Meaning: The quote you provided is from Roy Moore, a former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. This quote references two separate controversial issues that Moore was involved in during his tenure as a judge. The first issue is his removal from office, and the second issue is the removal of the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Judicial Building.

Roy Moore rose to national prominence in the early 2000s for his staunch conservative views and his insistence on displaying the Ten Commandments in government buildings. In 2003, Moore defied a federal court order to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Judicial Building, leading to his removal from office as Chief Justice.

The first part of the quote, "Well, that's the - the removal from office," refers to the legal and ethical controversies that surrounded Moore's refusal to comply with the court order to remove the monument. It reflects his perspective on the events that led to his removal from the position of Chief Justice.

The second part of the quote, "and removal of the Ten Commandments were two different issues," addresses the distinction Moore makes between these two issues. While his removal from office and the removal of the Ten Commandments from the judicial building were connected in terms of their impact on his career, Moore emphasizes that they were separate legal and constitutional matters.

Moore's stance on the public display of the Ten Commandments and his refusal to obey the court order reflected his deeply held beliefs about the role of religion in public life. His actions sparked a national debate about the separation of church and state, with supporters lauding him as a defender of religious freedom and opponents criticizing him for violating the principles of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

The quote encapsulates Moore's perspective on these contentious issues and underscores his unwavering commitment to his principles, even in the face of legal and political consequences. It also highlights the complexity of the intersection between religion, law, and governance in the United States, particularly in the context of public displays of religious symbols in government spaces.

In conclusion, Roy Moore's quote captures his response to the controversies surrounding his removal from office and the removal of the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Judicial Building. It provides insight into his perspective on these issues and the underlying principles that guided his actions. The quote serves as a reminder of the ongoing debates about the separation of church and state and the boundaries of religious expression in the public sphere.