Relatives of mine in Utah inform me that many Mormons are rallying around the cross in their efforts to stop the expulsion of religious symbols by an atheist group. Since the cross is not the preferred LDS way of remembering Jesus and does not adorn LDS buildings, I am proud of the support for the cross that Utahns are offering.
The story involves the traditional use of crosses to mark the spot on a road where a person was killed. In this case, it’s the State Highway Patrol that has marked 14 sites where their officers have been killed. American Atheists, Inc. is suing. Somehow, marking sites with crosses is supposed to be an appalling violation of civil liberties.
Frankly, I think we should all pitch in with donations for the atheists behind this suit. If we gave them a bucket of cash, they could get out more often and go someplace like Washington, D.C., where they might notice that crosses are used in places like Arlington National Cemetery [note: they are typically engraved on markers], that references to God are inscribed in national monuments, that at least some Federal inaugurations are done using the Bible, etc. And with that bucket of cash, they might notice that “In God We Trust” has long been part of US currency and coins. Maybe they would recognize just how out of touch they are with America and the real intent of our Constitution: to protect religious liberty, not stamp it out. On the other hand, if they are incensed by 14 obscure crosses scattered around Utah, they might just suffer instant cardiac arrest upon seeing thousands of crosses on Federal land at Arlington.
Related stories: “Rally to oppose atheists on cross issue” from the Deseret News, and “Another Atheist Cross To Bear” from KOMO TV. Also see Lee Benson’s commentary, “Atheists Are Crossed Up Over Crosses.
Jeff, unfortunately, if this bunch got hold of a bucket of cash they would use it to destroy every cross at Arlington National Cemetery, erase every reference to God in every national monument, issue restraining orders against using the Bible in an inaugural, and have “In God We Trust” removed from all currency and government structures. All this right after they chop down and burn the national Christmas tree. I think we’d better just do all we can to keep them poor.
I’ve been searching the Constitution for some time now, and I still haven’t found the “right not to be exposed to the views of others” clause.
Jeff, there’s a big problem here and though it makes you angry, the overarching point is valid.
The Utah Highway Patrol, a government agency, chose to use a religious symbol as their memorial. A government agency can’t do that.
Arlington is a red herring because the only time a religious symbol is added to a tombstone there is if a family requests it. There are also many choices to reflect the religious diversity of those buried there. Those are perfectly reasonable accommodations of religious faith.
The UHP didn’t consult surviving families to ask what they’d like for a memorial, nor did they provide alternatives for fallen officers who weren’t Christian (let alone some LDS officers, an assumed majority, who might prefer a symbol more associated with Mormonism than Catholicism). Everyone got a cross because that’s what UHP chose.
Itbugaf’s sarcastic point about the “right not to be exposed to the views of others” is a mischaracterization of the issue. Atheists aren’t complaining because they hate crosses. They’re complaining because a government agency is using a religious symbol as their publicly-funded memorial. Note that this isn’t a lawsuit to eliminate privately-funded crosses from the public view on private land. Such a lawsuit would be laughed out of court.
If you want to be upset with someone, focus on the boneheads at UHP who didn’t stop to think that a government agency using a recognized religious symbol in a public memorial was a bad idea.
ltbugaf’s point about the right not to be exposed to the views of others is not in the least sarcastic. Nor is it a mischaracterization. These groups sue school districts claiming that their children are HARMED by sitting at a graduation ceremony where someone else offers a prayer. They also claim they are HARMED by having a government agency use a cross. There is no harm.
It’s not strictly an issue of harm. It’s an issue of authority. The government has no authority to force a religious symbol on anyone, even in a case where we might welcome the symbol.
Even if the idea of harm was brought up in the rhetoric, the ultimate ruling is based on whether or not the government agency violates the Constitution with their entanglement in religion. That is obviously the case with the UHP.
The mischaracterization is to say that the underlying Constitutional issue is the “right to not be exposed to the views of others.” It makes it easy for you to demonize those who press the issue. The fact remains that the one who has violated the Constitution here is the UHP and to ostracize atheists for pointing it out is neither fair nor Christlike. We can do better.
There’s no mischaracterization at all. Athiests have repeatedly stated that they believe that “freedom of religion” also entails “freedom from religion”. That is patently false. There is no freedom from religion any more than there is a freedom from Libertarians or freedom from fat people.
American Athiests is poorly named, however. They’re not so much anti-religion as they are anti-Christian. The memorials are for deceased officers who were of a Christian background, clearly. Do you think that if a jewish trooper were killed that they would put a cross there? And would the AA’s be suing because of the symbol of a Star of David on a roadside? Not likely.
Athiests apparently can’t read. The Constitution clearly states that Congress shall make no laws affecting the establishment of religion. It doesn’t say that the government (especially a state government, I should add) cannot memorialize its deceased officers with a religious symbol. No such symbol would imply an endorsement of a state religion.
