Atheist Group Urges Fire Dept. to Remove Cross From Fire Station Lawn
ICC Note: The Freedom From Religion Foundation recently issued a letter of complaint regarding a cross on the property of a Georgia fire department. The group asserted that the cross was “blatantly unconstitutional” by serving as a government endorsement of Christianity due to its presence on public property. The group demanded that the cross be removed, although it is not yet clear if or how the fire department intends to respond.
By Garrett Haley
07/10/2017 United States (Christian News Network) – A prominent atheist group is demanding that a fire department in Georgia take down a cross that has stood outside of one of their fire stations for more than a decade.
Catoosa County Fire Department serves a district in far northwestern Georgia, just across the state line from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Outside of the department’s Fire Station 3 in Graysville stands a large cross that is visible from a nearby highway. Imagery from Google Earth shows that the cross has stood there for more than 10 years.
However, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is now demanding that the cross be taken down. In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Wisconsin-based atheist group said they sent a letter to the district’s fire chief, explaining why they believe the cross is “blatantly unconstitutional.”
“The religious significance of the Latin cross is unambiguous and indisputable,” FFRF stated. “An overwhelming majority of federal courts agree that the Latin cross universally represents the Christian religion, and only the Christian religion. And a majority of federal courts have held displays of Latin crosses on public property to be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.”
“The cross displayed at Fire Station 3 unabashedly creates the perception of government endorsement of Christianity,” it added. “It also conveys the message to the 30 percent of Americans who are not Christian, including the 23 percent who are not religious, that they aren’t ‘favored members of the political community,’ to quote the U.S. Supreme Court.”
A local resident reportedly notified the FFRF of the cross, also advising that it includes a Christian message about being saved.