparing for next year's elections.
Rep. Don Mottley, R-West Carrollton, said the Bill of Rights guaranteed freedom of religion to protect Americans from dogma supported by the majority of citizens.
He asked rhetorically whether most Ohioans also would favor public display of a scripture passage from the Koran, the holy text of Islam.
“This is an easy, politically popular vote that will look great in a 30-second ad,” Mr. Mottley said. “For those of us who vote "no,' it will look bad — and I'm sure some people will try to use it against us.”
The lone Southwest Ohio legislator to vote against the resolution was Rep. Jackie O'Brien, R-Cincinnati. “I don't think this is an issue we should get involved in,” she said afterward.
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