That this is happening in Utah makes the point even stronger. We as Latter-day Saints are the predominate faith in Utah (even though I’m in Georgia). We don’t use the cross as a symbol. The UHP IS using a cross, the symbol of a minority (protestatism) religion there. Are we to infer by the AA’s suit that the UHP is attempting to establish protestantism as a state religion? Ridiculous.
That’s the essence of the establishment clause. The government can’t set up a state religion. Memorializing dead people isn’t doing that.
Tell you what. Go to your state legislature and see if you can pass a law that says that, since we don’t have freedom from religion, all citizens of your state must declare allegiance to some religion. Guess how far it would go.
There wouldn’t be much freedom in our freedom of religion if it didn’t include the freedom to choose not to worship.
You and I have freedom of religion. The government does not. The government is proscribed from matters of religion, either pro or con.
Your argument about the establishment clause has been tried before and has failed. Just last year the Supreme Court unanimously re-affirmed that the establishment clause is as Jefferson called it, a wall of separation between church and state. That includes UHP using a religious symbol as it’s memorial.
Chad Too: If you can, please fill me in on some more of the details.
1. Do you know for a fact that any of the families of the deceased officers objected to the cross on the roadside memorial for their loved one?
2. Are any of those families supporting or joining the AA Inc. suit against the UHP?
3. Would AA Inc. be satisfied and withdraw the suit if the UHP sought permission from the next-of-kin of each officer, and removed the cross from the memorial of each officer whose next-of-kin did not consent?
If the federal gov’t can put religious symbols on the memorials or graves of soldiers (IE. at Arlington) with the consent of the next-of-kin, I think it would be congruent for a state government to do likewise.
What do I want on my tombstone? I think I’d like 4 symbols included: the star of David, the cross, a crescent with star, and a silhouette of Moroni blowing his trumpet. That would cover the bases and confuse people.
And as my epitaph, I think I’d like “See ya later, alligator.”
It’s really pretty funny to hear that, in Utah, the dominant religion is trying to impose its icon — the cross — on a minority of unbelievers. You have to know little or nothing about Mormonism to buy that line.
The fact is that the cross has become a generic symbol for deaths — it’s routinely used, for example, after the name of a deceased person on lists of editors, etc. — and it’s routinely used, on maps, to as a generic marker to indicate the location of a place of worship even where that place of worship belongs to a religious tradition that doesn’t use the cross in its iconography [e.g., for a Latter-day Saint chapel or temple]).
When I’m driving along and see a cross on the roadside, I instantly know that somebody died there. This occurrence of the cross to mark the cite of a fatality is extremely common. The cross is an immediately recognizable visual symbol for death, irrespective of theological specifics, and I can’t imagine what other symbol one could substitute that would do the job anywhere near half so well.
A letter writer to the Deseret News pointed out that the grave markers in Arlington are not crosses. I did notice some pictures of monuments that are in the shape of crosses, though they seem to be rare. I’ve never been to Arlington; I’m basing my information on the photo galery at their web site.
The grave markers at Arlington have crosses, or other religious symbols, inscribed on them. The grave markers at several other military cemeteries are actually shaped as crosses or other religious symbols.
I have 2 comments:
1. Highway 10 in Wisconsin had a large number of fatalities. the crosses put up were ordered take down as they caused a traffic hazard because people were looking at them instead of the road.
2. How would we feel if the people with the crosses put up satanic symbols—-such as a large “upside down” cross?
1. That is orthogonal to the stated issue. The issue is whether it is a church/state issue not whether they are a hazard.
2. If it is a legitimate sign for their religion then they should be able to use it. Of course, I would hope that someone wouldn’t take advantage of anothers death as an excuse to erect a symbol for the sole purpose of offending others.
come on, where will this Church/State thing end? Do kids have to get suspended from school for saying “God” before we draw the line?
The crosses on the side of the road are for the fallen officers who risk their lives day in and day out for you, the tax payers, safety. Those people gave their lives for their jobs, and your safety. AA needs to have a little respect in this issue. To demand a cross is taken down because you think the state is imposing a religion is tasteless. Have some respect for the fallen and their families and let it go!! Until the government puts a cross on your private property, I hardly think they are constituting a state religion.
one more thing. AA doesn’t think it is right that the crosses were put up with tax payers dollars. Come on, I can’t even count on two hands everytime the government uses my money for things I don’t agree with.
I guess my point is, can’t we all just get along? can’t we all just act like rational polite people? if you don’t like it, do what i do everytime i see an “adult studio” billboard littering the highway, look away.
-MI LDS
Bookslinger, you’re placing the burden in the wrong place. It is up to the UHP to show that they were only following the wishes of the deceased’s families if you’re hoping to show that the crosses were merely an accommodation. There has been nothing put out by the UHP indicating that they interviewed the families before creating their monuments.
