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LA TIMES – Another misstep in the fight over crosses

Published On: January 30, 2012|Categories: News|0 Comments|

Selected Article Excerpts:

  • The Supreme Court has long struggled with the question of whether the 1st Amendment prohibits the display of religious symbols on public property, sometimes producing seemingly contradictory decisions. Now the House wants to add to the court’s work. Last week, it approved a bill allowing religious symbols on war memorials. The bill was introduced by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) after the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declared the 43-foot cross atop San Diego’s Mt. Soledad an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.
  • The legislation may seem innocuous on first reading. Its key passage says that “religious symbols may be included as part of … a military memorial that is established or acquired by the United States government.” That language summons images of gravestones in military cemeteries on which a cross (or Star of David or other religious symbol) has been engraved. But such displays are already legal and common. The bill is in fact aimed at something else: structures that a reasonable observer would see as an endorsement of Christianity.
  • However the Supreme Court rules, members of Congress have their own obligation to abide by the 1st Amendment’s ban on government establishment of religion. The bill passed by the House would put Congress’ imprimatur on displays on public property that give preference to a single religion. The Senate should reject it.

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