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Religion & Law

: Religion Clause

Suit Threatened Over Wisconsin Village Land Sale To Preserve Cross

By Howard M. Friedman

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Last month, the Village Board of Holmen, Wisconsin reacted to a complaint about a display of a cross and a star on property it now owns by agreeing to sell the land and display to the Lions Club for $600. The Lions Club, which pledged to keep the display intact, was involved in its construction in 1960 on the land that was then privately owned. Five years ago the city bought land that includes the display for a reservoir. (See prior posting.) It turns out, however, that when the Village Board agreed to the sale to the Lions, it ignored higher bids from two other groups. The American Humanist Association (AHA press release) had bid $1000 for it and the Freedom from Religion Foundation had bid $1200. Yesterday's Holmen Courier reports that the AHA is now considering suing the village, saying that the Village Board ignored the competing bids only because it favored the cross remaining on the land. The Lions Club will fence off the display, install signs saying it is their property and will have an electric meter installed so it will pay for lighting. It will also restrict access to protect the nearby village water reservoir.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on May 18, 2008 (boomark / email).