Mahoney Hails City's Vote To Appeal Mt. Soledad Cross Removal Order

Mahoney Hails City's Vote to Appeal Mt. Soledad Cross Removal Order

By Allie Martin
June 2, 2006

(AgapePress) - The San Diego City Council has agreed to appeal a federal judge's ruling ordering the removal of a cross from the top of a war memorial in La Jolla, California. The 5-3 vote directs the city attorney to file the appeal with the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The long legal battle over the Christian symbol's inclusion in the monument began 17 years ago when an atheist sued the City of San Diego, claiming that having the cross on city-owned property violated the U.S. Constitution.

Since then, judges have overruled efforts by the city to sell land surrounding the memorial to private groups. And last month, U.S. District Judge Gordon Thompson ordered city officials to remove the cross from its place atop Mount Soledad within 90 days or else face heavy fines.

Pat Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, has been a vocal advocate for those seeking to preserve the Mount Soledad cross. He says the courts that have been involved in the matter are misguided about the legality of the symbol.

"The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion," Mahoney contends. "It's important for us to stand and say, 'We have to resist this kind of tyranny.'"

Last July, 76 percent of San Diego voters approved Proposition A, a measure that would have allowed the city to transfer the Mount Soledad cross to the National Park Service so it could be designated a national war memorial. A judge, however, ruled that vote invalid. Mahoney believes such misguided rulings are creating bad precedent.

"People say you have to obey the rule of law and the law," he says. "My response to them is, 'What law has been broken?' This cross has been here for 54 years. Are we now to remove the crosses in Arlington cemetery or the crosses from military medals that have been given for years?"

Mahoney applauds the City of San Diego's decision to appeal Judge Thompson's removal order. The Mount Soledad cross is the centerpiece of a treasured war memorial and local landmark, Mahoney says, and he is pleased that the city will continue its legal battle to keep it in place.

Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.