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However, with more than 40 people in attendance -- including one wearing a sign that read that "those against the Ten Commandments are for murder, adultery, theft, jealously, envy and insubordination" -- all three commissioners also made comments aimed at toning down the religious fervor that has sometimes characterized the debate.
"It is important for Chester County to remain diverse both religiously and ethnically. ..It is not 1920 anymore and we need to respect that diversity," said Commissioner Andrew Dinniman. "We need to be respectful of citizens that come from other parts of the world and other faiths. As we seek to preserve our heritage, let us do our best to preserve tolerance and mutual respect for one another."
Commissioner Colin Hanna agreed, but added that he believed that U.S. District Judge Stewart Dalzell's decision and similar court decisions have strayed too far from the original intent of the First Amendment.
"There is a good chance that this case may find its way to knocking on the door of the Supreme Court," Hanna said.
The commissioners also discussed considering whether posting other documents that serve as a basis for the country's system of law would strengthen the county's case to keep displaying the plaque.
The decision to appeal went over well with those in attendance.
With a standing-room-only crowd, which forced department heads to stand in the hall, Brenda Anglin, state director for the Concerned Women for America of Pennsylvania, an advocacy group of conservative women that promotes Biblical values with 170 county members, applauded the commissioners' decision.
"This past week, out of pretense of promoting tolerance, the Ten Commandments were singled out for censorship here in Chester County.The attempt -- in the name of tolerance -- is that we should sacrifice the character and values, which the Ten Commandments describe," said Anglin.
Pocopson resident and atheist Sally Flynn, whoserved as lead plaintiff for the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia in the lawsuit against the county, said she was disappointed by the decision.
"I feel bad that the majority of Chester County citizens are not willing to understand that this whole issue is about religious neutrality," Flynn said. "Chester County's religious health and freedom will be restored when the plaque comes down."
George Kelley, a volunteer legal advisor for the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia, said the commissioners are appealing to appease their vocal religious constituents.
"It's political pandering. I think the commissioners are aware that a large and vocal element of the community doesn't understand the reasons behind the separation of church and state," Kelley said. "If they go against the will of that group, their chances of winning in the next election would be slim. So politically, it's to their advantage to oppose the court's decision."
Last Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that the Ten Commandments plaque posted outside the courthouse is unconstitutional and must be removed.
In the decision, issued just one day after the conclusion of a trial between a local atheist group and the Chester County commissioners, U.S. District Judge Stewart Dalzell rejected the county's argument that the 82-year-old plaque served a secular and historic purpose.
In March 1920, the commissioners authorized the county's acceptance of the plaque from the Council of Religious Education of Federated Churches of West Chester.
All known members of the council were clergy or members of mainline Protestant denominations, according to court documents.
In August 2001, members of the Freethought Society asked the commissioners to remove the plaque from the building. The commissioners did not.
The society filed suit in October 2001, claiming that the plaque's placement violated the Constitution's First and Fourteenth Amendments. County officials replied that it served a secular purpose as a historical monument representing the roots of American law.
"People always say, what's the harm.Well, here's the harm: last year, there was a very large anti-choice rally that used the plaque to condemn the opposition," Kelley said. "Here's a plaque on a building which is suppose to symbolize the power of authority and the legitimacy of the state.And the fact that people use this plaque to put down others is unjust, unfair and not American."
