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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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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 Gregory Borg on
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You were correct, my opinion. I think I am entitled to one as you are.
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You are correct again, it depends on which side you are on. One mans freedom fighter is another's terrorists. Of course the city flys the flag at the Station, do not have them on our uniforms, don't know why, the question has never come up.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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Ben,
In the same way that bryan lamb seems to think atheist beliefs are being crammed down his throat. Funny how you don't challenge him on that but then, you and I have been down this road before.
As for the narrow viewpoint, please read me entire reply to bryan, the narrow viewpoint was, in my opinion that of many that have responded to this discussion. It's rather disappointing that you only choose to make a point as it relates to someone's religious views yet you didn't bother to address or respond to anything else I said in the above reply. As I've said, we've been down this road before.
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ah but that would be political repression, not religious repression that Gregory was referring to.
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Thank you John.
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I agree with you on your points. Obviously the people in Charleston will do as they wish. I, like you was just giving my opinion, I did not ask for anyone to agree with it, although some did. You have a different view of religion than I do. But my efforts every shift are to see that our firefighters all go home and do a professional and caring job when they go out the door. That never changes.
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I have a real job, Fire Lieutenant, SFD.
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Permalink Reply by Ken Lees on
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There is a certain level of professionalism that is expected of all firefighters.
In fact in Ontario, Canada, one of curriculum requirements is an essay on what "Professionalism" is, and what does it mean to be "Professional".
This topic has veering more and more into secularism, and more and farther away from what the Cross at the Fire Station is there for.
While the cross may have some religious meaning to some religions, in this case it is being use to honor the nine Firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty.
Don't take that away from them and their families. Quit making this into a war over religion.
The Fire Service is not the place or the forum for it.
Nine Firefighters died. Don't desecrate their memorial. We are all in this together, regardless of our religious views. By attacking the memorial, you are attacking every firefighter in every city, state, province and country.
Show respect for our fallen. Honor them, and stand together as we were meant to do.
Our fight is not one of good against evil or bad. Our fight is against fire. Our fight is to save lives.
I would like to think that when I enter a burning building with another firefighter, that regardless of what his/her religious views are, that I can trust them with my life, as much as they can trust theirs with mine.
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It is un-American to protest dissent. We do not all have to think alike.
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First off Ken, there are no idiots, just people with a different opinion than you. Second no one on this blog has asked to have it down, they just gave their opinion of it. Third all have shown and called for respect for our fallen, read all of the blog. Third, they are practicing the freedom of expression. I don't know what you mean by antics, I am a firefighter and I have no idea what you are saying is my fault?
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Wow.
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