Suit demands town remove 'Christian' statue honoring veterans from library

[rug]

A statue, showing a soldier kneeling over a grave marked by a cross, outside the Roselle Park Veterans Memorial Library has sparked protest from the American Humanist Association, which says the display constitutes a government endorsement of religion. 8/12/2016 (Marisa Iati | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

By Marisa Iati | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on October 01, 2016 at 11:41 AM

ROSELLE PARK — A humanist organization has filed a lawsuit against the borough demanding the removal of a statue with a Christian cross outside the public library.

The American Humanist Association, along with Councilwoman Charlene Storey and her husband Gregory, say in the complaint that the cross in the veterans memorial "exalts Christian veterans and excludes everyone else."

The lawsuit is the latest event in an ongoing struggle over the statue installed outside the Roselle Park Veterans Memorial Library in late July.

Mayor Carl Hokanson bought the statue, which shows a soldier kneeling over a grave marked by the cross, with his personal money and donated it to the library. The borough council in August approved its placement outside the building.

http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/2016/10/suit_demands_town_remove_christian_statue_honoring_veterans_from_library.html

[shraby]

1. Easily fixed, replace the cross with a grave stone.

[rug]

2. That's not a bad idea.

A simple, drama-free fix.

[GWC58]

3. A religion neutral tombstone.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. I know Charlene.

We both belong to the Humanists of North Jersey.

[rug]

5. How do you think she'd feel about a tombstone?

[no_hypocrisy]

6. ?

[rug]

7. Instead of a cross on the statue.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. I believe the issue is the removal of any religious icon on public property.

I would imagine that just leaving the image of the soldier is the goal. The town council would have to vote on any additions.

[rug]

9. So, if the cross marking the grave is replaced with a gravestone, no problem?

[no_hypocrisy]

10. Academically, as long as there is no religious symbol on the stone.

[rug]

11. You may want to mention it to her next time you see her.