Washington – 350 Christians from across the country traveled to Capitol Hill as part of their eight-day, five-state campaign to “pay homage to the role of religion in the United States,” CNS reported, October 7.
The rally, which converged at the U.S. Supreme Court, brought together the leading figures that fought to preserve public displays of the Ten Commandments across the states.
"We are not here for a political issue, we are here for the very future and survival of our nation," said the Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition. "In Montgomery, a fire was lit, and we are taking it to the nation. The church of Jesus Christ is arising."
Some of the travelers began their journey since Sept. 28 with the “Save the Commandments Caravan.” Along the way to Washington, the caravan made stops in Hueytown, Ala., Atlanta and Winder, Ga., Columbia, S.C., Raleigh, N.C., Lynchburg and Fredericksburg, Va.
Sandra Ledbetter of Billingsly, Ala., who traveled the entire route, said she's encountered all sorts of people along the way, but they have all stood for the same principles.
"Everyone who comes out feels the same calling on their heart, that God has asked them to take a stand. They're coming out in obedience to him," Ledbetter said. "The Ten Commandments are our foundation. They're the moral character where we get our value system."
Heavily referring to the recent case in which a 2.5 ton ten commandment monument in a Montgomery, Ala., courthouse was removed, the attendants said they would no longer tolerate "activist judges" who they accused of manipulating the law and ignoring the intentions of the framers of the republic.
Throughout the 2 hour rally, the speakers warned of the dangers presented by groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which led the effort to remove "Roy's Rock," as the Alabama monument is called.
"Our opponents aren't concerned with religious freedom, and they're not concerned with hurting people's feelings," Rios said. "They want God obliterated. They want him taken off the coins, they want him taken out of the Pledge [of Allegiance], and they want him sandblasted off of our national monuments."
In an effort to recognize the importance of the Ten Commandments, Rep. Robert B. Aderholt (R-Ala.) told the crowd he wants them displayed in the U.S. Capitol building. Aderholt is the sponsor of the Ten Commandments Defense Act, which would protect religious displays in public buildings.
"Now, more than ever, Congress must set the record straight as to the public display of the Ten Commandments," Aderholt said. "The Ten Commandments have a long history of influence on the foundation upon which this nation was founded."
Soon after the rally, the demonstrators went to the various Senate and House office buildings to speak to their elected officials about the legislation.
If Congress takes no action on Aderholt’s resolution, Money expressed, lawmakers could expect a return visit from their constituents.
