Washington D.C., Apr 4, 2008 / 04:40 am
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case in its next term to decide whether a Utah city must allow a monument to be installed in a public park by a New Age group that promotes pyramids, mummification, and sexual ecstasy, Cybercast News Service reports.
This week Supreme Court justices agreed to hear a case involving a Salt Lake City-based religion called Summum, whose founder claims to have been visited by “highly intelligent beings.” The group, arguing on First Amendment grounds, has sought to erect a monument to its “Seven Aphorisms” alongside a monument to the Ten Commandments in a public park in Pleasant Grove, Utah.
Last year the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit upheld a lower court decision forcing the city to permit Summum adherents to install their monument.
Brian Barnard, the Salt Lake City attorney representing Summum, said he expects the high court to uphold the decision.