|
Battle over religion may loom Wednesday, April 09, 2008 RHIANNON THOMAS THE SAGINAW NEWS Frankenmuth may become a battleground in the separation of church and state. A resident's complaint prompted city officials to remove two crosses from a public bridge, and another complaint may follow -- this time about the city's shield. Lloyd C. Clarke said he contacted City Manager Charles B. Graham last week after noticing the nearly 1-foot-tall Christian symbols on the bridge on Main that spans the Cass River. ''Crosses don't really belong on city bridges,'' Clarke said. After driving to see the crosses himself, Graham consulted the city's attorney, who suggested removing them to avoid controversy. Graham said the City Beautification Committee put the crosses and several flower boxes on the bridge about five years ago. He had forgotten about them, he said, until Clarke called. Clarke, who has lived in Frankenmuth since 2004, said he didn't notice the crosses until last week. The city removed the crosses Monday, Graham said. ''That was the appropriate thing to do,'' Clarke said. ''The city shouldn't look like they're endorsing any particular religion.'' Clarke plans to protest the city's shield, which includes a cross in a heart, a shock of grain, an eagle and a Harlequin pattern. Graham said the cross on Frankenmuth's shield is part of a symbol called the Luther Rose, a symbol of Lutheranism. He said Frankenmuth will not change the 63-year-old shield unless a higher authority asks the city to. ''We're going to rely on the interpretation of our attorney,'' Graham said. He pointed out that the shield reflects the community's heritage, which Flint attorney Peter Goodstein has said makes it legal. Clarke said he will request more information about the shield and attend the Tuesday, May 6, City Council meeting to discuss it. He said he may contact an outside organization, such as Americans United for Separation of Church and State or Freedom From Religion Inc., if he takes legal action against the city. Clarke said he knows his actions may make him unpopular, but he is willing to take the risk. ''I'm willing to do it because of the church-and-state issue,'' Clarke said. ''Even though it's the city shield, it's still a Christian cross, and they belong in churches and cemeteries.'' v Rhiannon Thomas is a staff writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach her at 776-9682. |