You've surely heard about the controversial court ruling involving the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. But you may not have heard of another court ruling that could lead to the removal of the Ten Commandments from the ground of the Ogden City Hall.

News Specialist John Daley explains the ruling and what it could mean.

It's like a debate from high school civics class. What if a monument is erected on public property honoring core beliefs of one religion--and then another religious group wants to install its own monument?

That question is at the heart of a court battle over the Ten Commandments between the city of Ogden, and the relatively small Salt Lake-based religion called Summum.

Drawing on ancient Egyptian philosophy, Summum has a pyramid as its spirtual center. It mummifies animals and follows a doctrine known as the "7 Aphorisms."

Summum asked Ogden for permission to install its own monument. Ogden said "No" and in 1999 Summum sued.

Last week a federals appeals court sided with Summum, saying the First Amendment compels Ogden to treat free speech from divergent religious perspectives equally.

Corky Ra/Summum Founder: "WE FEEL GREAT THAT THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS US AND EVERY OTHER RELIGION. AND THAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO HAVE A FREE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR RELIGION BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN A GOVERNMENT SETTING."

The city argued that because the Ten Commandments are in an area with a variey of monuments, including pioneer settlers and Ogden's sister city, the religions nature was neutralized and the Ten Commandments were an artifact from an ancient, bygone era.

The city says it may appeal.

Matthew Godfrey/Ogden Mayor: "WE COULD TAKE DOWN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS HERE AND DEAL WITH IT THAT WAY AS WELL."

Summum also successfully challenged a Ten Commandments monument in Salt Lake County in 1997.

Now, the group's attorney says similar monuments on public property in Roy, Tooele and Murray will be called into question.

Brian Barnard/Attorney for Summum: "AND THOSE ARE SUBJECT TO CHALLENGE AND SUBJECT TO HAVING OTHER MONUMENTS PUT UP RIGHT NEXT TO THEM."

The Fraternal Order of Eagles donated the Ten Commandments monument back in the 1960s.

If the monument is removed from the Ogden City Hall, the Eagles say they'll take it back and install it at their lodge.

July 24, 2002