Holmen Star Church and State Issue Coming to a Boil
Posted by Anthony on May 6, 2008
This Thursday, May 8th, the Holmen village council is expected to take up the issue of the Holmen ‘Cross.’ Perched on a bluff that can be seen from a great distance is a lighted star that during Easter is lighted as a cross instead, for just about a week. A relatively new resident decided that this offended him and it constituted an establishment of religion. The Holmen village decided to sell the small piece of property to the Lions Club which formerly was involved with the star and cross. This would effectively put the object on private land and dodge the church and state separation issue.
Oh, if only that would work.
A recent Holmen Courier article reports that several national atheistic organizations have taken an interest in the affair.
According to the article, the piece of property was appraised at $100.00 and the American Humanist Association and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have both placed bids higher than a $1,000. The basic idea is to shame the village of Holmen if they consider offering the land to the Lions Club at its appraised value. Additionally, the Lions Club might be forced to decide the cost is too high in order to avoid that shame. But probably the real reason is legal. The article reports that “Both Ritter [AHA] and Gaylor [FFRF] said litigation is a possibility if the Lions Club wins possession of the land with a lower bid.”
Indeed.
The Holmen village council had hoped to avoid controversy and turmoil by following in the footsteps of La Crosse, who after a bitter legal process successfully defeated the FFRF and managed to sell of a 10 Commandment monument in a La Crosse park to a private entity. That was their hope, but it was misguided. In seeking to avoid a lawsuit they will probably still end up in a lawsuit. The only way to avoid a confrontation is to submit to the demands and remove the cross. With Eric Barnes bringing to bear two national anti-religious organizations it is clear to me that the town of Holmen had better move quick to produce some allies of their own.
Now, some of my own thoughts. Read the rest of the entry… »
