Appeals court rejects challenge to Jesus statue


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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled that a six-foot statue known as Big Mountain Jesus can remain on U.S. Forest Service property in Montana.

The statue was erected on a ski slope in the Flathead National Forest in 1954 by the Knights of Columbus to honor World War II veterans who fought in the Alps and is included in the National Register of Historic Places.

In the decision released Monday, a three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The court ruled that a government permit allowing the statue to remain served "a primarily secular purpose" and was not an unconstitutional establishment of religion.

When the case was argued in July, U.S. Justice Department attorney Joan Pepin argued that Big Mountain Jesus has cultural and historical significance for veterans, tourists and Montana residents.

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APPHOTO MTMIS201: FILE - In this Feb. 20, 2011 file photo, freshmen at the University of Montana, Jake Coburn, Stephanie Ralls and Claire Dal Nogare, from left, visit a statue of Jesus Christ at Whitefish Mountain Resort in Whitefish, Mont. A federal appeals court ruled Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, that the 6-foot tall statue of Jesus that has spent the last 60 years overlooking a northwestern Montana ski hill may stay there. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejects arguments from a group of atheists and agnostics that placing the statue on U.S. Forest Service land violates the separation of church and state. (Linda Thompson/The Missoulian via AP,File) (31 Aug 2015)

<<APPHOTO MTMIS201 (08/31/15)££

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