Lawsuit threat means Alsip Christmas tradition gets crossed off

[cleanhippie]

To avoid what could be a costly lawsuit, the village of Alsip will break with tradition and not erect a cross on its water tower near the Tri-State Tollway this holiday season. The cross had been a fixture since the 1970s, Mayor Patrick Kitching said Monday. But after the Freedom from Religion Foundation, based in Madison, Wis., advised Kitching it would file a lawsuit demanding removal of the cross, citing separation of church and state, Kitching decided to not wage a losing and likely costly legal battle.

Freedom From Religion Foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor said the group acted on a complaint received last year from an unidentified Alsip resident. “We work to keep religion out of government. We try to resolve things through education and legislation, not litigation. Towns can’t put crosses on public structures such as water towers because we have separation between religion and government,” she said.

In a letter to residents and businesses, Kitching wrote: “I am very saddened by this and had hoped we would not have to change tradition. However, in these economic times, the village cannot afford to waste any tax dollars on a lawsuit that simply cannot be won.

http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/16491738-418/lawsuit-threat-means-alsip-christmas-tradition-gets-crossed-off.html

While Kitching goes on in the article to demonstrate his ignorance and anger at the loss of his religions privileged place, he wound up making the right call. He is to be applauded.

[pinto]

1. Seems all chose to meet at a common ground - lawsuits and litigation. One cited education

and education over possible litigation. The other cited unaffordable costs of a possible lawsuit. Kind of an ironic compromise. Or at least a civil settlement of the issue.

Agree, Kitching made the right call.