The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is, once again, going after a memorial aimed at commemorating American lives lost in a combat zone. A Vietnam display in a park in Coos Bay, Ore., is the latest target of atheist activists who are committed to church-state separatism.
The memorial is comprised of a cross design, with a placard on its base. As is typically the case when a religious symbol is included in a memorial, the FFRF is claiming that the cross’ presence is unconstitutional.
As KCBY-TV reports, the atheist organization recently sent a letter to City Manager Rodger Craddock, calling out the cross as problematic and charging that it is an “endorsement of Christianity over other religions and over nonreligion.” The FFRF wants it immediately removed from the park.
“It is unlawful for Coos Bay to display a patently religious symbol such as a Christian cross on public property,” the letter reads, in part.
Currently, the city is reviewing its options.
“The city received it (the letter) and we passed it off to our city attorney to review that and relevant case law,” Craddock told the CBS affiliate. “Obviously these issues are happening around the nation.”
Photo Credit: KCBY-TV
The memorial has been in the park since 1972. It was originally sponsored by Western Bank and the Bay Area Jaycees.
The FFRF is giving the city an ultimatum: Either change the design or move the cross to private property to avoid a lawsuit. Residents will discuss the situation at an April 2 public meeting.
Atheist activists have frequently taken on war memorials, claiming that crosses and other religious symbols are unconstitutional when these commemorative displays are assembled on public property. A similar case was waged last year in Rhode Island.
(H/T: KCBY-TV)
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Comments (191)
David-FL
Mar. 22, 2013 at 11:05amPlacing a cross is not mandating [you] become a Christian. The Constitution protects the free excercise of religion. After all, there is the Ten Commandments on the Capitol. Also, the Capitol was used by seven Congregations as a Church when it was initially built. Our first schools were specifically constructed to teach people to read – their BIBLES!
You don’t want to believe, don’t. But leave others to their beliefs you fascist bas-turds!
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Sytic
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:46amHere’s an idea that makes sense (Government, quickly avert your gaze!!!) Take the land that has the ‘offensive material’ and sell it (or donate it) to the local Veterans agency. That way, it’s private property and they can tell the overly pushy atheists to go screw themselves.
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Senior Viking
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:45amGo after the atheists. Burn crosses on their lawns.
Fear works wonders.
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CPLGEORGE
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:43amSell the piece of ground the memorial is on to an organization such as the American Legion, or VFW, than lease it back to the city.
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spirited
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:38amHave they gone after “God Bless” yet?
“God Bless you”
“God Bless our Service men and women”
“God Bless America”?
~>How will President Obama end his many speeches?
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spirited
Mar. 22, 2013 at 11:01amLQQK out:
The Star Spangled Banner (National Anthem)
Battle Hymn Of The Republic
My Country, ‘Tis of Thee (aslo called “America”)
America The Beautiful
Over There
>Will songs that include or make referece to God and ‘religion’ be requested –banned, or edited?
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Rayblue
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:36amSatan’s gonna hit you over the head with a lava lamp atheists.
It’s in the book.
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samurai2112
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:26amWant to help? Donate to the Alliance Defense Fund at Alliance Defending Freedom dot org. They are the ones that will fight with the City of Coos Bay if they decide to fight to keep their monument. They are the ones taking the fight to the ACLU and have won cases that is helping to reverse these types of lawsuits further defining what is really meant by the separation of Church and State by our founders.
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OneTermPresident
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:23amThis group is based out of Madison Wisconsin from where they attack any and all forms of Religion in all fifty states. I wish the God fearing people of Wisconsin would organize a peaceful protest at their headquarters in Madison. Just to stand up for… Freedom of Religion…. ” or prohibiting the free exercise thereof “
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toledofan
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:21amEnough, if they don’t like it don’t look at it, period. This, along with every other attempt to block any reference to Jesus or God from our land is just another attempt by the left to let everyone have what the want regardless of the consequences just because it makes somebody feel good. What a bunch of hogwash, again, if you don’t like the cross don’t look at it, if you don’t believe that’s you’re perogative, but, don’t tell me and the vast majority we should bow to your trivial pursuit. I just wonder how many of these folks would complain if there were stautes of Mohammad all over the place?
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FLOWNOVERandFORGOTTEN
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:19amReligion dfn.
“personal beliefs or values: a set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that somebody lives by”
Atheism by definition is a religion and I want freedom from them.
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ComradeJ
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:16amJust a reminder – Atheism is Religion.
As such it is not about “separation of church and state” (the phrase in itself twisted out on of the Jefferson’s letters). It is about replacing Christianity with religion of atheism.
P.S.: yes I know atheist have been brainwashed not to think of atheism as a religion. That doesn’t change anything.
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maggiepie
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:15amTo FFRF,
Why don’t all of you get a life. If you don’t believe in anything, why does this cross bother you?
You must really fear these symbols of faith, because deep down inside you feel guilty for turning
your back on whatever faith you raised on. So, because you feel guilty, everyone has to suffer.
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101stIraqVet
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:23amMaggie, don’t let these clowns fool you. They aren’t afraid of the cross, they just have attention w-h-o-r-e disorder.
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OneTermPresident
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:10amAtheists… nothing more than Communists hiding under another name. Much like the New Socialist Party of America…. They call themselves Democrats.
