The Statue of Liberation - a Case for the ACLU? by Sharon Hughes

Have you heard about the church in Memphis, TN, that spent $260,000 to erect a 72-foot-tall version of the Statue of Liberty on the 4th of July? The new version has lady liberty holding a cross instead of a torch and carrying tablets of the 10 Commandments instead of "Give me your poor, your tired, your hungry yearning to be free...."

One critic wrote on her blog: "It's really great that these 12,000 church members can't think of any better uses for 2.5 million dollars than building a statue commingling religion and nationalism. After all, there probably aren't any poor or sick people in Memphis to tend to, as Christ asked his followers to do.Apostle Alton Williams -- the pastor of World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church - says people can't drive by the church without thinking of their relationship with God."

Alton Williams, the pastor of World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church, in an interview on FOX News said part of the purpose is to provoke people to think about the Christian roots of America, and their relationship to God.

The Tennessee Guerilla Women given to "Fighting the radical right in Tennessee and the nation" ask on their blog, "What will the French say?" and irreverently adds...

"Memphis Church appears to have more money than it knows what to do with. So, natch, it built a giant copy of the Statue of Liberty, Christian style. Is it just me, or does the cross in her hand resemble a club? And how about that stone tablet with the Ten Commandments? Is she going to drop it on my head if I don't sign up?
And the crown on her head marked with the word Jeovah? It looks like a weapon to me."

The Carpetbagger Report calls it shameless idolatry and 'disturbing on many levels'.

The Humanists News was 'kind' with its criticism.

And Daily Kos, the top liberal blog in the blogesphere calls the statue, "frightening."

So, is this a church vs. state case...given the statue is erected on church property? Will the ACLU go after them? Should they? What do you think?

Twisted ‘Church vs. State’ MentalityTakes the Cake Video!

If you haven't seen and heard Fox News' Julie Banderas vs. guest Shirley Phelps-Roper regarding her 'church' protesting at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq, here it is. It's a Must See!

View Video 

Whether you agree with Julie’s verbal battle with her guest or not, the segment shows the twisted ‘church vs. state’ mentality of Phelps. Usually, the absurdity is on the side of the ‘state’ such as when the ACLU fights in court to remove “under God” from the pledge of allegiance.

If you care at all about our troops you can’t help but be incensed by Phelps’ inappropriate and unbelievable actions. For instance…

Members of Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church held these signs and stood on the American flag at the funeral of Pfc. Caleb Lufkin on June 2, 2006, in Galesburg, Ill.

But thanks to the Patriot Guard Riders family members and friends mourning Caleb’s death were shielded from the visual and verbal abuse of Phelps’ protesting.

More Related:
Anti-gay protesters opposed by 20 times as many locals
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/12/BAGVMD7FJF1.DTL

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