The Virginian-Pilot - A local Christian group has a right to free speech but they “don’t have to shout,” a federal judge in Norfolk said Tuesday when he denied the group’s request to display a 12-foot-tall cross at a Fourth of July celebration in a Chesapeake city park.
Last year city employees asked Christian Rights Ministries to remove the cross from the celebration at Lakeside Park following a parade. The group alleges that city employees said the cross was “too blatantly Christian,” but the employees said during Tuesday’s court hearing that they had the cross removed for safety reasons.
In April, Ministries’ founder Steve Taylor filed a federal civil rights suit against Chesapeake and asked for an injunction to force the city to allow the cross at this year’s celebration.
Taylor did not apply for a booth at this year’s celebration, saying new regulations banning objects taller than 8 feet convinced him the effort was futile.
Two city employees testified that they recommended height limitations to event organizers because of safety concerns. They were concerned that tall objects, like the cross, could fall and hurt someone.
Following several hours of testimony, U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar said Chesapeake’s new height restriction is justified, and he denied the injunction request.
Christian Rights ministry is a faith based 501c3 non profit funded almost entirely at the expense of it founder’s Steve Taylor’s law firm. This firm at it’s own expense accepts cases from the public anytime Christian rights are abused and provides legal defense without charge. They receive no federal, state or united fund assistance. They have been very active in assisting public school based bible clubs in Hampton Roads. They have defended street preachers and pro life street counselors at abortion clinics, pastors and other ministry leaders. They have fought zoning laws that hurt local churches or allowed porn to be sold near churches or in family communities. they have helped teachers accused of doing Christian acts and many other cases to the benefit of our community at their own expense. Now some arrogant judge and city big brother officials want to deny them the right to display a cross. a cross that while 12 foot high is probably still shorter that the one Christ died on!