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Q [Atty. Gen. Pryor:] And your
understanding is that the Federal court ordered that you could not acknowledge
God; isn't that right?
A [Chief Justice Moore:] Yes.
Q And if you resume your duties as Chief Justice after this
proceeding, you will continue to acknowledge God as you have testified that you
would today --
A That's right.
Q -- no matter what
any other official says?
A Absolutely. Without -- let me clarify
that. Without an acknowledgment of God, I cannot do my duties. I must
acknowledge God. It says so in the Constitution of Alabama. It says so in the
First Amendment to the United States Constitution. It says so in everything I
have read. So --
Q The only point I am trying to clarify, Mr.
Chief Justice, is not why, but only that, in fact, if you do resume your duties
as Chief Justice, you will continue to do that without regard to what any other
official says; isn't that right?
A Well, I'll do the same thing
this Court did with starting of prayer; that's an acknowledgment of God. Now, we
did the same say thing that justices do when they place their hand on the Bible
and say, "So help me God." It's an acknowledgement of God. The Alabama Supreme
Court opens with, "God save the State and this Honorable Court." It's an
acknowledgment of God. In my opinions, which I have written many opinions,
acknowledging God is the source -- a moral source of our law. I think you must.