AL Chief Justice Moore to fundamentalists: America 'under attack'

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore continued his campaign against gay marriage in a speech to a fundamentalist Christian group this weekend. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Montomgery, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore told a fundamentalist Christian group this weekend that "America is under attack," and he praised the assembled activists from Operation Save America.

"You know, some told me, 'you know they're a radical group.'" Moore said in a half-hour address Saturday. "I said yeah. They are radical for God."

Moore's half-hour address Saturday comes amid his continuing criticism of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states. AL.com reported that Operation Save America members are spending several days in Alabama to protest against abortion and homosexuality.

According to its website, the Texas-based group believes "our government has been in overt rebellion against the Law of Almighty God since January 22, 1973," date of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that women have a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy.

Moore spent much of his time at the podium, according to AL.com, reciting his oft-repeated arguments that the United States was founded as a Judeo-Christian nation and that the country has since veered from God's will.

"I'm sorry but this country was not founded on Muhammad. It was not founded on Buddha. It was not founded on secular humanism. It was founded on God," Moore said, drawing thunderous applause.

At another point, he said, "Indeed, I think the United States Supreme Court has forgotten what this country is about because if they hadn't they would not be trying to create rights that are not in the Constitution."

Moore has not explicitly called for ignoring the court's ruling, and nearly all Alabama counties have begun issuing marriage licenses to same-gender couples.

Before he took the stage, the group's leader, Rusty Lee Thomas, prayed for Moore as members of the audience surrounded the chief justice and laid their hands upon in a ritual common among some Christian denominations. Thomas asked God's protection as Moore fights the "murder" of abortion and the "federal beast" responsible for legalizing same-sex marriage.

As Moore took the stage, another man at the gathering blew a ram's horn. In the Old Testament, the sounding of a ram's horn or trumpet was used to announce God's coming or call followers to action.

Moore concluded his remarks with a poem he penned himself.

Information from: The Birmingham News, Birmingham, AL.

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The Gayly – July 12, 2015 @ 1:40pm.