9th Circuit Hears Oral Arguments In Challenge To Big Mountain Jesus Statue

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday heard oral arguments (video of full arguments) in Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Weber. In the case, a Montana federal district court rejected an Establishment Clause challenge to the U.S. Forest Service's renewal of  of a Special Use Permit issued to the Knights of Columbus to allow the organization to continue to maintain a statue of Jesus near a ski slope on Montana's Big Mountain. The trial court found that the statue has lost its religious connotation. (See prior posting.) AP reports on yesterday's arguments.