Support for Jesus statue continues

The rally to save the Jesus Christ

statue on Big Mountain continues.

Supporters of the statue continue to

organize through websites. A group photo around the statue is also

planned for Saturday.

The statue, which sits near the top of

Chair 2, is on land leased from the Forest Service since 1953. The

painted statue of Jesus Christ is a memorial to local World War II

veterans.

An August decision by the U.S. Forest

Service put the statue in jeopardy for remaining in its current

location. Then last month the Forest Service withdrew that decision

to take public comment on the issue.

Still, folks wanting the statue to

remain continue to bond together.

Earlier in the week a petition to save

the statue on change.org had just under 1,000 signatures.

The Save Jesus in Whitefish Montana

page on Facebook continues to draw support with 905 likes to the

page. Organizers of the page have announced plans for a “Help Save

(the) Monument Group Photo” event Saturday at the statue.

Supporters are asked to come from 10 a.m. to noon for the

photo.

Congressman Denny Rehberg last week

launched a website to help with public response to the pending

Forest Service decision. The site is www.veteransjesus.com.

“We’re not out of the woods yet, and

it’s more important than ever for the Forest Service to hear from

the public regarding the permit extension for the World War II

memorial statue of Jesus on Big Mountain,” Rehberg said in a

release.

The website contains a form to fill out

asking for a name, email and address. Respondents are asked “Do you

support letting the statue remain where it is?” and given the

option to select yes, no and not sure. Responses will be forwarded

to the Forest Service.

Rehberg previously contacted Forest

Service Chief Tom Tidwell and Northern Region Director Leslie

Weldon asking them to reconsider the lease denial for the

monument.

Members of the Knights of Columbus at

Kalispell’s St. Mathew’s parish, some of whom were World War II

veterans, installed the statue. The religious statues they came

across in the mountains in Europe during the war inspired them and

they wanted to create something similar at home.

The permit for the statue expired last

year. The Knights of Columbus applied for renewal, but were denied

after concerns that the statue violates the Establishment Clause of

the U.S. Constitution for promoting any religious doctrine.