Some Shelby County residents view the

removal of former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore as a result of the federal government’s on-going eviction of God from government.

Shelby County leaders such as State Sen. Hank Erwin feel the Alabama Court of the Judiciary acted without authority when it voted unanimously Thursday to remove Moore.

Erwin agrees with Moore in displaying the Ten Commandments in government offices.

&uot;They’re the foundation of our moral law,&uot; Erwin said following Moore’s ouster last Thursday.

Erwin, along with Moore and his team of lawyers, said the Alabama state constitution supports displaying the Ten Commandments in government buildings.

Erwin referred to the preamble to Alabama’s state constitution, written in 1901, as well as the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Erwin also addressed the First Amendment, saying that it bans sanctions of religion by the federal government, but not at the state level. Moore should be saluted, according to Erwin.

&uot;I feel he upheld the oath of his office in a very noble and courageous way,&uot; he said.

State Rep. Cam Ward said people should be concerned over the federal government’s involvement in state decisions, no matter their personal feelings about Moore.

&uot;Whether you agree or disagree with Judge Moore, I’m concerned about federal judges imposing on local decisions,&uot; he said, calling it a &uot;scary trend.&uot;

Ward said the issue of federal judges’ involvement in state decisions is what has made Moore &uot;a national phenomenon.&uot;

Former Alabama Sen. Bill Armistead, who called last Thursday &uot;a dark day for America&uot;, said he agrees with Moore that the commandments belong in court.

&uot;We should have the ability to acknowledge God in our government,&uot; he said.

The Alabama judiciary reacted to the federal court’s rulings and voted to remove Moore, according to Armistead.

He said the federal government will continue to secularize government. Armistead referred to recent court cases involving the removal of ‘under God’ from the Pledge of Allegiance.

&uot;Soon they’ll probably try to take &uot;One Nation Under God&uot; off of our currency,&uot; Armistead said.

&uot;This is just the beginning of tearing down any mention of God in the complex of government.&uot;

One local pastor, Mike Miller of First Baptist Church of Columbiana, shared his mixed feelings about Moore’s removal.

While Miller said he regretted seeing Moore removed, he also said Moore placed himself in a difficult position by ignoring a federal court’s ruling.

&uot;I have mixed emotions. I struggle with that,&uot; Miller said.

&uot;I regretted to see him removed because I believe he was honestly attempting to honor God and live by his convictions as a believer.

&uot;But at the same time, he put himself in a difficult position by not obeying the higher court.&uot;