Jul 26, 2012
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City leaders in Steubenville, Ohio have decided to change their official logo after the Freedom From Religion Foundation threatened to sue because the emblem included a silhouette of a cross atop the Franciscan University chapel.
Law Director Gary Repella announced the city’s decision after a closed door meeting – deciding to change the logo because they could not afford a potential lawsuit. The city reverted to a previous logo that did not include the offending items.
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“I researched current case law and found a lot of case laws that do not allow religious symbols in government symbols,” Repella said in comments reported by the Herald-Star.
But officials at Franciscan University of Steubenville told Fox News the chapel and cross were included in the logo because the school is one of the top employers in the area and one of the most recognized entities in the city.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation said this logo is unconstitional.
“We were included in the city’s logo not because of our faith, but rather our role in the community,” said Michael Hernon, the university’s vice president of advancement. “This out of town and out of touch group decided that they wanted to purge all reference to religion from the public life.”
The group is called the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based organization of so-called “free-thinkers” including agnostics and atheists.
They notified city officials of their objections to the logo on behalf of a citizen who was allegedly offended by the inclusion of the cross and chapel.
“We’re pleased with the expeditious response,” FFRF co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor said in a statement. “It’s so clear why a city cannot and should not send a message that it has a Christian orientation, thereby making Christian residents favored insiders, and non-Christians, including nonbelievers, outsiders.”
Gaylor said government cannot pick sides on religion.
The replacement logo
“All citizens, whether Christian, Jewish, atheist or agnostic, Muslim, etc. – must be welcomed as full participants, and the only way to do that is to keep religion out of government.”
But Hernon said Freedom From Religion Foundation is nothing more than an out of town bully.
“This is a really troubling affair – that in a small place like Steubenville they can come in and try to bully and remove anything that would be close to referencing god,” Hernon told Fox News. “This is awful.”
Hernon said he doesn’t understand why a Wisconsin group would be concerned about what happens in an Ohio city.
“This is an amazing attempt by a small group of people to try to eradicate God and any reference to religion from our country,” he said.
And the Freedom From Religion Foundation may have picked on the wrong city – and the wrong Catholic university.
“We’re passionately Catholic,” Hernon said. “We’re not about to hide our crosses or be ashamed of our faith-based identity. This is something that we need to speak up about and say enough is enough.”
Hernon said it’s time for people of faith to draw a line in the sand.
But an attorney with the organization said the inclusion of the crosses is unconstitutional.
“Any claims of historical or cultural significance to the Latin cross on the Steubenville City logo do not relieve the City of its constitutional obligations,” FFRF staff attorney Patrick Elliott wrote in a letter to Mayor Domenick Mucci. “While we understand that Franciscan University is a part of the City, the City may not depict the University chapel and cross because to do so places the City’s imprimatur behind Christianity.”
FOX News Talk
Is this what a FREE country looks like? I FLY THE AMERICAN FLAG AND WEAR A CROSS. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT , TO BAD.
four likes. you make me sick.
Well, that is sort of the point. You are free to wear what you want, because the state can't endorse a religion like on their symbol. It's a constitutional safety measure to keep your freedoms safe.
Also notice that new logo as a flag. When are the wacko, bleeding heart, commie idiots going to threathen to sue over that?
I wonder what would FoxNews readers think if there was a sign of the muslim religion in their city emblem. Or Ohm, or the flying spaghetti monster.
I don't understand this – violaiton of separation of church and state – that means that having a cross violates the constition? I think not if anyone ever truly reads the constution all it means is that the government cannot, must no tform a state-run a religion. At no place does it state that a cross can or cannot be displayed on government property! I am so sick of this issue being twisted to meet a political agenda of some organization! Exploiting this issue and crucifying Christians has gone on long enouigh!
Atheists and non believers are allowed to infringe upon our rights and thats ok. It's a sad sad state of affairs out there these days when loving God becomes unpopular in the courts of public opinion.
Atheists and non believers are allowed to infringe upon our rights and thats ok. It's a sad sad state of affairs out there these days when loving God becomes unpopular in the courts of public opinion.
I don't understand this – violaiton of separation of church and state – that means that having a cross violates the constition? I think not if anyone ever truly reads the constution all it means is that the government cannot, must no tform a state-run a religion. At no place does it state that a cross can or cannot be displayed on government property! I am so sick of this issue being twisted to meet a political agenda of some organization! Exploiting this issue and crucifying Christians has gone on long enouigh!
