The Freedom From Religion Foundation has asked the U.S. Forest Service to remove a statue of Christ from the Big Mountain ski resort in Montana. The display has been maintained by the Knights of Columbus, a private group apparently leasing the small plot of land on which the statue stands. After initially deciding to remove it, the Forest Service apparently signalled a willingness to leave it in place, until running into a problem: the law.
[A]s it further analyzes the situation before making a final decision, the agency warned rules and court decisions are stacked against allowing a religious icon on the 25-by-25 foot patch of land.
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"This has huge meaning for Americans. And if you aren't religious it has huge meaning as well," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, with the Madison, Wis.-based group. "If skiers think that it is cute, then put it up on private property. It is not cute to have a state religious association."
Religious symbols are sacred objects of intense personal meaning to many people. Why should the government be hosting an image of Jesus Christ? To turn such an important symbol into a government sign, or a mere civic nicety is to deny its significance. It sounds like a beautiful candidate for private display; on public land, an insult.
