The Collier County Commission voted 4-1 to include the Ten Commandments in historical displays on county property after hours of public comment and commissioner remarks at Tuesday's board meeting.
The displays will be donated by resident Jerry Rutherford and also include the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and U.S. Constitution. Rutherford presented a mock-up of the display, which features the four documents equally sized.
Thirty-nine citizens voiced opinions during public comment, with most speaking against the proposal. Naples resident Paul Howard voiced concern over the use of the laws found in the Bible.
"Collier County belongs to everyone," Howard said. "Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists and others. When the government takes sides in matters of faith, it weakens liberty for all."
Several speakers brought up the interpretations of the Ten Commandments that differ across Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical faiths. Others suggested the inclusion of excerpts of the Five Pillars of Islam to accommodate a range of religious beliefs.
The recommendation, from Commissioner Chris Hall, stated that the Ten Commandments provided a moral foundation that influenced the other documents included. Some questioned this interpretation, citing founding fathers James Madison and Thomas Jefferson on the separation of church and state.
Others in favor of the recommendation shared the belief that the Ten Commandments should be viewed as a historical document rather than a religious one. Collier resident Donna Aden agreed that the Ten Commandments are a blueprint for many historical documents.
"You don't need to be religious to understand them," Aden said. "They help to establish rules of conduct in our society, guidelines on how we govern ourselves, and a set of morals and virtues to pass along to the next generation."
Some residents shared personal stories of the impact the Ten Commandments had on their lives. Some said the Biblical laws instilled values of kindness and honesty. Others noted the appearance of the Ten Commandments on the sculpted frieze of the U.S. Supreme Court.
After more than two hours of public comment in person and online through Zoom, Hall said he had consulted with County Attorney Jeffery Klatzkow on the lawfulness of his recommendation. He said Klatzkow confirmed his belief that the displays would be legal.
"This proposal has nothing to do with religion. Zero, zilch, nada," Hall said. "It has to do with providing something that's historical in our nation based on the founding fathers, their principles, their virtues."
He then quoted a Bible verse, Isaiah 54:17.
Only Commissioner Burt Saunders voted against the motion, citing the Ten Commandments ought to remain in homes and places of worship. The board agreed to leave the decision of how many displays and in which buildings to City Manager Amy Patterson and Klatzkow.
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