Tulsa World: Public funds nixed for Jesus statue in Edmond

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Public funds nixed for Jesus statue in Edmond

By The Associated Press
Published: 10/15/2008 3:17 PM
Last Modified: 10/15/2008 3:17 PM

EDMOND -- The cross, Moses and now Jesus Christ have failed the separation of church and state test in this conservative Oklahoma City suburb with a penchant for trying to incorporate religious art in public spaces.

Edmond Mayor Dan O'Neil said Wednesday he plans to secure private funding to buy out the city's $3,900 commitment to help pay for a 26-inch-tall statue titled "Come Unto Me" planned for a sidewalk outside a downtown Catholic gift shop. It shows Jesus surrounded by children.

"We're not looking for a lawsuit," O'Neil said. "This will be bought by a private organization."

A decade ago, Edmond was forced to pay more than $200,000 in legal fees after losing a court battle to keep a cross on its city seal. Last year, the city backed down from a decision to use public funds on a statue of Moses outside a church.

Plans will move forward to have the Jesus statue in place, perhaps by Christmas, but no city funds will be used.

The Edmond Visual Arts Commission last month approved matching funds to help pay for the statue. That decision was met with criticism from people who felt this violates the separation of church and state doctrine, while others considered it a good use of public funds.

"I'm already getting stuff from all over the country ... Palm Bay, Fla., Texas," O'Neil said. "It's sort of mixed. Some of them said, 'There's no need to fight over this.'"

Barry Lynn, executive director of the Washington D.C.-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State:

"I'm delighted by this result. Clearly the city has felt some heat and now they have seen the constitutional light."

June Cartwright, the chair of the commission and who supported funding the latest statue, said the sculpture was viewed simply as a piece of art and not a religious endorsement.

However, the Web site of the work's artist, Rosalind Cook, described the image as depicting Jesus with three children, one cradled in his arm. "Every major line leads to the face of Christ who is the focal point and apex of the sculpture," the site says.

City Attorney Stephen Murdock, who lost the cross lawsuit 10 years ago, had concerns about Edmond having an ownership stake in the Jesus statue, O'Neil said.

The mayor said guidelines will be drawn up to govern future local governmental participation in art projects. He said he was unable to return calls Tuesday for comment on the issue because:

"I was busy doing the mayor's prayer breakfast." By The Associated Press

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	Report Comment Have that, America (10/15/2008 4:42:21 PM) How come this is such a hard concept for Edmond to understand... Don't buy or pay for religious things with public money. now...fill my potholes...chop chop
	Report Comment Ignatz, Broken Bow (10/15/2008 5:13:36 PM) This doesn't make any sense. What about not doing this kind of thing do the Edmond elected officials not understand? Buying religious icons with tax dollars? This is insane. The City Attorney should be fired for allowing this in the first place.
	Report Comment jimdad, (10/15/2008 9:47:30 PM) These religious fanatics never give up. They are determined to try to cram their beliefs down the throats of everyone else, like it or not! Yes, the city attorney should be fired for even allowing this to be considered. Also, the mayor and any other city officail involved in this attempt to use government money to buy a religious icon.
	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (10/15/2008 10:05:14 PM) The fine folks in Edmond should try living in a country where the state controls the religion...say, Iran for example...and see if they want to rethink their mixing of church & state.
	Report Comment ChristopherBlackwell, (10/16/2008 11:41:36 AM) This mayor seems to have a personal problem in simply obeying the law. He knew before he started that trying to publicly finance the Jesus statue was illegal. I have to wonder why some people believe that their religion puts them above the law. Now I do hope this mayor's prayer breakfast idea is being financed by his personal money and not by taxpayers money or he is open to a lawsuit again. Jesus spoke against those that make a big show of their public piety. He called them Hypocrites. Mayors are not above the law, nor are Christians or any other religion, nor are atheists. Is it such a difficult idea to understand that all are supposed to be equal under the law. When they are not, that is corruption? Apparently describes this mayor in my opinion.

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