The National September 11 Memorial and Museum filed court papers this week seeking to dismiss a federal lawsuit brought by a group of atheists who oppose the museum's decision to display the giant cross-shaped steel beam that became a site of daily prayer during the cleanup of ground zero.
The museum argues that it is an independent nonprofit, not a government agency, and therefore cannot impose religion using “the power of the state†as American Atheists Inc. had charged in their suit. The New Jersey-based group had said in its 2011 lawsuit that the museum was violating the Constitution's establishment clause and state civil rights law by exhibiting a religious symbol.
In its court papers, the museum says the 17-foot crossbeam is being exhibited as a historical relic of the 2001 attack and not as a religious symbol. Museum experts agreed that the cross is an “important and essential artifact that belongs at th e World Trade Center site as it comprises a key component of the retelling of the story of 9/11,†the museum argues in legal papers that were filed in Manhattan on Monday.
The court filing was first reported in the New York Post.
In addition, the museum maintains that simply displaying an object with religious significance does not amount to endorsing or promoting a religion.
Edwin F. Kagin, the lawyer for the American Atheists, said he could make no comment because “we're under a gag order.â€
No comments:
Post a Comment