ADF offers to defend RI World War I memorial cross
Atheist group continues its search-and-destroy mission based on constitutional falsehoods
Friday, May 4, 2012
ADF attorney sound bites: Erik Stanley | Joseph Infranco
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The Alliance Defense Fund has offered to defend a World War I and II memorial cross in Woonsocket, R.I., free of charge if an atheist group makes good on its threats to sue over it. ADF has also advised local veterans’ groups of its offer to defend the constitutionality of the 91-year-old memorial, which stands in the parking lot of the town’s fire station.
“Public monuments to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice should not be dismantled because a few offended activists want to scrub the public square clean of anything that hints of religion,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. “ADF is ready to defend this memorial and the families of those that it honors free of charge, just as we have for various other memorials to fallen heroes around the country.”
In correspondence to city officials, the Freedom From Religion Foundation demanded that the city remove the memorial cross under the claim that it violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“The idea that this 91-year-old memorial is unconstitutional is a tiresome claim from a radical group that has dreamed of a purely secularized society for years,” said ADF Senior Counsel Joe Infranco. “The Freedom From Religion Foundation has frequently sought to impose its vision for America on the rest of the country using its well-known legal threats, but that doesn’t mean they have a true understanding of the Constitution. They are merely on a search-and-destroy mission for all things religious.”
Many Woonsocket officials and citizens have expressed their support for defending the memorial. Approximately 150 people in the town reportedly attended a rally Wednesday to show their support.
ADF has been involved in the legal defense of numerous veterans’ memorials, including California’s Mojave Cross Memorial and San Diego’s Mount Soledad Veterans’ Memorial. ADF attorneys currently represent retired New York City firefighters who wish to defend the World Trade Center Cross that is part of the National September 11 Memorial, which is also under attack by an atheist group.
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
“Public monuments to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice should not be dismantled because a few offended activists want to scrub the public square clean of anything that hints of religion,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. “ADF is ready to defend this memorial and the families of those that it honors free of charge, just as we have for various other memorials to fallen heroes around the country.”
In correspondence to city officials, the Freedom From Religion Foundation demanded that the city remove the memorial cross under the claim that it violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“The idea that this 91-year-old memorial is unconstitutional is a tiresome claim from a radical group that has dreamed of a purely secularized society for years,” said ADF Senior Counsel Joe Infranco. “The Freedom From Religion Foundation has frequently sought to impose its vision for America on the rest of the country using its well-known legal threats, but that doesn’t mean they have a true understanding of the Constitution. They are merely on a search-and-destroy mission for all things religious.”
Many Woonsocket officials and citizens have expressed their support for defending the memorial. Approximately 150 people in the town reportedly attended a rally Wednesday to show their support.
ADF has been involved in the legal defense of numerous veterans’ memorials, including California’s Mojave Cross Memorial and San Diego’s Mount Soledad Veterans’ Memorial. ADF attorneys currently represent retired New York City firefighters who wish to defend the World Trade Center Cross that is part of the National September 11 Memorial, which is also under attack by an atheist group.
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
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