Whether any of the families have joined the lawsuit is irrelevant. The slight is against the Constitution, not the families.
As far as getting permission now is concerned, I hope you’re not arguing a forgiveness-rather-than permission approach to our civil liberties. I don’t know how a judge would rule on that because it’s clear from the get-go that UHP was going to use crosses as their memorial regardless. The violation has already happened.
Daniel Peterson: The cross as a memorial is far from universal. You’re not likely to find a cross on the tombstones of non-Christians and even some Christians. I don’t recall any of my LDS grandparents with crosses on their headstones.
As to the symbology, there *is* a universal symbol, at least among US law enforcement, and that’s a badge with a black ribbon across it. We could have avoided all this snarking back and forth if UHP had gone that direction.
qhunt, two things:
Those officers didn’t work just for Christians. They gave their lives for the law; is it too much to expect UHP would follow it in their memorial?
As to tax dollars, it does matter that these memorials were publically funded. All the more reason why the First Amendment comes into play.
Your call for rationality and politeness is a little too late. It should have been brought into play when the UHP was designing the memorials in the first place. Then, out of respect for the law and respect for the families they could have chosen a design that was rational, polite, and didn’t run afoul of the Constitution. That’s where “getting along” should have started.
At 12:36 PM qhunt said…
Do kids have to get suspended from school for saying “God” before we draw the line?
Musing, I thought how fascinating that these days anyone can freely use the name of God as a swear-word–anytime, anywhere– but will get into a pickle if they use His name as a prayer-word. What’s the matter with this picture?
Granny, you are welcome to pray whenever you like. Pray at home, pray in the park, pray in your fields.
Private prayer is always fine. Government-led prayer is the only place where praying is problematic. Don’t let a misunderstanding of the issues at hand stop you from praying!
We have the right to freedom of speech…unless it’s something someone in a minority doesn’t want to hear, such as a prayer.
We’re so busy defending the rights of those in the minority (and don’t get me wrong, they deserve to be heard) but there’s a reason there’s a majority.
Why is it only okay to speak or do what you want, so long as it isn’t Christian? This country was founded upon Christian principles. You’re not being forced to be baptised, attend any church, pay tithes, etc. This country was founded with the idea in mind that everyone would be free to worship as they want (so long as it doesn’t harm others.) Are you telling me it’s harmful to discuss a faith that encourages it members to have self-control, serve others, and live their life aware of consequences for their actions? As a school teacher I find it ridiculous that I have to carefully select words so that religion is in no way discussed. Considering this is such a crucial element to all of mankind I think future generations would benefit so much more by discussion (which leads to tolerance) of many different beliefs.
There is scarcely a thing in art or nature that does not have religious significance to some group. If we wrest the First Amendment to mean that government may never use a symbol with religious significance, the government will hardly be able to build or publish anything.
But as Professor Peterson has already pointed out, the cross has more than one meaning. The fact that it symbolizes worship of Jesus in one context–say, on top of a church–does not mean it never has any other significance–say, to mark a medical facility, to identify a first aid kit, to mark a final destination on a map (buried treasure!) or to mark the site of a death.
The Cross of St Andrew and the Cross of St Patrick–which you can see incorporated into the British Union Jack–are configured like an “X.” But they’re religious symbols, just as the X in “Xmas” is shorthand for Christ. This presents a serious problem, don’t you think? Our governments have set up signs all over the nation that read “ped Xing.” Furthermore, we pay taXes to government at all levels. The government is forcing these religious symbols on us. Perhaps we need to replace them with a symbol of neutrality–say, a zero. Then we could pay our ta0es and use pedestring 0ings. But wait a minute–the zero looks like an egg–a clear symbol of both fertility worship (think Oestre) and Christianity (think Easter). Now what can we do???
On the other hand, the zero is a symbol of nothingness, an apparent advocacy of atheism. Government can’t use these symbols, or they’ll be taking a stand against religion.
Now what symbol will the GAO use to show the national debt?
I just drove home and noticed that the government has erected a sign with a CROSS on it, near my street. It’s a yellow, diamond-shaped sign, placed near a four-way intersection.
Will AA and the ACLU save me from this oppression?
“Government-led prayer is the only place where praying is problematic.”
Wish that were true. Unfortunately, STUDENT-led prayer is strictly prohibited at school gatherings and ceremonies.
By the way, why hasn’t AA sued to remove the beehive symbol–clearly one of religious significance, and even derived from LDS scripture–from Utah’s flag, highway patrol patches, state highway signs, and so on?
Chad Too:
The burden of proof is on the plaintiff in the law-suit.
