Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a 40-foot-high cross dedicated to World War I veterans could remain on public land in Maryland. In response, Maggie Siddiqi, director of the Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Today’s ruling ignores the long-established separation of church and state protected by the First Amendment. The U.S. Constitution forbids public land from being used to endorse one religion over all others. By saying the cross developed a “secular meaning,” the Supreme Court both denies its particular and profound significance to Christian Americans and disrespects the beliefs of all other Americans.
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For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at shananel@americanprogress.org or 202-478-6327.