Is Cross on Fire Tower Illegal?

I was born and raised in Reading. For as long as I can remember the cross has been lit at Christmas and Easter. Growing up there, I never really thought about it much, it was just something that was always done. All things considered, it should either be taken down or ALL relgious holidays (Wiccan, Jewish, Christian…) should have something displayed appropriate to each holiday. If it’s any consolation, there is a peace sign painted on the rocks about 1/4 mile down the mountain.

If it stays as a “city-owned” property then it certainly does need to be taken down. If they make an exception for it, it will just open the city up to similar issues down the road.

As far as leasing it out, that seems to be a cop out. I’m sure the people at the fire tower are good folks and not trying to infringe on other people’s rights, but it’s also their work place, not their home. They should be setting an example for the community. Maybe they can find another way to decorate for the holidays.

I am a student of the ancient ways, so there is no love lost between me and Christianity, especailly since I was Christian at one point and experienced the inherent corru[tion thata permeates the religion firsthand. I think that it is wrong that such a violent religion, whose followers not onlt perpetrated the so-called ‘Holy Wars’ , but also what has become known as the ‘Burning Times’, should be allowed to show off their symbols when a pentacle in the same area would cause outrage among the community simply beacause of the lies that the Christian church has fed the world for centuries, trying to squash all those who did not believe what they beleived. By no means is this a hateful comment against Christianity, but simply the truth as I see it.
Blessed Be.

I don’t see why private parties can’t just erect their own religious symbols atop other buildins or beside the cross and petition the city council to sponsor it or ask for the cross to be privately sponsored so that it is fair for all… This is a good opportunity to even things thing out, wouldn’t you say?

If this is truly all we have left to worry about then Reading must be in excellent shape.
Maybe instead of forcing the city into court
they might be able to spend capitol on things that really should matter, like crime,feeding the hungry, and giving shelter to the homeless.

The city cannot endorse any religion, and if they appear to, and someone in the community feels their rights are being violated because of it, the city should remove the religious symbol from the public building. There isn’t a lot of grey area there, imo.

If the fire house is leased out to a private company, but still used by the (presumably) city-operated fire department, the cross still has to come down. Perhaps a local church, civic organization (that’s not funded or operated by the city), or museum (again, not connected to the government) would like to display the cross and take over the holiday display.

In my view, it doesn’t even things out if the city also sponsors symbols from other religions or has the cross privately sponsored. For one thing, it’s really an empty grand gesture because even if they erected a symbol for every known religious belief in the world, if that were even possible, the people who live in the city still have a protected right NOT to have any religious belief. The city cannot sponsor any religion, not even if they sponsor all of them.

Second, having the cross privately funded doesn’t address the heart of the issue. The fact that the cross is displayed on a government owned and occupied building makes it endorsed by the city government. You or I or the local burger joint couldn’t waltz over to the nearest government building and start creating privatelly sponsored displays of any kind. We would first have to get permission from the city, and if that permission is granted the display becomes endorsed by the city.

I wonder, if the city were to have a private entity maintain the cross and the light display, what would the city do if that private entity wanted to change it? No light display next easter? Change the cross to another symbol? Hang an advertisement from the cross? I don’t think any of that would fly, because when it comes down to it, privately sponsored or not, the cross and it’s display would likely still be controlled by the city, and that’s the problem.

As for whether or not this is a worthy issue to address in court, if it violates the constitutional rights of even one person it belongs in front of a judge. What are the courts for, if not to ensure justice?

The bigger, and more appropriate question is why would the city allow the issue to get to court instead of simply changing the religious display and easily correcting the situation.

I lived in Reading PA. for 2 years in the late 70’s. I remember a red cross on top of some building. I thought it was a religious school. Finding out it was a public building chnages my perspective. This is an endorsement of a belief system. It is against the constitution for the State or any other governmental agency to endorse any religion

If you would like to see the tower go to :
http://berkscountyphotos.com/root/berkscountyphotos/iphoto/main2.cfm look for photo #002d1b. It’s an old photo – the hotel is not there anymore. The tower, and the Pagoda (the other photos on that page) both sit on top of the mountain. They are maybe a mile apart.

Oh, come on folks! The US was founded on Christian beliefs and principles. I sure haven’t seen or heard anyone praying to a Pagan/Wiccan diety. When was the last time you heard someone exclaim “Oh my witch!” or “Oh my priestess!” America is still ruled by the majority. If the majority of US citizens convert to Paganism then let’s all tear down those horrible, distasteful, offending crosses and put up the Pagan symbol… which is what, a cross with a red circle around it and a red slash through it? Or just cast a spell and wish it away.
Here’s a dime, go buy some of the same tolerance and acceptance Christians use for putting up with your religious preference.

Okay, I have lived in Reading since I was a little girl. That cross rarely crosses(no pun intended) my mind until I see it. I am not a member of, nor am I an advocate of any particular religion. I think that if that cross is there, let it be! Are those who are fighting it that threatened by it’s presence? Come on people, it’s a cross lighted for a few weeks on a tower over the city! Get over it. With the economy in the shape it’s in, should the city of Reading really be engaging in a such a frivolous, costly lawsuit? If you don’t like the cross, don’t look. I don’t like the gang symbols, and the litter, and the deterioration of the city due to the current inhabitants. Should I file a suit against the gangs, those who spray graffiti on our many buildings? This offends me, yet, if I filed a lawsuit I’d get no where. When there is gang signs sprayed on my property, I am truly offended. Will the ACLU fight for me? I doubt it. For you “cross haters”, get over yourselves. Do you have nothing better to do? Here’s my guess-you sit on your A** collecting welfare, and have nothing better to do than break down the city more than it has already been broken down!

@ Fred and JDH

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
- The First Amendment of the Constitution.

I was born and raised in the United Methodist Church… I was never taught to truly accept another viewpoint. In fact, I was taught that Christianity was the only true way, and that everyone else was wrong.

I know that not all Christians are like that, but the majority I’ve come across have been.

Incidentally, we’re not “cross haters”. Both sides can do a lot more, in my opinion, to be more tolerant of each other.

One more thought: any time someone is perceived as attacking the church/Christians, it’s the “work of the devil”. Yet, when Christians vandalize a pagan shop by pouring holy oil on the windows (which has happened at the local shop in my town), they’re “doing the work of God”. Now tell me, did your god tell you to perpetuate such acts of hate and fear?

I believe in the complete separation of church and state upon which our country was founded. I am sick and tired of hearing government acceptance of positive religions, such as Wicca, Buddhist, pagan, and the list goes on, being put down and the old stereotyping of said religions allowed to keep on. To me, that represents bearing false withness against another.

If a TV episode of, say, “The Mentalist” was written that stated the resurrection was a bunch of malarky, there’d be a global out-cry. Why then, isn’t there a public out-cry against what was written about Wicca in a recent episode?

I am so tired of seeing the mainstream spiritual paths getting involved with matters of the state and staying TAX FREE. They should lose their tax free status if they start speaking out for those who are not members of their flock.

Let them preach what they want in their places of worship, but keep your nose out of others and my business. Who are they to tell others whom they can love, marry, to make personal choices.

I’m happy to announce the Star and Cross will remain on the tower just as it has for the past 50 or so years. The City of Reading will simply sell the Tower to the Pagoda Skyline Group for a $1 and avoid any dispute. The folks of Reading are strong and vigiliant and everything will remain the same. Sorry to disappoint anyone.