I don’t know where you got your information about Arlington Cemetery, but it does not use crosses. It uses simple solid headstones. The stones may have very small religious symbols on them if the family members choose – which include crosses, stars of David, symbols of Moroni, etc.
Perhaps you are confusing it with famous images of some other large cemeteries in France?
I am amazed at the uneducated comments about prayer on this thread. A lot of people here just don’t understand seperation of church and state. Do you all live in Utah? Granny is old and her ignorance of these things is forgivable, but everyone else?
BTW, majority rules is lame. What if the majority wanted to worship satan? Would you still hold the same opinion?
nancytoby: The facts about Arlington headstones were already given above, in the tenth comment.
Anonymous: Rather than just tell us we’re uneducated, why not identify which comments about prayer you believe are uneducated and then explain how they’re wrong. That would actually promote discussion.
“Granny is old and her ignorance of these things is forgivable…”
Wow, there’s so much bigotry against the aged here, I really don’t know where to start. I’ll just hit a couple highlights:
First, you have no idea how old Granny is.
Second, “old” is not equal to “ignorant.” “Old” is not equal to “likelier to be ignorant.” “Old” is not equal to “should be expected to be ignorant.” “Old” is not equal to “has a valid excuse for being ignorant.” Don’t know where you picked up these foolish notions, but you should drop them before you get a day older yourself.
And while you’re slinging around accusations of ignorance, perhaps you could be troubled to provide some actual facts or evidence supporting your own side. Or even just state what your side is, rather than dropping by to tell everyone they’re wrong and ignorant.
itbugfa, give it a rest man. Don’t you ever get tired of finding people to argue with? Life is for living, get out and do some.
Bookslinger:
The government agency used a religious symbol for it’s memorial. There is plenty of evidence for a plaintiff to show that supports the claim that the UHP memorial design is unconstitutional. I have every confidence that the plaintiff can meet the burden.
I was referring to the government’s defense. If the UHP argument is going to be that they were merely accommodating the religious choices of the fallen officers or their families (which is what you were alluding to) they would have to show that they had done the footwork in advance. So far, there’s been no evidence to show that is the case. If they can’t produce it then it’s a blatant, even if inadvertant, First Amendment faux pas.
Yes, the markers at Arlington are generally rather rectangular stones, but crosses are engraved on many of them. See, for example, http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/photo_gallery/05-13-05.html , where you can see several crosses, including an actual stone cross lying on a marker at the left.
Who can fathom the irreparable damage to our Constitutional rights that has been done by permitting such symbols on Federal land?
WARNING! Do not read the paragraph below if you are a sensitive type who goes into conniptions at the sight of a cross or other religious symbol.
Not only are there numerous engraved crosses adorning tombstones at Arlington, but there are true stone crosses. One example is the impressive Argonne Cross smack dab in the middle of Federal property. An even more dramatic example is the large, true stone cross towering over part of the cemetary. also built using government funds. I refer to the “Cross of Sacrifice” or “Canadian Cross” dedicated in 1927 by President Calvin Coolidge for fallen US citizens who joined the Canadian Armed Forces in World War I before the US got into the fray. If you’re a brave soul, you can view a large photo here.
Shiver me timbers!
Related from the official Arlington Cemetery Site:
Canadian Cross of Sacrifice
Argonne Cross
Usually one can turn to this blog for well-thought out commentary and insight. Instead, today we get mocking and disrespect of those whose beliefs differ our own.
This is beneath you, Jeff.
Chad, sorry you were so offended. Was it the warning to sensitive souls that offended you, or the rhetorical question about damage done by crosses on Federal land?
Chad, don’t be so sensitive. Jeff uses a touch of humor in a lot of what he writes.
Here’s another shocker: The Department of Defense has been pinning CROSSES on soldiers, sailors and airmen for decades and the practice continues unabated! The Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross and the Air Force Cross are yet another example of an impermissible entanglement of government with religion. That is, if we’re to accept Chad Too’s apparent position that the cross is always a religious symbol. Distinguish yourself on the field of battle, and the government may put a cross on your chest–even if you’re a Jew, a Muslim, or an atheist.
Turning to a different matter, there’s a point I’m having trouble understanding: Chad Too reminds us that (1) the crosses placed on Arlington grave markers are small, and that (2) they are placed there by permission or request of the deceaseds’ families. My questions are (1)So what? and (2) So what?
Does size negate a church-state entanglement? Is a smaller cross better than a big one? If the UHP reduces the size of its memorial markers will they become constitutional?
Does permission or request negate a church-state entanglement? If a small town in Utah has only Christian students, and all the parents give their permission or make a request, can the school put on a Bible pageant?
Chad Too says placing religious symbols on military graves at the request of families is a “perfectly reasonable accommodation of religious faith.” I agree. But a lot of now-banned practices are also reasonable accommodations. One example is allowing an invocation at a high school graduation ceremony.
