Posted on 02/15/2011 4:47:34 AM PST by rightwingintelligentsia
BALDWIN BOROUGH, Pa. -- Baldwin borough is now telling a man who put a giant illuminated cross outside his home to take the structure down or face a penalty.
Carl Behr built the 24-foot cross and two other crosses on his property along Robbins Street in Baldwin.
"If you have a problem with that, I think you have a problem with the Lord," said Behr.
Behr said it's an act of faith, but one neighbor claims it's an act of revenge.
Next-door neighbor Lisa Fera said she contacted police and the borough because she felt Behr purposely built the large cross facing her home.
"I'm not looking to be a bad neighbor, I believe in God, I believe in being Christian, but if you are truly Christian, then you would be supporting and respecting your neighborhood," said Fera.
Behr runs a contracting company out of his house, and Fera claims he frequently violated zoning regulations by parking construction vehicles in front of her house.
Channel 4 Action News reporter Keith Jones said Fera claims every time she went to police to complain, Behr built a new cross, each one bigger than the last.
(Excerpt) Read more at wtae.com ...
A top heavy structure like that, to be safe, requires a suitable foundation. And that probably requires a building permit. Then there are the zoning height and setback requirements. Seasonal decorations, if safe, get a pass but this guy states his cross is there for the duration. The city will abate it eventually.
I am all for property rights,and I am a Christian, but I am not too sure I would want a 24 foot illuminated cross next door to me either.
He’s got a huge woodpile at the bottom of it. The thing looks awful. What a jerk.
Good point. While I don’t think that all symbols should be considered useless, I think that some serve the purpose of giving us reminders of our faith (as I wear a small cross necklace). But, yes, our actions speak much more loudly than our words.
It's sad how often Christians play into that roll.
She wouldn’t like my Christmas display then.....Lighted Cross, lighted sign....and the Cross will go back up for Easter. Granted the Cross is only 5 ft tall.
A home in my neighborhood has the most beautiful cross display for Easter.
Starting in Lent, they erect a small (maybe 3’ high) wooden cross in their yard, and drape it in purple cloth. On Good Friday, they change the cloth color to black. On Easter Sunday, it is white.
Guy is a d***k.
There is no reason to build a monument on your property bigger and bigger each time a neighbor complains.
God commands us to live in faith quietly so as not to offend others with the arrogance of our piety.
The trouble is, this guy who is displaying his Christianity so proudly (which pride is antithetical to Christianity) is harassing his neighbor by parking his trucks in front of her house. She has a point. It’s annoying, even intimidating. He is absolutely being a jerk. Not a very good witness for Christ!
I’m a Christian too, but I wouldn’t want a group of huge lighted crosses facing my house on my property line. These things look awful. They’re bigger than his neighbor’s tiny house. He may have persuaded himself that this is some kind of noble demonstration of his faith, but it’s not. The Lord told us to go into our rooms quietly to pray in privacy, not to prance around showing off our faith as the Pharisees did.
Exactly - righteous is the opposite of self-righteous.
Mom's car, kid driving, probably
anyone have a picture?
how big is big?
If it is a 4ft cross ok. (with properly code established electrical work)
If it is 15ft with search lights shining, then it is an issue.
I know a few contractors who elected to pay a fine because it was cheeper than temporary storage.
well he should be fined for poor workmanship.
and this is up to code?
Twenty-four feet. And apparently there are several at different heights. He puts up another one whenever his neighbor complains about his trucks or the lights.
There is a thing called “time place and manner.”
This is not religion, this is spite.
Exactly right.
He has gone over board. I keep mine in good taste, and only use Christmas lights on it, and turn it off at 10 pm.
Bigger is not always better.
Sounds lovely. Much like what church does on the pulpit.
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