CNN News - The Supreme Court Tackles Debate Over Monuments

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CNN ANCHOR: One of the high-profile cases at the Supreme Court this term involves whether a religious group can put a monument in a city park. CNN's Kelli Arena is joining us now from outside the Supreme Court.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: As you said, one of the big cases that the court will be tackling does involve this small religious group in Utah who wanted to build a monument in a public park. The city government said you know, thanks, but no thanks. And the issue here is free speech versus government control.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ARENA (voice-over): They gather inside a pyramid and practice the right of mummification. This small band of worshippers call themselves "Summum."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We believe that all religions are correct to those who are in them.

ARENA: Their philosophy is based on principles known as the seven aphorisms, core beliefs about creationism. It's a message they would like to share.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anything that broadens your perspective has got to be a positive thing.

ARENA: The group, which has about 20 members, wants to donate a monument to the city of Pleasant Grove, which is near Salt Lake City, but the offer was refused.

ARENA (on-camera): This monument has been here nearly 40 years. They want to put their monument with their seven aphorism right where I'm standing. To them the issue was simple. If you allow one religious monument, you've got to allow another.  The mayor of Pleasant Grove says this is not about religion. He says the Sama monument just didn't fit in.

MAYOR MICHAEL DANIELS, PLEASANT GROVE, UTAH: This park is dedicated the to the history of the people, the founding of the city, and significant people that have lived and contributed to the community.

ARENA: The city contends it has a constitutional right to choose which monuments are erected.

JAY SEKULOW, AMERICAN CTR. FOR LAW AND JUSTICE; The idea that because we have a 10 Commandment monument that now you must take the seven aphorisms. That would mean the Statue of Liberty, you would have to take the Statue of tyranny if somebody proposed it.

ARENA: But the Summum say that like it or not, they've got a right to build their monument. Thanks to the first amendment.

BRIAN BARNARD, FOR SUMMUM: We're talking about a public park. If we're talking the front lawn of the city hall where government unquestionably controls and limits speech, that would be different.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARENA: There are thousands of ten commandment monuments put up by private donors around the country in public parks. But believe it or not, we've never gotten a very clear message from the Supreme Court on what's constitutional and what isn't.