The displays are sponsored by the Metropolitan Chicago chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) who has done something similar for the past three years. One banner reads, "In Reason We Trust," and pictures Thomas Jefferson highlighting his famous advice to a nephew: "Question with boldness even the existence of a god." The other side proclaims, "Keep State & Religion Separate" and pictures President John Adams — who signed the Treaty of Tripoli — which assures us ". . . the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion."
The Thomas More Society's Catholic shrine — including a large wooden Latin cross, a 9-foot banner of Jesus, and "kneelers" for people to pray — also went up on Thursday. The FFRF’s displays are there as a counterbalance to the Catholic shrine and a period to prayers. In past years, Catholic supporters have also held 24-hour prayer vigils, distributed thousands of prayer cards and hosted anti-abortion rallies in front of the Jesus painting.
The problem is that the Thomas More Society doesn’t want to display its shrine on church grounds; they explicitly seek to take over public property for its purposes. The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids Congress from promoting one religion over others or restricting an individual’s religious practices.
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference, which means that religious and non-religious symbols have the same treatment on a public ground. It also enforces the "separation of church and state."
In 2014, the Catholic display was vandalized. It’s unclear who did it, but FFRF immediately condemned the actions. “No display — whether religious, political, or artistic — should be destroyed by those who disagree with the message,” said Jocelyn Floyd, an attorney with the Thomas More Society, according to the statement.
Photo Credits: Freedom From Religion Foundation
