County Tries To Neutralize Courthouse Drawing of Jesus By Hanging Many Other Paintings

The Lexington Herald-Leader on Monday reported that a Kentucky county judge-executive responded to a complaint about a picture of Jesus hanging in the local courthouse by inviting local artists to submit other pictures to hang along side it.  After the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to Breathitt County Judge-Executive John Lester “JL” Smith in August asking him to remove the drawing of Jesus, Smith's response was to seek other artwork so that the walls now feature everything from landscapes to a portrait of Rachel Maddow to a drawing of Mr. Magoo.  An FFRF attorney argues however that this does not cure the original religious purpose for hanging the charcoal of a man kneeling before Jesus with the caption "In your place what would Jesus do."