This is really simple…..
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation under GOD, indivisible,
with Liberty and Justice for all.
When are cities going to take a stand against these militant atheists? Call these militant atheists punk card. Many municipalities politicians need to go into the bathroom and unzip their pants to see if they have a pair.
These are just the run of the mill atheists with a anti-religious ax to grind this is an organized effort by militant atheists and the American Communist Party aided by George Soros to remove all vestiges of any reference to God, in which our Country moral principles were founded upon.
Then people wonder, "Why are our children running amok, why are people going into theaters and shooting up fellow human beings?" Duhhhhhhhh, its called a lack of faith when times get tough people have noting to turn to, to soothe their raging soul.
These militant atheists want to worship government, they want government to be the new God. Christians stop turning the other cheek, who is going to protect the faith? If the faith isn't worth fighting for then what is?
When are cities going to take a stand against these militant atheists? Call these militant atheists punk card. Many municipalities politicians need to go into the bathroom and unzip their pants to see if they have a pair.
These are just the run of the mill atheists with a anti-religious ax to grind this is an organized effort by militant atheists and the American Communist Party aided by George Soros to remove all vestiges of any reference to God, in which our Country moral principles were founded upon.
Then people wonder, "Why are our children running amok, why are people going into theaters and shooting up fellow human beings?" Duhhhhhhhh, its called a lack of faith when times get tough people have noting to turn to, to soothe their raging soul.
These militant atheists want to worship government, they want government to be the new God. Christians stop turning the other cheek, who is going to protect the faith? If the faith isn't worth fighting for then what is?
And so we continue to decline. When are we going to get back to our country's root values? God first!
These lunatics attack religion for selfish reasons which coincidentally is why they have no religion. Their selfish! Christians could not care less that they are athiests! What this means is religion bothers them which is a clear indication of mental illness.
These lunatics attack religion for selfish reasons which coincidentally is why they have no religion. Their selfish! Christians could not care less that they are athiests! What this means is religion bothers them which is a clear indication of mental illness.
"Steubenville Ohio, where you always have a home", unless you are a Christian. Once the cross becomes offensive to society, we are definately in trouble….We ignore what Jesus Christ has done for us at our own peril.
"Steubenville Ohio, where you always have a home", unless you are a Christian. Once the cross becomes offensive to society, we are definately in trouble….We ignore what Jesus Christ has done for us at our own peril.
I understand why they gave in. They do not have the money to fight this. This town is not a rich town…
I would offer these suggestions:
1 the more drastic, but one that will yield results quicker:
Have the entire Franciscan University community avoid and boycott ALL business establishments in Steubenville. – Yes you would have to inconvenience yourselves by traveling further for products and services, however, the owners of the establishments would put a lot of pressure on the “town fathers” quickly as revues dropped.
2 the more selective:
Have the entire Franciscan University community ONLY support those establishments that display the “old logo” in their windows. It will take longer for the non-supporting establishments to pressure the “town fathers” – but there would be a greater display of the old logo.
Yes – I understand that the owners of the establishments are “innocent” but the bottom line is – you have to hit the “town fathers” in the pocket-book. Is not part of the problem the fear of legal expenses?
Therefore a “lack” of revenue would also hit them where they fear to be hit most.
Alfredo Fanelli
I would offer these suggestions:
1 the more drastic, but one that will yield results quicker:
Have the entire Franciscan University community avoid and boycott ALL business establishments in Steubenville. – Yes you would have to inconvenience yourselves by traveling further for products and services, however, the owners of the establishments would put a lot of pressure on the “town fathers” quickly as revues dropped.
2 the more selective:
Have the entire Franciscan University community ONLY support those establishments that display the “old logo” in their windows. It will take longer for the non-supporting establishments to pressure the “town fathers” – but there would be a greater display of the old logo.
Yes – I understand that the owners of the establishments are “innocent” but the bottom line is – you have to hit the “town fathers” in the pocket-book. Is not part of the problem the fear of legal expenses?
Therefore a “lack” of revenue would also hit them where they fear to be hit most.
Alfredo Fanelli
"Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams.
"(T)he foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality;…the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained…" George Washington, First Inaugural, April 30 1789.
"Can the liberties of a nation be sure when we remove their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are a gift from God? Thomas Jefferson
The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government." Patrick Henry.
sure seems to me that this country was built by a bunch of "religious nutjobs" as one poster said…maybe what needs to happen is is someone is offended by religion, they need to move to a country such as China where they won't have to deal with it as much…
"Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams.
