Gaetz Issues Statement on Becket's Appeal to Kondrat'yev v. City of Pensacola
Congressman Gaetz has issued the following statement on Becket's recently-filed appeal to Kondrat'yev v. City of Pensacola:
Like many in Northwest Florida, I was upset at the July 3 court ruling that required the cross in Bayview Park to be taken down. The cross has brought happiness and solace to Northwest Floridians for 70 years, was donated by a private organization, and costs little to maintain — to view it as an "establishment of religion" seems absurd. I have been monitoring this case closely, and was pleased when Becket appealed, causing the ruling to be stayed. I am confident and optimistic that the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit will recognize that the Constitution does not require all religious symbols to be removed from public spaces. Religious freedom is a fundamental American right, and it must be protected.
((Original News Release))
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City asks appeals court to preserve 76-year-old landmark |
The cross was placed in Pensacola's Bayview Park in 1941 for a community gathering organized by a local community service group as the U.S. was on the verge of entering World War II. Pensacola, known as the "Cradle of Naval Aviation," was heavily impacted by World War II. For decades, community events have been held at the cross, including Veterans Day and Memorial Day services. Today the cross continues to serve as a symbol of the city's history and culture. "Pensacola has a rich history, and it shouldn't have to censor that history just because part of it is religious," said Luke Goodrich, deputy general counsel at Becket, which is defending the City of Pensacola. "The constitution doesn't treat religion like a nasty habit that must be hidden from public view; it treats it as a natural and valuable part of human culture. Pensacola can treat religion the same way." Last year, the American Humanist Association sued the city on behalf of four people who said the cross was offensive. Two of those people live in Canada; the third lives outside the city; and the fourth has used the cross for his own "satanic purposes." One of the plaintiffs had visited the cross for 23 years before filing the lawsuit. A federal judge ruled in Kondrat'yev v. City of Pensacola that the cross "is part of the rich history of Pensacola," and that "the enlightened patriots who framed our constitution would have most likely found this lawsuit absurd," but that his hands were tied by a 30-year-old decision from the appeals court, and so the cross must come down. That appeals court will now decide the cross's fate. "This cross has been a positive symbol of unity for this community for over 75 years. One contrived lawsuit should not be allowed to tear it apart," saidGoodrich. Becket is representing the City of Pensacola and Mayor Ashton Hayward, and Becket attorneys are available for comment. For more information or to arrange an interview with a Becket attorney, please contact Melinda Skea at media@becketlaw.org or 202-349-7224. Interviews can be arranged in English, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Additional Information:
Becket is a non-profit, public-interest law firm dedicated to protecting the free expression of all religious traditions. For over 20 years, it has defended clients of all faiths, including Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Native Americans, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians (read more). |
