Cross Landmark in Illinois Gets State Funds, Atheist Sues


by Marshall Ramsey II, Worthy News U.S. Correspondent

Springfield, IL (Worthy News)– An atheist is suing to force the administrators of a 11-story tall cross in Illinois to return a $20,000 state grant issued toward its restoration, Worthy News has learned.

Rob Sherman has sued the state of Illinois for what he calls a “blatantly unconstitutional” use of taxpayer funds. Bald Knob Cross of Peace, an 11-story monument near Alto Pass, IL, roughly 130 miles southwest of St. Louis, received the state grant in mid-2008 after being classified as a tourist attraction, and not as a religious symbol.

Mr. Sherman disagrees with the classification of the cross, thinking the church is trying to use back-door tactics to gain state funds for religious purposes. According to the lawsuit, the restoration project “has the primary effect of advancing a particular religious sect, namely Christianity,” with taxpayer funding causing an “excessive entanglement” between Church and State.

He argues that the grant violates the U.S. Constitution’s establishment clause, which is used by civil liberties groups to promote a separation of religious (church) involvement in governmental affairs.

Mr. Sherman considers it “the job of atheists is to take clergy to court to challenge the epidemic of civil wrongs they have perpetrated, on the sneak against the people of Illinois.” He further stated, “It’s a big job, but somebody’s got to do it.”

REACTION FROM LANDMARK ADMINISTRATORS

Steve McKeown, an administrator of the cross landmark and a pastor was confident Mr. Sherman would not win the case. “What Mr. Sherman fails to recognize is there’s a long-standing precedent for the fact that just because an organization may have a sectarian purpose, it does not exempt them automatically from receiving tax dollars,” McKeown told AP. “What Mr. Sherman wants is a United States free from religion. Our founding fathers never meant that to be the case.”

According to the Associated Press, the cross was built largely by profits from local farmers selling their pigs. The cross has been a fixture on Bald Knob Mountain for 50 years. Over the decades, the cross and its porcelain tiles fell into disrepair, prompting its caretakers to launch a bid to raise about $500,000 for its restoration.

15
people are currently praying.

💡 Did you know? One of the best ways you can support Worthy News is by simply leaving a comment and sharing this article.

📢 Social media algorithms push content further when there’s more engagement — so every 👍 like, 💬 comment, and 🔄 share helps more people discover the truth. 🙌

Latest Worthy News

UN General Assembly Endorses Declaration for Palestinian Statehood, Israel Calls It a “Prize for Terror”
Memphis, Tennessee Leaders Thankful For National Guard Announcement
Trump Says Shooter Charlie Kirk In Custody ‘With High Degree Of Certainty’ While Also Warning Putin
Bolsonaro Sentenced to Over 27 Years in Coup Plot, Sparking U.S. Backlash and Brazilian Division
Report Warns Christian Persecution Rising In Turkey
Chinese Pastor Zhao Huaiguo Dies ‘After Years Of Persecution’
IDF: Over 200,000 Flee Gaza City as Operation “Gideon’s Chariots II” Looms
Trump Urges EU to Impose Tariffs on China and India Over Russia Oil Ties
Qatar to Host Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit After Israeli Strike on Hamas Leaders in Doha
Fair Use Notice:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Worthy Christian News