"(T)he foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality;…the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained…" George Washington, First Inaugural, April 30 1789.
"Can the liberties of a nation be sure when we remove their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people, that these liberties are a gift from God? Thomas Jefferson
The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government." Patrick Henry.
sure seems to me that this country was built by a bunch of "religious nutjobs" as one poster said…maybe what needs to happen is is someone is offended by religion, they need to move to a country such as China where they won't have to deal with it as much…
How about adding the image of the dome of the rock, then see it they want freedom from religion.
Cowards!
Aren't we missing something simple here? This is a drawing of BUILDINGS. The chapel has a cross as part of its structure. So they have to change what the buildings actually look like? If that's the case, why not just pick any building from any city and put it on there? The Empire State Building should be drawn without its pinnacle? This is absurd.
ahhh…the CROSS…hated and loved…the symbol which stands for 2000 years for the life and gift of the Man who died upon it…for all who would accept Him and His gift of sacrifice. Those who once embraced the notion of the cross hated the Man the wanted to see hang upon it….and today it is now those who hate the sight of that Cross who know no love for Him…and reject the gift of sacrifice that Cross represents.
Time for a CONSTITUIONAL AMENDMENT guaranteeing Religious RIGHTS. FFRF are a group of atheists pushing the country around with lawyers. Time to pass the 23rd amendment.
I liken the behavior of these secularists to terrorists. What's the #1 rule to follow when dealing with terrorists – never negotiate because it will be seen as a sign of weakness that will only invite more aggregious attacks. These cities that are now bowing to the atheistic left in order to get them off their backs are actually inviting just the opposite. They will now seen as weak and an easy target, and it won't be long before greater demands are made by those they foolishly tried to appease.
If the focus of this article were a symbol of Islam, or Judaism, or Hinduism, would it be receiving the same level of backlash?
I liken the behavior of these secularists to terrorists. What's the #1 rule to follow when dealing with terrorists – never negotiate because it will be seen as a sign of weakness that will only invite more aggregious attacks. These cities that are now bowing to the atheistic left in order to get them off their backs are actually inviting just the opposite. They will now be seen as weak and an easy target, and it won't be long before greater demands are made by those they foolishly tried to appease.
What I don't understand is why a cross, which represents something, that they don't believe exists would bother them at all.It should have no meaning to anyone who don't believe in God , therefore if you don't believe, how can it be offensive.
What I don't understand is why a cross, which represents something, that they don't believe exists would bother them at all.It should have no meaning to anyone who don't believe in God , therefore if you don't believe, how can it be offensive.
What I don't understand is why a cross, which represents something, that they don't believe exists would bother them at all.It should have no meaning to anyone who don't believe in God , therefore if you don't believe, how can it be offensive.
Their new logo looks like a third grader made it compaired to the old one. But that is the mentality of the people who want to destroy all signs of religion.!
Their new logo looks like a third grader made it compaired to the old one. But that is the mentality of the people who want to destroy all signs of religion.!
I saw that. Want be long before they make churches remove crosses because they can see it. Like I said churches will have to go under ground one day. Hmmm sounds like some place I read about in history class.
Yea the new logo sucks for sure. That's the crime here, bad art. However I'm thinking that the separation of church and state is a good thing.
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz comes to a conservative website to post garbage while hiding behind a cartoon character for an icon and hiding his info. Typical liberal coward! Now this twit sends me private messages on FB… :
Pretty brave of you to list not only your business but your phone number on your Facebook page with you spouting that kind of radical bigotry on the Todd Starnes website, man!
"…commies/liberals/regressives/homosexuals/illegals…"–what kind of a frreakin' radical hate monger ARE YOU?
Honestly—I wouldn't patronize you or your business. Just sayin…
Zizzer.
Atlanta Pro Photo.
30 minutes ago.
Atlanta Pro Photo.
I'm no hate monger at all but rather an American patriot that stands against liberal idiots that want to destroy the nation I fought for. I'm no coward and not ashamed of speaking the truth. My business and views stand on moral values that stand against your liberal/commie views. I will never shy away from opposing your kind and fighting against the liberal agenda.
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz.
22 minutes ago.
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz.
Buddy, you're apparently as clueless as you are radical?
