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Ten Commandments are religious, not secular

A judge in Oklahoma ruled last week that a monument to the Ten Commandments could stay at the state capitol.Associated Press

JUDGE THOMAS Prince didn’t seem to know his Bible well when he stated that a monument with the Ten Commandments engraved on it served a secular purpose and could be placed on state-owned property (“Oklahoma judge dismisses Ten Commandments lawsuit,” Nation, Sept. 20). Three commandments, not to murder, steal, or bear false witness, are reflected in secular law. But look at some of the others.

The First Commandment states that only one god may be worshipped. Can pagans be prosecuted for honoring multiple gods?

The First Commandment forbids the worship of “graven images.” This prohibition is left out of the Catholic version. Can Catholics be prosecuted for having a statue of the Virgin Mary on their lawn?

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The Second Commandment states, “Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Do Oklahoma police arrest people for swearing?

The Third Commandment demands, “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.” Does Oklahoma prosecute people for skipping church?

The Rev. Bruce Prescott, a Baptist minister, sued to keep the monument off government property. He understands that such a placement violates the separation of church and state. Judge Prince not only permitted a violation of the US Constitution, but insulted all those who take the Bible and their religion seriously.

Peter Denison
Somerset