First Amendment
Crosses on Chaplain Badges Barred Under Settlement
An atheist’s lawsuit has resulted in a settlement requiring images of crosses to be removed from badges worn by police chaplains in Spokane.
Ray Ideus, formerly a Lutheran pastor who became an atheist, filed federal suit last year challenging the inclusion of the Christian symbol on the badges. The city countersued, claiming Ideus’ suit was “false, and unfounded, malicious and without probable cause.”
Both suits will be dismissed as part of the deal, the Spokesman Review reports. The settlement says new uniform patches “shall not reflect any particular religious belief or serve to promote a specific religion.” Chaplains may show their religious preferences with lapel pins, however.
A hat tip to Blogonaut, which posted the story.