The ones who are IN FACT "destroying the nation that you fought for" are the corporate fascists who control our government and who are standing in the way of helping the economy in order to further their own self-interests and bank accounts. And ironically, they're being helped right along by the Religious Right who hypocritically stand fully behind their self-serving, mammon-worshiping agenda.
Where do your "moral values" stand on trampling the Poor, the working class, the least among us? Or are you one of those morally-hypocritical so-called "Christians" who conveniently overlook the message of Jesus for your own self-enrichment and interests too?
"American patriot". You make me laugh. When your kids ask you "What'd you do in the war for America, Daddy?" make sure you tell them "I fought for the wrong side".
Atlanta Pro Photo.
10 minutes ago.
Atlanta Pro Photo.
As the typical loudmouth idiot liberal you are, tell me, how does it feel to be a coward that hides behind a cartoon? That's the thing about you liberals, you always hide in the shadows with your warped views and endless hatred toward others while all along pretending to be superior.
I'm betting you're a park protestor too… Radicalism is the core of the liberal agenda so stop throwing words you don't understand while all along supporting Obama and liberalism that thrive under the very crony capitalism you cry about.
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz.
6 minutes ago.
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz.
Dude,….please. Your reply was worthless demagoguery. You addressed none of this salient issues I brought up. Wich proves to me that you don't really KNOW anything worth discussing, but are only enamored of your spoonfed Conservative slogans.
And hypocritical, too. I "hide" behind a cartoon; YOU "hide" behind a shutter image. Seriously, man. You make me laugh.
And there's this golden bit of hypocrisy–"endless hatred toward others". From your own post—""…commies/liberals/regressives/homosexuals/illegals…" HA HA HAHA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Atlanta Pro Photo.
a few seconds ago.
Atlanta Pro Photo.
To put it simply, I don't respond to innuendo, baseless accusations and flat out liars that post to sites just to pick fights while promoting the liberal hate filled agenda of America's destruction and demonetization of Christianity.
I'm not hiding behind anything. My info is clear and open for all. Feel free to drop in and I'll give you a lesson about respect.
Hmm… let's take a look at those two logos and decide which one looks better… yea… I'm going to have to go with the squiggly-lined could've been drawn and colored by a fourth grader logo of just one small landmark of Steubenville, because ya know, that sleek, modern logo that includes many important landmarks of the city is just so hateful and exclusive.
I have to laugh! All these atheists babbling about the horrors of religion from which we must all have protection, when the most horrific oppression and cruelty in all of history has been visited upon humanity by Communists and other perverted forms of government with whom they share their a godless, evil belief system.
In China, over 60 million murdered; Soviet Union, over 35-40 million; Cambodia; 3-5 million; other areas of the world no one knows because when you’re killing this many people sometimes you loose count. But what’s 5 or 10 million either way? These twisted, godless pretenders attacking people of faith here, know all about the indiscretions of misguided people of faith, but totally ignore the 100 million or so murdered by those with their own belief (or lack thereof) system. What hypocrisy! And they cite the law as if they’re “trying to do the right thing”, just like a Nazi justifying turning in Jews. It’s the law!
News Flash! Regardless of how an atheist twists and lies about historical fact, America was brought to you by godly men who espoused a Christian-Jewish value system that was vital to the creation and preservation of this country. The historical model related to rejecting this system is 100% accurate. Men and women of faith are the reason you have what you have today, including the right to wickedly and thanklessly attack “religion” and the “religious” to whom you owe everything. Talk about mentally ill and ungrateful!
I have to laugh! All these atheists babbling about the horrors of religion from which we must all have protection, when the most horrific oppression and cruelty in all of history has been visited upon humanity by Communists and other perverted forms of government with whom they share their a godless, evil belief system.
In China, over 60 million murdered; Soviet Union, over 35-40 million; Cambodia; 3-5 million; other areas of the world no one knows because when you’re killing this many people sometimes you loose count. But what’s 5 or 10 million either way? These twisted, godless pretenders attacking people of faith here, know all about the indiscretions of misguided people of faith, but totally ignore the 100 million or so murdered by those with their own belief (or lack thereof) system. What hypocrisy! And they cite the law as if they’re “trying to do the right thing”, just like a Nazi justifying turning in Jews. It’s the law!
