American Values - Gary L. Bauer, President

Press Release Article

Bauer Calls Ten Commandments Ruling 'A Tragedy'

06/27/2005

WASHINGTON, June 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- "The Ten Commandments rulings today from the U.S. Supreme Court send confusing signals to all Americans who embrace the faith of the Founding Fathers, which is the historical foundation of the world's greatest legal system," former presidential candidate Gary Bauer said Monday.

Bauer, the president of American Values, made the following statement after the announcement of two Supreme Court rulings; one will allow the Ten Commandments to remain in public buildings; another will require them to be removed if the Commandments' religious content is "overemphasized." "We are facing the cultural fallout of a loss of knowledge and understanding of the faith which founded a great nation and built a great people. It is a sad day when our nation's highest court closes its eyes to the immutable standards of right and wrong."

To enter a public building and see and be inspired by -- or simply be reminded of -- the standards of conduct that great men and women have used for centuries to overcome our most base instincts is a good thing. The Ten Commandments is a great founding document for our nation. Whether people read it as a historical narrative or faith-filled ideal is irrelevant. Judicial opinions need to be grounded in consistently applied principle. Sadly, Americans can now only be more confused concerning the rightful place of our historical and religious heritage in society."