LIBERTY , Ind.– A carved sculpture bearing a cross at the Whitewater Memorial State Park is once again the focus of debate after a second complaint has been made.
The 8-foot carving features a soldier, an Indiana state flag with an eagle perched above, and a 14-inch cross at the bottom.
The Center for Inquiry (CFI), a Washington, D.C., and New York-based humanist group, complains the cross “denigrates the sacrifice” made by atheist veterans.
In a CFI news release, the organization said, “The state is sending a message to all veterans who do not subscribe to the Christian faith that their service is less valued,” write Little and Wooden. “We are certain this is not your intent, and we look forward to discussing with you how this situation can be rectified. In the absence of such progress, however, we will be forced to consider all of our legal options.”
The group also says the cross is explicitly unconstitutional, violating the Establishment Claus of the First Amendment, by implying governmental support of the Christian religion, with no representation or mention of any other faith or moral stance.
The Liberty Institute issued a statement saying the cross depicts a historically accurate portrayal of a grave marker.
The organization says their mission is to defend and restore religious liberty across America—in schools, churches, inside the military, and throughout the public arena.
The complaint follows another which was made by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, The atheist group sent a letter to the Indiana DNR earlier this month asking for the cross to be removed, or the entire statue taken from the state park.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation said the cross does not represent the non-Christian soldiers who served in the military.
Despite a removal request, the DNR kept the statue intact at the park which garnered support from local and state officials.
