Okla. Gov. Says Ten Commandments Monument Will Remain at Capitol Pending Appeal

The hand of the statue of Pope Benedict XV is seen under the cross of the St. Esprit Cathedral in Istanbul November 27, 2006. | (Photo: Reuters/Fatih Saribas)

The governor of Oklahoma announced this week that a stone monument of the Ten Commandments will remain at the state's capitol building pending an appeal against removing the plaque.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin announced Tuesday that the six-foot-tall monument shall remain erected at the Capitol grounds in Oklahoma City while lawmakers have time to appeal a recent Oklahoma state Supreme Court ruling that found the monument to be an unconstitutional use of religion on government property.

"During this process, which will involve both legal appeals and potential legislative and constitutional changes, the Ten Commandments monument will remain on the Capitol grounds," Fallin said in a statement Tuesday, adding that the monument is "a privately funded tribute to historical events, not a taxpayer funded endorsement of any religion, as some have alleged."

Fallin, a Republican, added that the state's attorney general Scott Pruit filed a motion requesting a rehearing of the case by the state Supreme Court.

"Oklahoma is a state where we respect the rule of law, and we will not ignore the state courts or their decisions," Fallin said. "However, we are also a state with three co-equal branches of government."

"At this time, Attorney General Scott Pruitt, with my support, has filed a petition requesting a rehearing of the Ten Commandments case. Additionally, our Legislature has signaled its support for pursuing changes to our state Constitution that will make it clear the Ten Commandments monument is legally permissible," she added. "If legislative efforts are successful, the people of Oklahoma will get to vote on the issue."