The Freedom From Religion Foundation has requested that the city of Port Neches, Texas, remove a Christian cross from a public park.
A concerned citizen contacted FFRF, a national watchdog for the separation of state and church, regarding the white 10-foot-tall cross located in the city’s Riverfront Park.
“We ask you to remove the cross from Port Neches Riverfront Park immediately or direct the display to be moved to a more appropriate private location,” FFRF Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert writes in her letter to Port Neches Mayor Glen Johnson on Nov. 5.
“The government’s permanent display of a Latin cross on public land is unconstitutional,” the letter states. “The inherent religious significance of the Latin cross is undeniable and is not disguisable. No secular purpose, no matter how sincere, will detract from the overall message that the Latin cross stands for Christianity and that the display promotes Christianity. The display of this patently religious symbol on public property confers government endorsement of Christianity, a blatant violation of the Establishment Clause.”
“A city government should not send a message that makes ‘outsiders’ of non-Christians and nonbelievers and ‘insiders’ of believers,” adds Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president.
FFRF has more than 23,000 members, including about 1,000 members in Texas.