OZARK – The city Ozark has received a complaint regarding a large illuminated cross, a part of holiday decorations in the city park, from a national organization based in Wisconsin.
The city's Finley River Park has for a number of years included a telephone pole-sized illuminated cross during the Christmas season, which is now being opposed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a nonprofit group that seeks to promote separation of church and state.
The formal complaint, which was issued to the city of Ozark's City Administrator Stephen Childers on Nov. 30, FFRF asks the city to "remove this cross from public property immediately."
Stephen Childers, city administrator of Ozark
| Courtesy of OzarkMissouri.com
The complaint argues that the religious symbol of the cross is clearly Christian and that placing it on a portion of public land is a violation of the Establishment Clause and therefore unconstitutional.
Childers commented on the situation and what the future may hold in this case.
"To my knowledge, the city has not previously received any official complaints regarding the cross," Childers told St. Louis Record. "While city is not presently involved in or aware of litigation related to this issue, no future litigation strategy has been determined, but regardless, any such legal strategy related to litigation would be privileged and confidential."
In response to the complaint, the city of Ozark issued a press release in which it stated that "in the best interest of all parties we shall continue working through the legalities of the situation. Therefore, the cross in the Finley River Park will remain in place until a further due diligence can be completed regarding this matter."
Following the release of the statement by the city, the Wichita Eagle reported Dec. 12 the first 80 comments left on the city's Facebook post and press release were in favor of keeping the cross.