In a 7 to 2 vote last year, the Oklahoma Supreme court ruled that the monument must be removed from state Capitol grounds because it was in violation of the Oklahoma Constitution. Article 2, Section 5 states:
No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such.
The Oklahoman editorial board has weighed in on the Ten Commandments monument controversy with a tortuous and illogical argument that the state should now repeal its constitution.
The repeal of Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution would presumably allow the monument to stay on state Capitol grounds, but it’s not that simple, and even if it were the unintended consequences complicate the matter further.
Since then the conservative crowd in Oklahoma has been in a complete meltdown, suggesting everything from repealing the constitution to impeaching the judges who made the decision. Both Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt and Gov. Mary Fallin have publicly pledged their support for keeping the monument at the Capitol. One lawmaker has even made the claim that the ruling “could even lead to churches, synagogues, mosques and other buildings used for religious purposes being unable to receive police and fire protection as they would be directly or indirectly benefiting from public monies.”