HOUSTON, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- A federal appeals court has ruled a Bible must remain displayed in a monument at a Houston courthouse, at least temporarily, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Tuesday's appellate court order overturned a ruling issued Aug. 10 by Houston U.S. District Judge Sim Lake that the Bible in the 50-year-old monument represents an unconstitutional promotion of religion. He ordered it removed by Tuesday and rejected a Monday request to extend his deadline.
Harris County Attorney Mike Stafford said the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans temporarily stayed Lake's order while the county files an appeal, the Chronicle reported.
The monument, owned by the Star of Hope mission, honors one of its benefactors, William Mosher.
Kay Staley, a Houston lawyer and real estate agent, filed the lawsuit. She alleges the display violates the First Amendment, which prohibits government promotion of religion.
