Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore
August 25, 2003

You know, every judge or every justice is nothing but a lawyer. In March of 1775, in a small church in Virginia, there was another lawyer. He made a very important statement, which you probably recall ending in "give me liberty or give me death." That lawyer's name was Patrick Henry, and he said something else which is appropriate on this occasion. It's appropriate in my case here, and it's appropriate to me personally today: "Should I keep back my opinions at such a time as this, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings."

You know, Christians are offended at many things in today's society. They're offended at abortion, at sodomy in our streets, at kids getting killed in school. And yet, we seem to be ashamed of standing up and speaking the truth of acknowledging that we are created in the image of God and endowed by Him with our rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We are offended at many things. We've allowed the acknowledgment of God to be taken from us because three lawyers walked into this building, and are offended at looking at God's word.

You see, that's what this case is about. It's not about a monument. It's not about religion. It's about the acknowledgment of Almighty God.

I will repeat over, and over, and over, because the judge that heard this case in the federal district court said this is the issue: "Can the state acknowledge God?" He said, "No." We should be offended when we live in a state whose justice system is established invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God. And I personally was offended when I walked into the federal courthouse, and in front of that federal courthouse right down the street sits this bust of the Greek goddess Themis.

We should be offended when the elective representatives of this state--the governor, the attorney general, and the justices of this court--fail to acknowledge God is the basis of our justice system, simply because one federal judge says we can't.

We should be offended when judges sworn to uphold that Constitution are reduced to placing a shroud around God's word to hide God's word from the public.

Today I stand before the court of the judiciary--not because I've done anything wrong, not because I've violated any law, not because I've taken money. None of those things. I stand before the court of the judiciary because I've done my oath. I've kept my oath.

I have acknowledged God as the moral foundation of our law. It's my duty. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time as this, for fear of giving offense? I should consider myself guilty of treason, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of Heaven.

I thank you.