Posted on 10/23/2013 6:08:57 AM PDT by Kaslin
The family of a Colorado preacher’s wife is still fuming after the director of the city-owned cemetery refused to engrave her final resting place with the name ‘Jesus’ because it might offend people. The city eventually reversed course under public pressure.
“We were in disbelief,” said Stacy Adams, the daughter-in-law of Linda Baker. “Who tries to censor Jesus from a cemetery?”
Linda Baker lost her battle with cancer last week. She was the wife of Mark Baker, the pastor of Harvest Baptist Church in Ovid.
Adams said her mother-in-law was passionate about her Christian faith and her family. Her final wish was to have her cemetery marker engraved with the ichthys, a symbol of early Christianity. She also wanted the word ‘Jesus’ written inside the fish.
“At first they told us it wouldn’t fit,” Adams told me. “But after we kept pushing them the cemetery director told us that it might offend somebody. They weren’t going to allow it.”
The family was devastated and asked the cemetery director to reconsider. He refused.
“He said, ‘What if somebody wanted to put a swastika?” she recounted. “My reply was, so what if they do? It’s not my business how they want to be remembered.”
The family then took their concerns to the Sterling city manager – but once again they were rebuffed.
“He refused to work with us,” she said. “He said he would have to take it to the city attorney. They were being difficult.”
She said city officials kept telling them that people would be offended by the name of Christ.
“We weren’t asking for a six-foot neon sign,” she said. “We did not want to put a cross on everyone’s tombstone. It’s a six-inch fish with the name ‘Jesus ‘ on it.”
So the family decided to post their plight on Facebook – and that’s when the city had a change of heart.
“We gave them fair warning,” she said. “We gave them time to do the right thing.”
Sterling City Manager Joe Kiolbasa told 9news.com they would no longer censor religious references on headstones and cemetery markers. He said the cemetery manager made a mistake.
“This gentleman thought it may have been objectionable to someone because of the Christian connotation,” Kiolbasa told the television station. “It will be allowed in the future.”
Adams tells me the family was incredibly distraught and disturbed by the incident.
“As an American and as a Christian, we have this thing called freedom of speech, freedom of expression,” she said. “We weren’t trying to stop anybody from putting anything up. We just wanted the same freedom others have.”
And the cemetery is filled with tombstones that have Bible verses and angels and other religious symbols.
Mrs. Baker’s marker should be finished in the coming days as her family continues the grieving process. But Adams can’t help but wonder who “people are so fearful of one name that they would go to such lengths to try and eliminate it.”
“If it can happen in a small country town like this, it makes you wonder what’s happening in other parts of the nation,” she said.
And I’d like to know who – specifically – would be offended by the name ‘Jesus’ on the grave marker of a pastor’s wife? What kind of malicious, godless, slop-sucking heathen would object to a dying woman’s last wishes?
Stacy Adams raises a valid question.
It’s outrageous that a grieving American family had to fight and cajole a city government to allow them to engage in their Constitutional rights.
The city of Sterling, Colo. owes the family of Linda Baker a sincere apology – and it should probably be delivered from the pulpit of Pastor Baker’s church.
As for the cemetery manager—comparing the name of Jesus to a swastika? Really, sir? My only wish is that on Judgment Day Mrs. Baker is standing at the Pearly Gates watching you explain yourself to Saint Peter.
Yep...I’d rather deal with the devil, who is honest about who he is, than a person who denies he exists!
Article II
Section 4;
The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, shall forever hereafter be guaranteed; and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege or capacity, on account of his opinions concerning religion; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the good order, peace or safety of the state. No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship, religious sect or denomination against his consent. Nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship.
"Slop sucking heathens", now that's creative!
This gentleman thought it may have been objectionable to someone because of the Christian connotation, Kiolbasa told the television station. It will be allowed in the future..”
This is just sooo wrong on a few fronts. And I ain't even what you'd call a "good Christian". Sounds like these azzhats want folks to come 'round with their hats in their hands asking permission from en high to show their beliefs. And I like the way they blamed it on the "low level" cat instead of the whole chain of city leaders who participated in this debacle.
This chit's gettin' old. Quickly.
|
Just curious. . .who was the first person to deny the request, and was this person perhaps a) atheist or b) muslime. Just asking. . . |
The sad thing is - that person probably thinks they are a Christian. If so - this should be there memory verse for today....
And comparing Jesus to a swastika??!!
This monster’s head needs to roll and he needs to be at the back of the unemployment line. He needs to be reminded daily of what he said.
“Hay-SOOS.”
If they said it was a tribute to their illegal alien uncle who just wanted the Dream Act to pass,but died before seeing it pass due to evil tea party types, it would be applauded and probably engraved for free.
It is easier than that:
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. - John 14:6
Just believe in him.
I’ll never forget quoting that to my libinlaw, and her reply of “he didn’t mean it THAT way”.
But if it was an illegal named “Jesus”? No problemo.
“Who tries to censor Jesus from a cemetery?”
A petty, mean-spirited little troll.
Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark!
This clown had a chance to make it right, after the cemetery manager said no, but he didn't, he rejected them as well.
Now who was just thrown under the bus by the City Manager? The cemetery manager, I guess excrement really does roll down hill. HAHA!
Stupid aholes, I hope they get wirebrushed about this real good.
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
(NKJ)
You are missing my point. It doesn’t matter what religion it is, the state is eventually going after it. The left’s approach is always incrementalism. They will come after the Jews in this country. They are fostering a lot of Antisemitism, it’s just not getting reported except by places like Front Page Magazine.
The muzzies might end up on top at the end, but I don’t think so. The despots will use them and then go after them last. In the final analysis, ALL religion is the enemy of the state except in a theocracy.
Looks like the “malicious, godless, slop-sucking heathen” are in charge in that city.
Bump
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.