NATCHEZ &045;&045; The Ten Commandments monument has been moved, but the movement is far from over, a Natchez pastor predicted Friday as he described his own pilgrimages to Montgomery, Ala., to take part in peaceful protests.

&uot;I’m not an activist as a rule,&uot; said the Rev. Ray Holland, pastor at Trace City Baptist Church for about 13 years and in the ministry for 25 years. &uot;I’ve always considered myself more of a counselor-pastor, a shepherd to the people in my own church. But this was really an injustice to people of faith and had the makeup of meaning to suppress Christian liberty.&uot;

The crisis in Montgomery centers on a 5,280-pound stone monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments, placed in the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial

Building by the state’s Chief Justice Roy Moore.

A federal judge ruled in 2002 that the monument was in violation of the U.S. Constitution, which bans the promotion of religion by a government entity. Moore refused to move the monument, however, despite the ruling by others on the state’s high court in favor of the federal court decision.

On Wednesday, the monument was moved to another part of the building to a less prominent room. Holland saw it before it was moved, however, and said the rotunda was an appropriate location for it.

&uot;The monument fit its surroundings. It was not obtrusive. It looked like it belonged there,&uot; he said. &uot;It made a statement about our heritage, about our legal heritage in this land.&uot;

Now, he said, even if the monument were moved back into its original place, the harm has been done. &uot;People will not be satisfied until the federal courts are reined in from their rulings against people of faith,&uot; he said.

Holland had been keeping up with the story unfolding in Montgomery when he realized 10 days ago that he felt called to go and take part in the vigil. He and his wife traveled to Montgomery and arrived in time for the 7 p.m. prayer service on Aug. 21. &uot;We felt we were needed. We wanted to give support and to align ourselves with the Christians over there in the battle,&uot; he said.

The couple returned Saturday, and, on Sunday, he reported the trip to his congregation. A member of his congregation accompanied him on the second three-day mission to Montgomery.

&uot;I had never been to a rally or protest and I didn’t know what we could do or should do, but I felt this was where preachers should be,&uot; Holland said. &uot;We were stirred by all the preaching and singing. And Ambassador Alan Keyes spoke to us about the Constitution and what it has to say in support of religious liberty.&uot;

People of faith should be concerned about the history of attacks against their religious beliefs and customs during the past 40 years, Holland said. &uot;This has been going on for a long time. This is finally enough,&uot; he said. &uot;Today this is the spirit of this grass-roots movement that is blessed by the spirit of God.&uot;

That the monument showcases the Ten Commandments is not the point. If it had been a different biblical excerpt, the reaction would have been the same. &uot;It’s not the Ten Commandments. It’s not the monument. It’s not even the judge,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s that we have to stand firm because we do not know where it will end. Next time it may be crosses in our church yards or steeples on our churches.&uot;

Now the events in Montgomery have led to a cause that is widely supported, Holland said. &uot;I’ll probably go back to Montgomery when there is a need. Christians should see and feel what God is doing there.&uot; Holland believes the Montgomery incident is pivotal to future religious freedom in America. &uot;I believe this has the possibility of becoming a watershed event, affecting not only what happens in Alabama but across the country,&uot; he said. &uot;This is a part of a rapid movement by the courts to remove any reminder of God in every public building.&uot;

The movement today can be compared to the Reformation, he said. &uot;To me it is much like the Reformation, when Martin Luther felt individual spiritual liberties were jeopardized.&uot;

As for now suspended Chief Justice Moore, Holland sensed only sincere conviction in the man at the center of the controversy. &uot;I sensed nothing arrogant. This man has had this same conviction since childhood. I believe he stood up for what he believes.&uot;