Anonymous at 5:34 exhorts me to “give it a rest.” As best I can make out, Anon thinks posting on this thread is an undesirable practice? So why is Anon doing it?
Anonymous also asks if I “ever get tired of finding people to argue with.” I don’t come here trolling for debate opponents. I come here to share my views, which is exactly what Jeff invited me to do. Sometimes I have few views to share, and sometimes I have a lot.
Chad Too and an anonymous poster had an interesting exchange on Dec 20 with regard to “freedom from religion.” Chad points out that if we’re not free to practice no religion, we really don’t have religious freedom. Quite right.
But there is a pervasive, and in my opinion growing, tendency for people to assert another kind of right to “freedom from religion.” They believe they have a constitutionally protected right to be shielded from religious expressions. This is the “right” not to be exposed to the beliefs of others that I mentioned early on. When an atheist argues that someone else must be barred from praying or mentioning God, or even mentioning religion, because there’s an atheist or an atheist’s child in the room, I think it’s this “right” that’s being asserted. And I don’t think that right exists.
Given the animosity of certain factions of our society toward religion, it is not hard at all to see the day come when they wish to extend their view on the “rights” of the 1st amendment to prohibit proselyting activity, since that infringes on the right to be shielded from exposure to religion. The zeal to impose separation of Church and state utlimately could become separation of the Church from the States.
I can easily imagine legislation banning missionaries from approaching people to discuss religion unless the person initiates the conversation and clearly expresses a desire to be contacted first.
Excellent points, ltbugaf. Thanks for the insights.
I’m afraid we’re also going to have to put new limits on the Red Cross. There are reports of certain government officials collaborating with them in New Orleans and other scenes of Federal activity. Deeply offensive.
Chad,
The issues I raised address whether or not the plaintiffs had any standing with which to file the suit. To me, it looks like they don’t. If AA were representing a next-of-kin who objected, then there would be some standing.
Daniel Peterson’s argument that the cross represents death is pretty good.
I don’t believe the case in question rises to the level of a violation of the First Amendment. No civil liberties are being infringed. The placement of crosses is not establishing a religion.
From Rich Andrews, accidentally deleted:
BRIAN M. BARNARD USB #0215
JAMES L. HARRIS, Jr. USB #8402
UTAH LEGAL CLINIC
Cooperating Attorneys for
Utah Civil Rights & Liberties
Foundation, Inc.
214 East Fifth South Street ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFFS
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-3204
Telephone: (801) 328-9531
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
CENTRAL DIVISION
AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC., a Texas :
non-profit corporation; R. ANDREWS,
S. CLARK and M. RIVERS, : Case No. 02:05-CV-00994 DS
Plaintiffs, : MEMORANDUM RE:
MOTION FOR PARTIAL
vs. : SUMMARY JUDGMENT
RE: CHRISTIAN CROSS AS
COLONEL SCOTT T. DUNCAN, : RELIGIOUS SYMBOL
Superintendent, Utah Highway Patrol;
JOHN NJORD, Executive Director, :
Utah Department of Transportation;
D’ARCY PIGNANELLI, Executive Director, : (Judge David Sam)
Department of Administrative Services; and,
F. KEITH STEPAN, Director :
Division of Facilities Construction and Management
Department of Administrative Services, :
Defendants. :
UTAH HIGHWAY PATROL ASSOCIATION, :
Defendant/Intervener :
PLAINTIFFS, by and through counsel, have moved this Court to grant a partial summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56(a), (c) & (d), Fed. R. Civ. Pro. This motion is based upon the facts and record in this case and is supported by this memorandum of points and authorities.
STANDARD FOR REVIEW
A district court should grant summary judgment “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Nelson v. Geringer, 295 F.3d 1082, 1086 (10th Cir. 2002). “An issue of material fact is genuine if a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-movant.” Jenkins v. Wood, 81 F.3d 988, 990 (10th Cir. 1996). That “genuine” issue of fact is deemed “material” if it “might effect the outcome of the suit under the governing law.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Dunbar v. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Corp., 392 F.3d 1145, 1147 (10th Cir. 2004).
When applying the aforementioned standards, the Court must, with respect to each motion, “view the evidence and draw reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.” Schutz v. Thorne, 415 F.3d 1128, 1132 (10th Cir. 2005) (internal quotation omitted). Procedurally, the moving party can carry its initial burden by producing affirmative evidence that negates an essential element of the nonmovant’s case, or by establishing that the nonmovant lacks the quantum of evidence needed to satisfy its burden of persuasion at trial. Trainor v. Apollo Metal Specialities, Inc., 318 F.3d 976, 979 (10th Cir. 2002).
