OZARK, Mo. (AP) — The southwest Missouri city of Ozark that had said it was removing a Christian cross from its holiday display is reconsidering.
Ozark officials originally said Tuesday that the cross would come down after the city received a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which said the display violates the principle of separation of church and state.
Later in the day, Ozark officials announced they were reconsidering after comments from citizens caused them to believe it would be in the best interest of all parties to reconsider. For now, the cross in Finley River Park will stay while officials work through the “legalities of the situation.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which is based in Madison, Wisconsin, said it filed the complaint after being contacted by an Ozark citizen.
Ozark officials said in a news release Tuesday that the Freedom From Religion Foundation said the cross in the Finley River Park holiday display violates the principle of separation of church and state.
In a news release Tuesday, Ozark officials said leaving a religious symbol on public property will result in a lawsuit that the city couldn’t win. The city cited cases around the U.S. where public entities have lost similar cases.
The Springfield News-Leader reports the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which is based in Madison, Wisconsin, said if filed the complaint after being contacted by an Ozark citizen.