Cross monuments with some form of government sponsorship are winding their way through the court system amid church-state challenges. There are crosses memorializing veterans, crosses marking fallen state troopers, crosses so large they make Roy Moore's 1-ton Ten Commandments slab look tiny in comparison, and crosses that sit on properties too small to even stand on, now that the government has tried to give away the offending piece. The decisions moving these cases forward are equally diverse, from orders to remove crosses for improperly establishing religion to the judge in Utah who insists crosses are no longer even religious symbols.
As you can see, I have a hard time keeping all these cases straight. You know who doesn't? James Gibson, the Staff Counsel for the Baptist Joint Committee. In the newest issue of the BJC's Report From the Capital, he offers a rundown of the high-profile cross challenges still pending, and ponders some important questions – like the one I stole from him for the headline to this post – that may contribute to their outcome. It's a great read to prepare for this likely next frontier in government religious displays.
While you're at it, you can view the entire April issue of Report (pdf) here, or subscribe and have it delivered to your home! To sign up for your free subscription, send your name and mailing address to [email protected] .