Once this has occurred, the procedural burden shifts to the party opposing summary judgment, who must go beyond the pleadings and, through the marshaling of evidence, affirmatively establish a genuine issue on the merits of the case. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). The nonmovant must do more than simply deny the veracity of everything offered – show more than a mere “metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). Likewise, “[t]he mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the nonmovant’s position is insufficient” to create a genuine dispute of material fact. Herrick v. Garvey, 298 F.3d 1184, 1190 (10th Cir. 2002). To avoid summary judgment, the nonmoving party must, in the words of the Rule, “set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). The nonmoving party’s failure of proof “renders all other facts immaterial,” creating no genuine issue of fact, thereby entitling the moving party to the summary judgment it sought. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 327, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).
A partial summary judgment is authorized when, in a case such as that at bar, the Court may ascertain that certain material facts are without substantial dispute. Fed.R.Civ.Pro. 56(d).
INTRODUCTION
The Utah Highway Patrol Association (“UHPA”) has erected thirteen (13) stand-alone large Christian crosses (12″ tall) as memorials to Utah Highway Patrol troopers killed in the line of duty. Some are erected on private property adjacent to state highways. Some are erected on Utah government property, non-public forums, e.g., the right-of-way or rest stops adjacent to state highways and in the parking lot of a state office. Defendants herein have granted permission for the erection of some of the religious memorials on the government property. Id. Those crosses, their placement and adornments are the subject matter of this action.
Intervener UHPA mis-characterizes the nature of this action and plaintiffs’ claims herein. Plaintiffs are not opposed to memorializing Utah’s slain law enforcement officers. Plaintiffs’ goal is not to prevent memorialization nor in any way restrict how families and friends privately honor and revere those officers and loved ones. This action is based, inter alia, on the Establishment Clause and seeks to restrict official government sanction, endorsement and participation by the State of Utah in the use of a poignant and exclusively religious symbol, the Christian cross, which is the memorial used by UHPA
If plaintiffs’ claims herein are validated by the Court, UHPA and the family and friends of the fallen officers may continue to memorialize the officers. However, the State of Utah would henceforth be restricted in its endorsement, support and participation in that religious commemoration.
Plaintiffs make no challenge to the right of UHPA to memorialize fallen officers. Plaintiffs have no legal authority to do so. Plaintiffs make no challenge to the UHPA’s use of Christian crosses to memorialize fallen officers. Plaintiffs have no legal authority to do so.
Courts that have considered the issue presented in the pending motion have unfailingly found that the Latin cross is an exclusive symbol of Christianity and its presence on government property conveys endorsement of Christianity.
. . . the Latin cross (a cross whose base stem is longer than the other three arms) is a readily identifiable symbol of Christianity. . . . The Court is constrained to find that cross cannot satisfy the secular effect prong of the Lemon test because it conveys a message of endorsement of Christianity.
Jewish War Veterans of U.S. v. U.S., 695 F. Supp. 3, 12-13 (D.D.C. 1988)
. . . the Latin cross is an unmistakable symbol of Christianity as practiced in this country today.
Gonzales v. North Tp. of Lake County, Ind. 4 F.3d 1412, 1418 (7th Cir. 1993). The Christian cross is a religious symbol exclusive to the Christian faith. That exclusivity and that poignant symbolism are not subject to diminution by individuals’ claims that their use of the cross was not for a religious purpose. Similarly, a resolution passed by the Utah Legislature does not and can not alter the inherent and exclusive symbolism of the Christian Cross. Finally, referring to UHPA’s Christian crosses as memorials does not alter the unquestionable fact that the crosses clearly represent one religion, and, are first and foremost the reminder of the death of Jesus Christ.
UNDISPUTED FACTS
1. Thirteen (13) stand alone Christian Crosses have been erected by the Utah Highway Patrol Association to commemorate the deaths in the line of duty of Utah Highway Patrol Officers. Complaint, Doc. # 1; Aff. of Luke Stradinger, Doc. # 6; Aff. of Lee Perry Doc. # 7; see Aff. of K. Thorne Doc. # 8; see Aff. of E. Brumett Doc. # 9; and, see Aff. of B. Lund, Doc. # 10.
2. The crosses are twelve (12) feet tall, striking in appearance, painted bright white and inscribed with the name of the trooper, his badge number and the year of his death. Id.; Exhibits “A,” “B” & “C” to Complaint, Doc. # 1; Exhibits “A,” “B” & “C” attached to this memorandum; Aff. of Perry, ¶ 25. The crosses also have a prominent representation of the official logo of the Utah Highway Patrol where the cross bar intersects. Id.
3. At least seven (7) of the Christian Crosses are installed in prominent locations on real property non-public forums belonging to the State of Utah, either on right-of-way property adjacent to state highways, rest areas or park areas adjacent to highways or real property adjacent to office buildings and parking lot owned by the State of Utah. Complaint, Doc. # 1; Aff. of Perry, ¶ 33.
