Suits filed against Ten Commandments

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The American Civil Liberties Union Wednesday prepared lawsuits against a number of Kentucky counties to force them to take down displays of the Ten Commandments.

The ACLU filed four such lawsuits on Tuesday and said more suits could be expected in the next few months. More than two dozen Kentucky counties reportedly have the Old Testament rules posted.

The lawsuits were against Garrard, Mercer, Rowan and Grayson counties for Ten Commandments displays at the county courthouses. Also cited was a display at the public hospital in Garrard County.

"It's not a small measure of irony that these four governments, among others, are seeking to impose their religious views on the nation at the same time the nation is fighting those overseas who would impose their religious views on others," said David Friedman, ACLU general counsel.

The Florida religious group Liberty Counsel offered to represent the counties against the suits.

This is the second time in three years the ACLU has gone after displays of the commandments in public buildings in Kentucky. The earlier suits against displays in Harlan County schools and the courthouses in Pulaski and McCreary counties resulted in federal court decisions ordering the displays removed

A federal judge also ruled plans to erect a Ten Commandments monument on the state Capitol grounds unconstitutional. The cases are on appeal.

The U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from establishing a religion, and the ACLU contends posting the commandments in public buildings violates that prohibition.