ICC Note: As previously reported, a federal judge recently ordered that a cross located on public park grounds in Pensacola, Florida must be taken down. In response, Franklin Graham issued a statement on Facebook, condemning the decision, noting that the cross is offensive “because it represents the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This judge’s decision, which appeared to be made reluctantly, followed a lawsuit filed in 2016 by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the American Humanist Association.
By James Macintyre
06/22/2017 United States (Christian Today) – Franklin Graham has blasted as ‘ridiculous’ a decision by a federal judge ordering that a 34-foot tall cross be taken down from a Florida park on the grounds that it violates the US Constitution.
The evangelist blamed secularist organisations such as the American Humanist Association and the Freedom From Religion Foundation for ‘ridiculous changes like this’.
Graham wrote on Facebook: ‘The Bible tells us that the cross is an offense. That’s because it represents the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ who rose from the grave after three days to redeem us from the penalty of our sins.’
US District Judge Roger Vinson wrote in his ruling: ‘I am aware that there is a lot of support in Pensacola to keep the cross as is, and I understand and respect that point of view. But, the law is the law.’
The lawsuit was filed in 2016 by the secularist groups on behalf of four citizens in Pensacola, where the Florida park with the cross is located.
The judge, who appeared to reach the ruling with some reluctance, pointed out that the park has hosted tens of thousands of people for roughly 75 years without causing anyone offense – until now.
The original cross, erected in 1941 at Bayview Park, was replaced with a 34-foot, white ‘Latin Cross’ in 1969.