ISSUE PRESENTED
Intervener, Utah Highway Patrol Association (“UHPA”) as per affidavits submitted, contends that the Christian Cross is not a religious symbol, in large part because they do not see and they did not intend to send a religious message with the use of the cross. See Aff. of Perry, p. 4; see Aff. of Lund, ¶ 12, ¶ 15; see Aff. of Brumett, ¶ 13, ¶ 14; see Aff. of Thorne, ¶ 16. UHPA so contends in order to defeat plaintiffs’ position that the presence of the Christian Crosses on government property and containing the Utah Highway Patrol logo implicates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and of the Utah Constitution, Art. I, § 4. UHPA and its affiants suggest that subjective interpretation by a speaker or a viewer can nullify or defeat the clear, unequivocal and long standing meaning of the Christian Cross.
In response to that suggestion, by a motion for partial summary judgment, the plaintiffs seek a determination and declaratory judgment that:
THE STAND ALONE CHRISTIAN CROSSES THAT ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS ACTION ARE, AS A MATTER OF LAW, EXCLUSIVELY RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS.
ARGUMENT
The Latin or Roman cross is unmistakably a religious symbol, synonymous with a belief in Christianity or in Jesus Christ as savior. Numerous jurisdictions have found this to be the case, including the Tenth Circuit in multiple cases.
A. The Tenth Circuit
In Robinson v. City of Edmond, a city seal containing four quadrants, one of which depicted a Latin or Christian cross was found religious in nature and thus, contrary to the Establishment Clause. The Tenth Circuit stated, “[t]he religious significance and meaning of the Latin or Christian cross are unmistakable.” 68 F.3d 1226, 1232 (10th Cir. 1995).
Also, in Friedman v. Board of County Comm’rs of Bernalillo County, the court held in regard to a cross on a city seal:
A person approached by officers leaving a patrol car emblazoned with this seal [containing a prominent Latin cross] could reasonably assume that the officers were Christian police, and that the organization they represented identified itself with the Christian God. A follower of any non-Christian religion might well question the officers’ ability to provide even-handed treatment. A citizen with no strong religious conviction might conclude that secular benefit could be obtained by becoming a Christian.
781 F.2d 777, 782 (10th Cir. 1985).
B. The Second Circuit
In Libin v. Town of Greenwich, a volunteer fire department displayed a cross at its firehouse during the Christmas season. 625 F. Supp. 393 (D. Conn. 1985). Individuals in the city sued, and the court concluded that, “To the contrary, the only connection that a cross has to Christmas is as a religious symbol. There simply is no historical connection of a cross to Christmas except as a symbol of those Christian religions which accept Jesus Christ as a central figure.” Id. at 398.
C. The Fifth Circuit
In Greater Houston Chapter of American Civil Liberties Union v. Eckels, three Latin-style crosses erected as part of a war memorial in a public park were found unconstitutional. In making this determination the court concluded that they were “unable to conclude that a secular purpose exists,” and found the purpose was, inter alia, “the preservation of our Judeo-Christian heritage.” 589 F. Supp. 222, 234 (S.D. Tex. 1984) .
D. The Sixth Circuit
In the case of Granzeier v. Middleton, the court found that the posting on a courthouse door of a sign that, in addition to announcing a closing of the county offices and courts in observance of Good Friday, contained a picture of a four-inch high crucifix with the image of Christ violated the Establishment Clause. 955 F. Supp. 741 (E.D. Ky. 1997), aff’d, 173 F.3d 568, 1999, 1999 FED App. 0143P (6th Cir. 1999). In this case, the court found that “the sign could be, and was in fact, perceived by reasonably informed observers, to be a government endorsement of the Christian religion.” Id. at 746.
E. The Seventh Circuit
In American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois v. City of St. Charles, an illuminated 35 foot by 18 foot Latin cross on top of fire station as part of city’s annual Christmas display was deemed religious and thus, violated the constitution. The court stated:
It is, indeed, the principal symbol of Christianity as practiced in this country today. When prominently displayed on a public building that is clearly marked as and known to be such, the cross dramatically conveys a message of governmental support for Christianity, whatever the intentions of those responsible for the display may be.
794 F.2d 265, 271 (7th Cir. 1986).
In Gonzales v. North Tp. of Lake County, Ind., a crucifix was removed from a public park where it was intended to act as a war memorial because it was religious and violated the Establishment Clause. The court held:
we are masters of the obvious, and we know that the crucifix is a Christian symbol. We reached a similar conclusion about the Latin cross, acknowledging that it is an unmistakable symbol of Christianity as practiced in this country today. In fact, the crucifix is arguably the quintessential Christian symbol because it depicts Christ’s death on the cross and recalls thoughts of his passion and death.
