Lifelong atheist Patrick Greene has a huge problem with a giant cross under construction alongside Interstate 37 in Corpus Christi, Texas – a city whose name literally means “Body of Christ.”
“It’s tacky as hell,” Mr. Greene told me.
The 230-foot tall cross is being erected on property owned by Abundant Life Fellowship – paid for by donations.
Pastor Rick Milby said it will be the largest cross in the western hemisphere. So tall, in fact, that the church was required to install a lighted beacon on the top.
Mr. Greene said the cross is a safety hazard and said it should not be seen from the highway.
“I don’t think it should be within eyesight because it jeopardizes people’s safety on the road,” he said.
So the San Antonio atheist filed a lawsuit.
But Mr. Greene did not file a lawsuit because he believes the cross is tacky. Nor did he file a lawsuit because of potential safety hazards.
He filed a lawsuit because the mayor and other city leaders attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the cross.
“When I saw the mayor in her official position and the council in their official positions were attending a groundbreaking ceremony for a Christian symbol – that smacked right in the face of the Constitution of the state of Texas,” he said.
And he also sued Preacher Milby.
He was accused of violating the law by inviting the mayor and the council members to the groundbreaking, the Caller-Times reports.
“It’s ridiculous,” the pastor told me. “He’s attacking my rights and the rights of the mayor. The groundbreaking was on a Sunday and these are Christians and they have a right to their faith.”
Think about that for a moment — the atheist sued a preacher for building a cross on church property in a city named Body of Christ.
“It’s shocking to me that we’ve gotten to a point in society where we have atheists suing pastors for crosses erected on church property,” attorney Jeremy Dys told me.
Dys is with First Liberty, a law firm that specializes in religious liberty cases.
Milby has since been dropped from the lawsuit. However, the mayor and council members are still facing litigation.
“No matter what belief you have, this is the name of our city and it was my constitutional right to attend, and I will never regret being there for this wonderful moment,” Mayor Nelda Martinez told the Caller-Times.
Mr. Greene said he had no problem with the mayor attending the ceremony as a private citizen. But attending in her official capacity was a violation of her oath of office.
Attorney Dys called that a load of hooey.
“You can’t ban people from going to a church,” he said. “This guy is trying to use the legal system to ban city council people from attending any type of church service. To get the court to admonish them for daring to go to a church service is just wrong.”
I reminded Mr. Greene that the church was building the cross on property they owned with money they collected. So what right did he have to tell them what they could or could not build?
“Church property or not, the reverend showed incredibly poor judgment in putting it where everybody can see it – just because he wants to proselytize his faith and get converts,” he said.
It’s true there are plenty of signs along Interstate 37. So I don’t see the harm in adding one more – especially a sign that provides directions to the highway to Heaven.
Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. His latest book is “God Less America: Real Stories From the Front Lines of the Attack on Traditional Values.” Follow Todd on Twitter@ToddStarnes and find him on Facebook.
There are huge white crosses all over this country, these creatures who don’ t like them can go pound dirt. This is one of those times the term f’k- em comes into play.
I’d like to crucify these bastards from one of them. Those crosses are one of the important symbols we have left. Take them away and what do you have, a bunch of devil worshipping argyles with moles on the tips of their hooked nose.
NOTICE “MR GREENE”….. OY!!!!! LOVES TO HOLLER “CONSTITUTION” WHEN HE THINKS IT MIGHT BE IN HIS FAVOR,BUT I PROMISE… THIS IS ONE OF THE SAME JEWS THAT WANT YOU DISARMED…
It always struck me as odd that atheists, people who claim to believe in nothing, get so outraged at people believing in a God or religion. If they do in fact belive in nothing it shouldn’t bother them. It’s not like they’re being forced to practice or accept a religion. Its also interesting that christianity is almost always the target of their attacks. No outrage at the giant menorah on the white house lawn which is not some church’s private property but the nations capital? Hmm, interesting.
You’re absolutely right, jamal.
Mr. Greene is undoubtedly a Jew, and this is part of their endless attack on Christianity (as a Jew) and American culture (as a commie)
I’m an atheist, and I’m looking to get my hands on a 8′ – 10′ crucifix for my lawn because I think they look cool. But I don’t want the Protestant kind that’s just a cross; I’m looking for a Catholic one that has Christ nailed on to it, with the crown of thorns on his head, the dripping blood, — the whole nine yards.
Well, let’s just take a stroll through Washington D.C. and remove all Masonic Symbols! Oops, we’ll have to get the wrecking ball out and take all the buildings down! Freemasonry is a devil worshipping cult though, it’s perfect for the “den of thieves” who reside there. I say burn it to the ground, with all of the thieves in it!
My dad told me something funny one day.
He said take an atheist and throw them off from a ten story roof top building.
The first thing they’ll say on the way down is…
“God help me”!
“I don’t think it should be within eyesight because it jeopardizes people’s safety on the road,” he said.”
You don’t think, PERIOD, @sswipe.
You may claim to be an atheist, but if you hate Christianity so much, you’re in league with Satan, commie puke!
If it bothers you THAT much, EAT A GUN, SCUMBAG!!!
“I don’t think it should be within eyesight because it jeopardizes people’s safety on the road,” he said.
Nonsense. Texas already has at least one mega-cross near the road. (I-40, if I remember correctly) How many people did that one kill? (I don’t think it was 230′ tall, but I’m sure it was pushing 100′ if it was an inch)