A V.A. medical center in Lake City, Fla., has removed a bible verse posted on a wall in its waiting room, after FFRF contacted it about the First Amendment violation.
A visitor to the Lake City Florida Veterans Medical Center contacted FFRF, expressing concern that all the patients waiting for their appointments had to sit facing the posted Christian verse.
The verse is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel contacted the director of the area’s Veteran’s Health System, Thomas Wisnieski, via a Jan. 4, 2013 letter.
“[The message] implies Jesus is an important element in the rehabilitation of the patient,” Seidel said. “When one is healed by doctors using taxpayer funds at this federal hospital, the patient is invited to credit the Christian god.”
Wisnieski responded that the biblical posting was removed and that he has warned supervisors to avoid inappropriate postings.
