Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Sunday predicted that Christians and other people in Florida would deface the first atheist monument to be placed on government property.
In a news release last week, American Atheists President David Silverman explained that a 1,500-pound granite bench was being placed at the Bradford County Courthouse because atheists have often felt like "second-class citizens."
The monument was part of a settlement after Bradford County refused to remove a Ten Commandments monument that was installed at the courthouse.
"Sure it's legal, the question is, is it necessary?" Carlson asked Fox News contributor Father Jonathan Morris. "I thought atheists -- and atheism, of course, is a species of religion -- were against religious monuments on public property."
"You are right, I believe, Tucker, that it's silly," Morris opined. "Why do we have a Ten Commandments there at a federal courthouse? Because of the tradition of law and justice and truth being based also on religious revelation, revelation of what God's will is for us and how we behave."
"So the sad thing in my opinion, is rather than just respecting different people's opinions, this is not what we can call an atheist monument, but rather a Christian protest monument," the Catholic priest continued. "They are protesting the fact that the Ten Commandments are there. I don't find it respectful, I think it's disrespectful."
Fox News co-host Alisyn Camerota observed that Morris should be thankful that a compromise was found that allowed the Ten Commandments monument to remain at the courthouse.
"Yes, I'm glad they did stand up to that," Morris agreed. "However, I think it reveals a silliness, and also the intention of this group. They do not want the Ten Commandments to be allowed. And they're only putting their atheist bench, which is a mockery of the Ten Commandments, in order to prove their point, that they are to be respected in the exact same way, meaning that their views should be able to go against the views of, in this case, the Ten Commandments."
"I have a feeling that bench will be a magnet for graffiti," Carlson predicted mischievously. "Just a guess."
"I hope not," Morris replied.