4 F.3d 1412, 1418 (7th Cir. 1993).
In Harris v. City of Zion, Lake County, Ill., a Latin cross, shield, sword, scepter, dove, and crown on a city’s seal was found unconstitutional because the cross was a religious symbol. 927 F.2d 1401 (7th Cir. 1991). The court concluded, “[t]here also can be no doubt that a Latin cross is the principal and unmistakable symbol of Christianity as practiced in this country today.” Id. at 1404.
F. The Ninth Circuit
In Separation of Church and State Committee v. City of Eugene of Lane County, a 51-foot Latin cross which was located on a butte in the city park was found to violate the Establishment Clause. 93 F.3d 617 (9th Cir. 1996). The court emphatically stated, “[t]here is no question that the Latin cross is a symbol of Christianity.” Id. at 620.
In Buono v. Norton, a cross in a national preserve operated by National Park Service was found religious in nature and thus, contrary to the constitution. 371 F.3d 543, (9th Cir 2004). The court stated, “[t]he Latin cross is the preeminent symbol of Christianity. It is exclusively a Christian symbol, and not a symbol of any other religion.” Id. at 544-45.
G. The Eleventh Circuit
In Mendelson v. City of St. Cloud, the display of a Latin cross atop the city water tower was unconstitutional. The court held:
The Latin cross is unmistakably a universal symbol of Christianity. Each witness at trial, including a Catholic Priest and a Jewish Rabbi, testified that they could perceive of no secular purpose for a Latin cross. Such a cross has always been a symbol of Christianity, and it has never had any secular purpose. In fact, no federal case has ever found the display of a Latin cross on public land by a state or state subdivision to be constitutional.
719 F. Supp. 1065, 1069 (M.D. Fla. 1989)
H. The District of Columbia
In Jewish War Veterans of U.S. v. U.S., a large cross on a Marine Corps base intended as a symbol of national resolve was rather found to be a religious symbol of Christianity and removed. 695 F. Supp. 3 (D.D.C. 1988). In this, the court held:
Running through the decisions of all the federal courts addressing the issue is a single thread: that the Latin cross (a cross whose base stem is longer than the other three arms) is a readily identifiable symbol of Christianity. . . . The use of a cross as a memorial to fallen or missing servicemen is a use of what to some is a religious symbol where a nonreligious one likely would have done as well. The Court is constrained to find that cross cannot satisfy the secular effect prong of the Lemon test because it conveys a message of endorsement of Christianity.
Id. at 12-13. I. Mississippi State Court
In American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi v. Mississippi, the court did not allow the display of a Christian cross on the side of a state office building and concluded:The cross is the symbol of the Christian religion. . . . it reminds Christians of the passion and resurrection of Christ their Savior, . . . Although not understanding or believing the significance of the cross to Christians, those of other faiths and even those who profess no faith in the existence of a higher being recognize the cross as the symbol of Christianity.
652 F.Supp. 380, 382 (S.D.Miss.,1987).
J. Historical Research on the Religious Nature of Crosses
In a recent study conducted of roadside crosses and memorials, it was determined that “[t]he cross as an indication of death is connected with the biblical account of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection as told in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.” Holly Everett, Roadside Crosses in Contemporary Memorial Culture 23 (Univ. of N. Tex. Press 2002). In looking at the cross as a symbol, it was adopted by Christians in the late fourth century, but it took on its true religious meaning in the eighth century. At this point Christians adopted it as their symbol, believing this is what the biblical Saint Paul wanted when he stated, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Id. (quoting Gal. 6:14).
The history of roadside crosses in America is also of a religious nature. Though roadside crosses are seen throughout the entire United States, they are particularly prevalent in the Southwest. This is because of the Catholic culture brought by the Spanish in the colonizing of the Americas. It was a custom among Catholic priests and settlers that “fellow believers must be buried in hallowed, or camposanto.” Id. at 26. When travelers died between settlements, they had to by buried in sutu. At these sites, a cross was used to “mark the spot,” but also “to informally consecrate it.” Id. Besides marking the place of a religiously consecrated grave, crosses also were used to mark spots where, in walking to the cemetery, “pallbearers stopped to rest,” a sort of “ritual pausing” where they would “recite the rosary or a requiem prayer.” Id.
Today this is not just a Catholic practice anymore, “the custom is quite widespread outside its community of origin.” Id. at 30. Even though it has spread, its religious nature has been maintained, marking the spot of the death as “an indication of death . . . connected with the biblical account of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.” Id. at 23.
WHEREFORE, this court should grant a partial summary judgment determining that the stand alone Christian Crosses which are the subject matter of this action are, as a matter of law, exclusively religious symbols.
Dated this 17th day of MARCH 2006.
UTAH LEGAL CLINIC
Attorneys for PLAINTIFFS
Does anyone have an update to this litigation? How was this resolved?
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