A proposal by members of the Saline County Board to post a plaque with the Ten Commandments on the property of the County Courthouse recently drew a sharp objection from the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. Recently, the Saline County Board discussed the proposal including the idea having a public referendum to assess support for the display. Perhaps most surprising, a member of the Board publicly suggested that it was time for the Board to "take a stand and defy the courts."
The ACLU of Illinois recently sent a letter urging the Board to reject this unconstitutional proposal. The letter notes that the Ten Commandments "are highly religious," noting that many of the Commandments are religious in nature (i.e., banning idol worship). The ACLU of Illinois also pointed out the string of court decisions that bar the display of the Ten Commandments on public property, because such displays send the message to some Americans that they are outsiders and second-class citizens.
The ACLU of Illinois will continue to monitor this proposal.
