Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Edmond Oklahoma Raises Concerns With Proposed Expenditure For Statue of Jesus

According to the AP, the Edmond Oklahoma Visual Arts Commission has approved spending $3900 in public funds to help pay for a bronze statue of Jesus to be placed downtown for Christmas. The statue, titled "Come Unto Me" (photo), will be put up in front of the Sacred Heart Catholic Gifts shop. Last year, the Arts Commission initially approved, and after public objections withdrew, a proposed expenditure of $17,500 on statue of Moses to be placed at Edmond's First Christian Church. Americans United today issued a release objecting to the proposed expenditure, and disputing the artist's argument that the sculpture "doesn't state that it is specifically Jesus. It is whatever you perceive it to be." Blog from the Capitol also covers the story.