Denver, Colo., Mar 11, 2009 / 03:17 am
On Tuesday the Tenth Circuit federal appeals court in Denver heard arguments concerning an atheist group’s challenge against roadside cross memorials for fallen Utah state troopers.
The group American Atheists argued that the roadside crosses erected by the private and secular Utah Highway Patrol Association to memorialize deceased state troopers are unconstitutional. The association funded and constructed the crosses, which stand on public highway roadsides near where the troopers died in the line of duty.
American Atheists claims that only secular symbols should be used.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed an amicus brief on behalf of Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and Oklahoma, which could be directly affected by the court decision.