ICC Note: In Corpus Christi, Texas, Abundant Life Fellowship is constructing a 230-foot tall cross on their property along Interstate 37. Following a ceremony for the groundbreaking of the cross, a local atheist, Patrick Greene, filed a lawsuit because the mayor and other city leaders attended the ceremony. Greene also sued the church’s preacher for inviting the city officials to the ceremony.
By Todd Starnes
03/16/2016 United States (Fox News) – 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.