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BlasberryStrat
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:09amI give credit to U.S. citizens and HOPE they understand that Gaylor is not just taking our symbol of religion here. She’s also trying to wipe clean our history, pride, and dedication of freedom to the fallen soldier.
And Gaylor’s head looks like a penis.
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BlasberryStrat
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:02amThe United States citizens have put up with the take over of our rights and freedoms. Galor and these atheists have had free reign to take our freedom OF religion and beyond to where ALL of us are “afraid” to even state we are Christian. Crimes against our rights and freedoms are over. Standing firm doesn’t work. Contacting officials and lawyers doesn’t work. Evil has taken our schools, Government, and children, and there is zero “we” can legally do about it. Frankly I’m surprised at the number of “momma grizzly’s” in this Country that blow their heads if there child is so much as looked at, but will not do a damm thing about their child’s mind being raped by Gaylor and these people. Mom’s – you’re kind of embarrassing.
“The religious symbol makes “them” “uncomfortable”. A marble Cross is not “discomfort”. Maybe these people need a lenghty and in depth lesson on what “discomfort” really is.
And Gaylor’s head looks like a penis.
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TheGrtDcptn
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:01amThere are no, and will not be one atheist in the Lord’s Kingdom…
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Locked
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:31amThat… kinda goes without saying, right?
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TheGrtDcptn
Mar. 22, 2013 at 11:23amWith the current state of the world, NO, it is not a given. There are way too many lost souls…
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RaydocX
Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:59amsome legal scholar needs to push to roll back the impediments to religion the atheists have been pushing for the last 4 decades…
SEPARATION is not Exclusion.
Recognition is not endorsement.
the nation has never mandated prayer to any God.
prayer in schools was voluntary.
activist atheists need to pull on their big girl panties and recognize it is not the responsibility of other people to make them feel comfortable or good about themselves… don’t like a cross… Don’t look at it. But recognize that such aversion is uncharacteristic… I do not spasm and turn away from a host of symbols and statements i see each day with which i do not agree.
the actions of activist atheists today are an attempt to limit religious freedom. period. That is in direct contradiction to the purpose and intent of the separation clause. And any constitutional judge should be able to recognize that and step on these attempts… any judge willing to play their games should be made to answer why they are operating contrary to the Constitution.
for three decades or more public schools have abandoned the momentary reminder to school kids with the Pledge that they are part of a larger whole. That has contributed to the unraveling of society. My only compromise with radical atheists would be to remove ‘under God’ from the pledge… it was not always there… and return it to the classroom. By now, the teachers need that daily reminder, too.
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FLOWNOVERandFORGOTTEN
Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:51amIt would be illegal to make everyone that enters the park take to their knees and pray to Jesus. It is not illegal to display a cross or any other religious or secular symbol on public property. The thing that kills me is that the cross means absolutely nothing to an atheist but they go through so much trouble trying to make it go away so it doesn’t intimidate them.
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dont-care-anymore
Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:49amso atheists believe in nothing ….nothing is everywhere…. they have theirs, why cant i have mine?
this is discrimination in the highest order non religion is being forced down our throats
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VetMike
Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:43amThe Constitution states “freedom of religion” not “freedom from religion” If atheists don’t like it too bad. Probably no-one that lived in Coos Bay complained. The FFRF just goes around looking for a fight. No different than any school yard bully.
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101stIraqVet
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:01amAthiests remind me of the Westboro Baptist clan. They’ll do anything for attention and relevance.
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Sharon Rose
Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:42amEvil rearing its ugly head, again.
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NinjaJuice
Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:41amI am offended by these Atheist Liberal pukes. They have to be a Lib to always want to get rid or ban things they don’t see it fitting their views.
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Chuckji
Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:33amOnce and for all, we have to battle this in the words of the constitution, We the people are protected from the Government instituting a Religion on us. Having a memorial on public property which has a Cross is not the Government preaching any Religion. It happens to be Letting the Citizens practice there own religions as they see fit. If the Judges and the Lawyers would grasp what the Constitution is actually stating they would put a stop to these frivolous lawsuits by this Hateful group of people.
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no1hd
Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:29amTell this minority – NO. The majority is being over run by the liberal courts and thugs like the atheist groups. Why not declare any memorial or public display not having any symbols of a religion be atheist and not allowed. Have them prove there is no God, not just one they are destined to not meet by their denial.
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Moozmom
Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:25amI believe the problem is the law is that the government cannot infringe on religion, not the other way around. Any religious symbol and any reigious speech is allowed and legal in any government building and on any government property at any time, regardless of who is “offended”. Regular church services were held in the Whitehouse rotunda for years. It’s only because the religious among us allowed themselves to be beaten by nonbelievers that we have the current religious climate.
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WarMunger_Al
Mar. 22, 2013 at 9:37amThese atheists need their legs broken. Their only purpose is to infringe on the rights of everybody else. If they can’t show harm, they should have no case.
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biohazard23
Mar. 22, 2013 at 10:05amThese atheists are a bunch of whiny playground bullies. Apparently they failed to grow emotionally past the age of 11 and think that playing these petulant little games is fun. This is their version of stealing some kid’s lunch money and threatening to stuff him in a locker if he fails to comply to their whiny demands.
No, not ALL atheists, just this merry band of litigious fools.
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