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Freedom Group Protests Cross at Charleston Firehouse
JEFFREY COLLINS
Associated Press Writer
COLUMBIA, S.C. - A group that supports the separation of religion and state wants a cross removed from in front of a Charleston fire station that city officials say honors nine firefighters killed battling a furniture store blaze.
The fight over the cross extends from a battle the Freedom from Religion Foundation had with the city last December when the group complained about a nativity scene in front of the same fire station. Officials added secular decorations, including snowmen, to comply with the law.
Most of the decorations came down by the new year, but the cross stayed up, the city saying it was now a memorial to the firefighters killed in June 2007, said Rebecca Markert, a lawyer for the foundation.
The foundation didn't buy the explanation, sending a letter last week to the city threatening to sue if the cross is not removed because it violates the U.S. Constitution by endorsing a specific religion. The group also said for the past five years the same cross had been removed at the same time as the Christmas items.
"We believe it is a sham to say it is now part of a permanent memorial when before it was being put up and taken down in December as part of Christmas," Markert said Tuesday.
The cross rests near a stone memorial with the names of the nine Charleston firefighters killed as they fought a blaze at the Sofa Super Store.
Lawyers for the city told officials it was a legal display because it is a secular emblem of death.
"The message communicated by the cross is clearly one of honoring fallen firefighters and not of furthering a religious purpose," lawyers for the city said in a news release.
The letter from the foundation gave the city a May 14 deadline to take down the cross.
Related
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Associated Press Writer
COLUMBIA, S.C. - A group that supports the separation of religion and state wants a cross removed from in front of a Charleston fire station that city officials say honors nine firefighters killed battling a furniture store blaze.
The fight over the cross extends from a battle the Freedom from Religion Foundation had with the city last December when the group complained about a nativity scene in front of the same fire station. Officials added secular decorations, including snowmen, to comply with the law.
Most of the decorations came down by the new year, but the cross stayed up, the city saying it was now a memorial to the firefighters killed in June 2007, said Rebecca Markert, a lawyer for the foundation.
The foundation didn't buy the explanation, sending a letter last week to the city threatening to sue if the cross is not removed because it violates the U.S. Constitution by endorsing a specific religion. The group also said for the past five years the same cross had been removed at the same time as the Christmas items.
"We believe it is a sham to say it is now part of a permanent memorial when before it was being put up and taken down in December as part of Christmas," Markert said Tuesday.
The cross rests near a stone memorial with the names of the nine Charleston firefighters killed as they fought a blaze at the Sofa Super Store.
Lawyers for the city told officials it was a legal display because it is a secular emblem of death.
"The message communicated by the cross is clearly one of honoring fallen firefighters and not of furthering a religious purpose," lawyers for the city said in a news release.
The letter from the foundation gave the city a May 14 deadline to take down the cross.
Related
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Jack, you have it completely wrong. I'm defending tolerance, not my particular right to practice whatever religion I happen to practice - or none at all.
I'm also defending the clear Bill of Rights prohibition against government infringing upon the individual's right to freely practice religious belief.
In this case, the symbol happens to be Christian, but the particular religion doesn't matter. The Bill of Rights guarantees "Freedom OF Religion", not "Freedom FROM Religion". Apparently, the group that has CFD in their sights doesn't understand that.
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Well said, Steve.
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That's why I keep reminding the readers to check out Amendment 1 to the Bill of Rights.
Reading what it actually says helps take care of the ignorance on the topic.
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Permalink Reply by Gregory Borg on
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I did not think you were angry, just stating my feelings. Like I said they will do as they want.
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Thanks Ken, You did not offend me. I am an incurable smart ass and am not offended easily. Thank you for the up date on what you meant.
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How on earth can something I write here be stronger than an opinion?
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Well there you go , now I am smarted than I was 5 ago. I still don't like religious emblems on public property. With that said, there is not much i can do about it except have an exchange of ideas.
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Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on
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This should get interesting when Vic wakes up.
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If you had said "I think you should keep your religion out of my firehouse." That would be an opinion.
You framed your statement as a demand..."Keep your religion out of my firehouse"...not as an opinion.
"Demand" in this sense is defined as "To ask for urgently or preemptorily", and "To claim as just or due."
"Opinion", in this sense is defined as "A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof."
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When you said "I am not angry nor do I hold your opinions against you." the implication is that I was angry. Sorry if I misunderstood.
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Jack, you didn't answer the question, either. Care to give it a shot?
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Thank you for the grammar lesson.
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