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But it is precisely Moore's flamboyant tactics that have made some fellow conservative Christians concerned he could damage the larger cause. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case--and some who support his overall goal but reject his methods think that is just as well. "A chief justice should understand that the rule of law requires obedience even to orders a government official disagrees with," argues Terry Eastland, a conservative Christian intellectual and publisher of the Weekly Standard. "The interesting question is why Moore disobeyed the order when resignation was a compelling alternative. After all, resignation would have served the demands of conscience and the rule of law."
Moore, 56, a West Point grad who writes patriotic poetry, says he is not sure what he will do next. "I just lost my job yesterday. I haven't had time to breathe. I'm just trying to relax and get oriented." In his case, this involved six national morning shows, some radio and print interviews and perhaps a glance at the book offers and speaking invitations that are steadily rolling in. --Reported by Paige Bowers/Atlanta, Elaine Shannon/Washington and Frank Sikora/Birmingham