Positive Liberty

A fascinating thing has been going on in the Louisiana legislature: they’ve been busy trying to edit the ten commandments. They are working on a bill that would allow the posting of the ten commandments on public property and in public buildings, but they’re having a bit of trouble deciding which version to use. You see, there are at least three different versions - Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish. The site is a bit surreal to witness:

The committee didn’t settle on the version to include but did amend the more Protestant-oriented version in the bill after a civil-rights lobbyist noted some disparities.

“It says ‘murder’ rather than ‘kill,’” said Michael Malec, noting the Sixth Commandment, which commonly reads “Thou shalt not kill.”

“We can change that,” replied Rep. Peppi Bruneau, R-New Orleans, who handled the bill for its absent author, Sen. James David Cain, R-Dry Creek.

And remember, these are allegedly timeless, eternal rules of right and wrong straight from the finger of God himself. Wouldn’t you think that the religious right would be just a wee bit bothered by the idea of politicians editing them to get around an inconvenient court ruling? Of course, the mere fact that there are three versions causes serious establishment clause problems:

Malec, lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union, said Catholics and Jews might be upset with the King James-type version included in the legislation by Sen. James David Cain, R-Dry Creek.

“It supports a particular version when there are other versions,” Malec said.

“That’s a legitimate objection,” said Bruneau, who handled the bill for Sen. Cain.

Malec said Cain’s version also includes “thou shalt not make unto thee any graven idol.” He said those words are not in the Catholic commandments…

Contacted after the meeting, Jewish Rabbi Stan Zamek of Beth Shalom Synagogue said choosing what version of the Ten Commandments to place in a government building points up the deficiency of the idea.

“I think there’s a problem displaying any version in a government building. I think it’s a dangerous intrusion of government into people’s religious liberties in any case,” Zamek said.

“You are inevitably choosing one religion over another,” he said.

Indeed so. This would appear to be a difficult argument to overcome, but those plucky Louisiana legislators have an answer:

Roberts said the Ten Commandments in the bill should be considered an example that does not exclude other versions. She said she will work on changes to make that clear.

I can’t wait to see that disclaimer:

“The Ten Commandments are the eternal and unchanging laws laid down by God himself, laws upon which our entire civilization is based. But these are just examples; feel free to pick your own ten and substitute them.”

There appears to be no truth to the rumor that Henry Hyde, Dan Burton, Bob Livingston, Newt Gingrich, Bill Clinton and Bob Barr lobbied to have the “thou shalt not commit adultery” commandment taken out.

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