News Flash! Regardless of how an atheist twists and lies about historical fact, America was brought to you by godly men who espoused a Christian-Jewish value system that was vital to the creation and preservation of this country. The historical model related to rejecting this system is 100% accurate. Men and women of faith are the reason you have what you have today, including the right to wickedly and thanklessly attack “religion” and the “religious” to whom you owe everything. Talk about mentally ill and ungrateful!
Sounds like we're trusting a fringe group of evildoers. They believe that they can't make the world better except to put others down for their beliefs or the contents of a logo…what a childish action. Leave the cross and leave the money with 'In God we trust" etc. and get a life! (perhaps you cannot perform any good in this world).
Get a better lawyer and city representatives.
Be aware of who you are voting for in the upcoming elections, people!
My prayer is that Jesus is revealed to these poor folks and that they receive His love!
It is bull… maybe they could remove the cross and add an AK47 since that is what Steubenville is becoming. Any good is always removed…
Since when do the wishes of a very small minority over-rule the wishes of the vast majority? I thought that is why we left England in the first place. Better remove the soldier, too, in case if offends a pacifist somewhere in Utah and he sues you for that!
The cross was not place in the logo to endorse the Catholic religion or to say to non-believers (free thinkers) that you are not welcome in the community. It is a part of the logo to represent the towns largest employer and its contribution to the community. Twenty or thirty years ago the steel industry employed 12,000 in the Steubenville area. I am sure a logo at that time would have depicted smoke stacks or the tapping of a Blast Furnace similar to that of neighboring city Weirton, WV. This would represent the families who made their living working in the mills daily. Now that they are gone, RG Steel in in bankruptcy, Franciscan University of Steubenville is the areas primary employer. The cross perched atop the Chapel is the recognizable symbol of the university. Note the cross is on top of a building. This building is the chapel, The first image that you see when you enter the campus.
If we are so worried about offending others, maybe the outline of the Veterans Memorial bridge might offend those who have lost loved ones in accidents on bridges, like the one that collapsed in Point Pleasant, WV killing 45 people. Ridiculous isn't it? Well to some, the removal of the symbol representing the university is just as ridiculous.
Funny how the one citizen who was offended can DICTATE and over rule the 3,000 students and employees who work and study at this institution. I thought we are living in a democracy, not a dictatorship.
I thought our founding fathers modeled our democracy under God on the Trinity.
Millions do not even know who Jesus is sitting on the pews in the churches. If Jesus is God, and God died on the cross, who raised God from the dead? My Bible tells me that God raised His only begotten Son from the dead. Jesus is not God. He is the Son of the Living God. God almighty. God is everlasting. He can not die, Jesus Christ died for all of us. Study Luke 10:21-22. I John 4 and 5. John17': 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I and the Father are one, yes, in the spiritual realm, but Jesus literally sits at the right hand of God on the throne. Repent, and believeth in Jesus' name to be saved, and spared out of God's wrath. John 3:16,18,36. 2 Pe.2, Rev. 3. authorhouse.com, click on the Bookstore, then type "Why I Believe in the Rapture, by Michael L.Palladino, Sr. You may review book on line.TRUTH IN BOOK will determine your destiny. In Jesus' sweet love, http://www.7trumpet.blogspot.com.
Read John 1v1~KJV
Why do we listen to undiagnosed paranoid, hysterical mental cases?
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What kind of country are we to let our religious beliefs be done away with. Does no one remember that was part of what our nation was founded on?
Why are we letting these people take away OUR religious rights? One of the things our nation was founded on was religion. It's fine for all others to have their religious rights here in the U.S.A. but not us Americans? What is wrong with this picture? Something needs to be done now before it is too late.Please.
THINGS LOOKING BAD FOR OUR RELIGION.AMERICANS SEEM TO HAVE NO RELIGIOUS RIGHTS IN THE U.S.A. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
I tell you what is wrong is liberal christains and non christian groups run this country. And the only Group that does not have freedom of experssion and worship to God is the Christians. But I know soon very soon ,,, if your a Christian you know the signs… and these liberal and non christian groups will face God himself before they march off to Hell and then be consumed by the Lake of Fire… and while God only made it for Satan and his demons… many will share the smell of others and their own flesh melting from their bodies an the pain…. you could not even begin to know… will take place over and over,,, while True Christians will be over in The Glory Land…. Heaven. I am sorry but I feel nothing for the liberal Christian or the Non Christian Group…. They have the same choice and opportunity… as we all do to get it right and get Saved! But if you are a saved Christian there is no way you are going to side with the world on their views and values.