News

Another Legal Challenge To Public Crosses Fails Over Taxpayer Standing

Supreme Court rulings which felled high-profile legal challenge to clergy housing allowance also undercut atheist’s challenge to Illinois’ Bald Knob Cross.

Christianity Today June 5, 2012

Legal challenges related to religious symbols in public settings continue to be dismissed over issues of taxpayer standing.

Yesterday the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an atheist activist’s attempt to stop state funding of the restoration of Bald Knob Cross, an Illinois tourist attraction, because the activist lacks taxpayer standing according to recent Supreme Court decisions. In Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation Inc., the Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that taxpayers can bring Establishment Clause challenges when funds are spent under legislative decisions but not administrative decisions, explains Religion Clause.

This limitation on church-state lawsuits was strengthened when the Supreme Court dismissed a challenge in April 2011 to Arizona’s tax-credit-for-scholarship-donations program. CT reported how the Arizona ruling undercut a high-profilelegal challenge to the longstanding housing allowance enjoyed by clergy. The Seventh Circuit also rejected a challenge to the National Day of Prayer in April 2011 over issues of taxpayer standing.

CT has spotlighted Supreme Court tussles over public crosses, as well as debate over whether memorial crosses should be considered secular.

Our Latest

Public Theology Project

What Horror Stories Can (and Cannot) Tell Us About the World

We want meaning and resolution—and the kind of monster we can defeat.

The Russell Moore Show

Paul Kingsnorth on the Dark Powers Behind AI

Are we summoning demons through our machines?

Welcome to Youth Ministry! Time to Talk about Anime.

Japanese animation has become a media mainstay among Gen Z. You may not “get” it, but the zoomers at your church sure do.

Review

‘One Battle After Another’ Is No Way to Live

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the new film from Paul Thomas Anderson plays out the dangers of extremism.

Review

Tyler Perry Takes on ‘Ruth and Boaz’

In his new Netflix movie, Ruth is a singer, Boaz has an MBA, and the Tennessee wine flows freely.

To Black Worship Leaders, Gospel vs. Contemporary Worship Is a False Dichotomy

The discussion around Maverick City Music highlights how commercial success and congregational value are two different things.

Review

Needing Help Is Normal

Leah Libresco Sargeant’s doggedly pro-life feminist manifesto argues that dependence is inevitable.

Review

Don’t Give Dan Brown the Final Word on the Council of Nicaea

Bryan Litfin rescues popular audiences from common myths about the origins of Trinitarian doctrine.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube