Biblical plaques removed from Grand Canyon

Biblical plaques removed from Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON — The National Park Service has removed plaques containing biblical psalms from the Grand Canyon after determining that they were unconstitutional.

The Department of Interior decided that the plaques — quoting Psalm 68:4, 66:4 and 104:24 — were inappropriate for federal public facilities, said Maureen Oltrogge, spokeswoman for the Grand Canyon National Park. The three bronze plaques — which included praises to God and admiration of creation — have been removed from Hermit’s Rest, Desert View Tower and Lookout Studio, popular viewing areas for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the Associated Press reported.

The plaques had been on display for more than three decades, but letters of concern and a recent inquiry by the Arizona American Civil Liberties Union caused park officials to review the matter. The park service decided, however, that one of the main trails down into the canyon may still be called Bright Angel and a number of canyon formations can still have names of Hindu gods.