Page 316 - Crosses News Today

>> reporter: well, from the alliance defense fund, these are the attorneys that helped argue this case. they released a statement shortly afterwards saying that individualized memorial crosses honoring fallen troopers simply do not amount to a goth establishment -- government establishment of religion. they say when people see a cross at the side of the road, they know what it means. jenna? jenna: we have more on that story right now, harris. harris: yeah. do these privately-funded crosses viola...

Fine. >> ah. >> but people put up crosses because people know that thats where someone died. in fact, the state of montana puts them up all over the state, and what was ridiculous was this court thought it was so funny that they also suggested that size does matter, that our crosses because theyre big theyre, therefore, unconstitutional and suggest that were supporting christianity. no. for centuries its been a secular symbol that somebody died there, and everybody knows when they see it. theyre...

Martha: a federal judge has ruled that 14 crosses that commemorate fallen utah highway patrol troopers have got to go. the u.s. appeal court says the roadside memorial is unconstitutional. a widow of one of the troopers says she was upset by the decision and here she is on fox and friends. >> the religion that i follow doesnt even use crosses. you know. and so it is... its not you know -- it doesnt mean that to me. it means that my fallen hero, is being honored. martha: that is the crux of the d...

Her husband to be remembered in that way. does she have a case. >> i think she has a great point and the u.s. supreme court if it goes up there might think differently than the court of appeals. listen, roadside crosses are very secular in nature, we see them as memorials of people who have died, not as a huge representation the state is supporting christianity. they are common, common symbols of death. martha: you think of arlington and mem morris across the country, the various war zones, ther...

Mud. united nations also reporting four million people are now homeless. they need help right away. meanwhile, massachusetts senator john kerry says the u.s. will increase the aid to pakistan to $150 million. someone has to get the aid to them. >> yeah. as well a u.s. court of appeals panel in denver says 14 12 foot tall crosses near government buildings and along highways in utah have to go. the 12 x 6 foot crosses are memorials to fallen state troopers. they carry the utah highway patrol emble...

Disagreed. any reasonable person who looks at a cross will associate with christianity. bill: what is the reaction of those fighting to keep the crosses where they are? >> the alliance defense fund is reviewing its appeal options. they released a statement staying in part ... bill: thank you for that. well see what thans during appeals process. martha: a temperature republican is warning the -- a top republican is warning the gop to be careful when addressing the ground zero debate. good morning...

Jenna: coming up on "america live" today, the imam behind the ground zero mosque is embarking on a international trip to the middle east and doing it on your tax dollars. why the state department is paying him to talk about religious diversity and tolerance. also a federal court says the crosses memorializing fallen troops in utah they have to go because they violate the constitution. well hear from the son of one of those fallen troopers coming up. if you ride around with your dog in a car, a s...

We really were. we expected a different ruling, but if thats how they rule, thats what well have to live with. we are not happy with it. shannon: what does it mean to you and the other family members to have these crosses out there as a reminder of the sacrifices your father and others was willing to make. >> its a way for to us heal from the loss and a way to let the public know that this -- that a trooper gave his life in this area. and we didnt know what else to use for a symbol rather than t...

Great to meet you. good job. wonderful opportunity. >> thank you! this has been great. thank you. >> over to steve. >> steve, take over! >> thank you, mandy, thank you, brian. meanwhile, also today, roadside crosses honoring 14 highway patrol troopers who lost their lives in the line of duty may be taken down soon. a federal appeals court has ruled that the crosses are unconstitutional and a violation of the first amendment. andrea augustines husband daniel w. harris is one of the troopers honor...

This isnt something worth going to the supreme court for. harris: then why are you fighting it? >> because its a violation of the separation of church and state. the state police just need to replace the monuments with something less secular. harris: is that going to happen or not going to happen? >> i hope so. >> not until a higher court rules, east the tenth -- either the tenth circuit or the supreme court. for an atheist to suggest that by driving down the road i have to avert my eyes because...