Despite the threat of a lawsuit, a county board decided yesterday to continue allowing the public display of a quote by President Theodore Roosevelt that is favorable to Christians.
As WorldNetDaily reported, the Anti-Defamation League vowed to sue Riverside County in California if the quote is not removed from the historic county courthouse.
Since 1930, the quote has been engraved on a wall with other sayings, some secular in nature, that reflect the personal and diverse philosophies of the nation’s past leaders, including Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson.
The Roosevelt quote reads: “The true Christian is the true citizen.”
The ADL claims that the quote “marginalizes” non-Christians coming into contact with the courthouse.
Yesterday, at its regularly scheduled meeting, the board of supervisors affirmed the historical and cultural significance of the quote and said it would be willing to risk a lawsuit.
Prior to that decision, the presiding judge of the Riverside County Superior Court sided with the ADL after several months of closed-door negotiations. The judge suggested the historical engraving should be covered with a loose piece of wood so the public could not see it.
After discovering the court’s intentions several weeks ago, Richard D. Ackerman, president of Pro-Family Law Center, preemptively sued the county, the presiding judge and the ADL.
The suit claimed the quote could not be covered because the court building was a protected historic building under local, state and federal law.
Ackerman pointed out that hundreds of historic government buildings across the nation have religious references engraved in their halls. Additionally, Ackerman’s firm claimed it was unlawful discrimination for the county of Riverside to single out only a “Christian” quote for censorship.
“Today’s decision was an awesome demonstration of respect for the public and for our nation’s history — a history that was built on the blood, sweat and tears of many Christians,” said Ackerman.
“Accurate reflections of historical context cannot be promoted by censorship,” he said. “These supervisors should be praised for their unabashed commitment to our nation’s leaders, our shared culture, and the rich history of America.”
Ackerman says the Riveside County board has refused to follow the “politically correct” lead of other Southern California jurisdictions that have eliminated symbols or other displays of faith in government arenas, including Lake Elsinore, Redlands and Los Angeles, which removed a cross from its city seal.
“I think Rich’s work on this case actually exemplifies Teddy Roosevelt’s quote,” said PFLC founder and fellow attorney Scott Lively. “This is Christian citizenship in action.”
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