U.S. Congress Acts to Save Mountain-Top Cross - Atheist Blames 'Jihad Jesus Republicans'

LifeSiteNews ^ | November 23, 2004

[NYer]

RANCHO SANTA FE, CA, November 23, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a surprising turn of events, the United States Congress has joined the fight to keep the 43-foot tall cross atop Mount Soledad in San Diego, California, by designating the land on which it stands and the granite memorial walls surrounding it, a national veterans memorial. The congressional action came as a result of efforts by the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan that fights for the religious freedom of Christians.

San Diego area Congressmen, Reps. Duncan Hunter, R -El Cajon, and Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Escondido, inserted the memorial designation as part of a spending bill awaiting approval by President Bush.

Phillip Paulson, the atheist who mounted a successful 15- year legal battle to remove the cross with support from the ACLU, told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "Jihad Jesus Republicans need to understand that the separation of church and state has kept this country from getting into religious wars."

The ACLU of San Diego also criticized the legislation calling it "political gamesmanship".

San Diego attorney Charles LiMandri, Director of the Law Center's western regional office who has led the effort to save the Mt. Soledad cross, called the congressional action "an act of God". LiMandri said Congress was not unconstitutionally endorsing religion because it intended to honor veterans in the same manner as the crosses at Arlington National Cemetery.

President Bush is expected to sign the bill within the next few weeks.

[Lady Johanna]

I've been reading all the stuff about the crosses, and I think I have a solution. Since most Americans are Christian, and we only have a few mountains with crosses...and since atheist believe in nothing, and we have more mountains with nothing on them....what we need is more crosses on more mountains. Would that settle the arguments?

[Serb5150]

I didn't even know they weren't calling it Christmas on the Prado anymore... :::sigh:::

[It's me]

IIRC last years "December Nights" did not recieve enough money so it was cancelled. Many said it was because of the name change from "Christmas on the Prado."

[wiley]

The ACLU and its allies on the Federal Courts have effectively abrogated the Declaration of Independence. They only recognize the Constitution as a founding document and since it does not declare a belief in God, they declare His existence and subsequent governing principles to be outside the realm of American legal discourse.

Without the foundational principles that God is the author of life and laws governing life, then we are left with the legal dictums that the State endows all rights and authors all laws and there are no primordial ontological principles to which it needs to adhere. That is not what the Founders intended.

[UnbornChild]

A few years back, the Taliban were criticized for destroying statues of Buddha. These statues had obvious historical and cultural value, regardless of what one's religious beliefs are.

Why can't this cross be designated as having such a value? Some crosses, because of their history and the character they give to an area, have a cultural value. They're landmarks and tourist sites. You don't have to be Christian or honor the cross to realize that.

[UCANSEE2]

Phillip Paulson, the atheist who mounted a successful 15- year legal battle to remove the cross with support from the ACLU, told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "Jihad Jesus Republicans need to understand that the separation of church and state has kept this country from getting into religious wars."

Mr. Paulson has not improved his state of ignorance and stupidity for 15 years.

As an ATHEIST,he should be FOREWARNED that when he dies, HE CANNOT BE GIVEN A CHRISTIAN BURIAL. It "SAYS SO IN THE CONSTITUTION" , just as clearly as it says there must be a separation of CHURCH AND STATE.

[UCANSEE2]

Phillip Paulson, the atheist who mounted a successful 15- year legal battle to remove the cross with support from the ACLU, told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "Jihad Jesus Republicans need to understand that the separation of church and state has kept this country from getting into religious wars."

Mr. Paulson has not improved his state of ignorance and stupidity for 15 years.

As an ATHEIST,he should be FOREWARNED that when he dies, HE CANNOT BE GIVEN A CHRISTIAN BURIAL. It "SAYS SO IN THE CONSTITUTION" , just as clearly as it says there must be a separation of CHURCH AND STATE.

[hellinahandcart]

Ergo, he must go into his bedroom and get under his covers and eat chocolate.

You're too kind.

[navygal]

I am sure glad that the cross is going to stay. I remember when I was alittle girl visiting my grandparents, I would look up at that hill and see the cross standing there. What a beautiful sight it was!

[savedbygrace]

I see a future Scrappleface article on the banning of the letter "t" being thwarted by a group of fanatical Christians.

[meema]

I am offended, also, by this jihad against Christians!

So good to hear that the Cross will stay, straight and tall!

[meema]

Well said. We must fight back, and stand up for what we believe!

[VOA]

"Jihad Jesus Republicans need to understand that the separation of church and state
has kept this country from getting into religious wars."

IF folks in the ACLU think that losing one of their waste-of-the-USA's-time
legal battles is "war"...they'd just as well leave for Canada.

[maine-iac7]

the ACLU uses Federal funds for all their craappola - How can those funds be shut off?

there's something a little bizarre in an outfit being able to take our money to sue us with...

but as long as they can use our money - they will be busy.

Take away the free money, they'll dry up and blow away

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Ergo, he must go into his bedroom and get under his covers and eat chocolate.

Why do I never get punishments like that?

Good to see you back. You were missed.