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Religious controversy rattles the residents of Bradford County

A recent controversy has taken over the town of Starke, Fla., regarding a monument of the Ten Commandments outside the Bradford County Courthouse. So far more than 100 people have protested in the ongoing debate over the religious marker on county property. One organization that is against the marker is called American Atheists. State and regional operator for American Atheists, Ken Loukinen says his organization is offended by the placement of the monument, not the monument itself.

http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/Loukinen1fixTenComand.mp3

Vice president of legal affairs with Liberty Council, Steve Crampton says this monument should be be moved because of its historical importance.

http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/Crampton2.mp3

Loukinen says the references to Christianity are unfair to nonbelivers, and says people should not worry about being treated unfairly while in court.

http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/Loukinen3.mp3

Louskinen also adds the American Atheists would rather just have the monument moved somewhere else away from the courthouse.

http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/Loukinen4.mp3

This is not first time this issue has come up in Florida.  There was an earlier case in Dixie County last year when a federal judge ordered the county to remove a Ten Commandments marker after the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit. Crampton says these kinds of cases are becoming less uncommon.

http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/Crampton3.mp3

So far there have been no suits filed and Louikinen says his organization would rather not resort to that, but will if need be.

http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/Loukinen6.mp3

This subject will be discussed in the next board meeting on June 4th.

Blake is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.