An atheist activist group is demanding
the city of Findlay, Ohio, remove a Bible-themed mural from a municipal
building. But local officials are
fighting back.
The Wisconsin-based Freedom From
Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a cease-and-desist letter to “Flag City, USA,”
on February 1st, threatening to sue the city of Findlay, Ohio over the
“unconstitutional” wall art that “conveys government support for religion.” The mural, painted in 2011 by a group of
local artists to symbolize protection for the community, features a reference
to Psalm 91, reading – “Under His wings shall you find refuge.” Cathy Schock, the local artist who directed
the project, told FoxNews she hoped
the mural would have brought the community together, not cause a rift.
While the FFRF said it received a
complaint from a “concerned citizen,” city officials said they’ve never heard
any objection to the Christian art. Nevertheless,
the FFRF wants the mural removed because it’s on public property. “The city needs to remove it,” Rebecca
Markert, the legal director for the FFRF, said. “This is government property, and it doesn’t
belong there.”
But Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik is
fighting back against the FFRF’s demands: “Maybe the Atheist Club in Madison,
Wisconsin, has nothing better to worry about but our mural in Findlay. But our community is strong because we have
belief. We believe in a power greater
than ourselves that promises a brighter day is ahead despite our individual
struggles. In our community we have many
people who practice many faiths and believe many things. I celebrate those elements of my community and
refuse to apologize for it.” Mihalik
said the city would only remove the mural if someone with legal authority tells
it to take it down.
The time has long passed for people of
faith to stand up to these atheist ‘bullies’ who use the same old tactics in
twisting the 1st amendment of the Constitution.
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
Just who might that "legal authority" be? It's not the local sheriff, not the chief of police, not some federal judge, not even the supreme court. It certainly isn't congress or the president. I'm sure some judge THNKS he has the authority but can he tell me from where that authority might come from? Wouldn't it have to be a power delegated or bestowed from somewhere? It's time to let the FFRF and judges know that they don't get to decide for the rest of us.
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