The Morning Report
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The Rev. Pat Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, a nationwide organization, has hailed the San Diego City Council’s decision to appeal a judge’s decision that the Mount Soledad Cross is unconstitutional, according to an article posted on Agape Press, a Christian news service.
Mahoney is the latest in a long line of Christian heavyweights who have added their voices to calls to save the cross.
On Tuesday, we published a story that the cross is increasingly becoming the next big battlefield for the nation’s church vs. state debate.
“The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion,” Agape quotes Mahoney as saying. “It’s important for us to stand and say, ‘We have to resist this kind of tyranny.’ “
Mayor Jerry Sanders officially announced today that the city council is appealing U.S. District Judge Gordon Thompson, Jr.’s decision that the city of San Diego must remove the monument from city land or pay $5,000 each day the cross remains standing where it is.
The council is asking for a stay of that decision, which will give it more time to appeal two decisions that the cross is unconstitutional. The council has until Aug. 1 to remove the cross before the fines kick in.
The decision to appeal was actually made on Tuesday, May 28, but the appeal itself was filed today.