Thousands comment on mountain Jesus statue

KALISPELL (AP) — Officials managing the Flathead National Forest have received more than 90,000 comments as they consider whether to renew a lease for a 25-square-foot parcel of federal land on Big Mountain that has been home to a statue of Jesus since 1955.

The forest is hearing mostly from people who support the statue and the lease renewal, including 70,000 online comments from supporters of a letter written by the American Center for Law and Justice, the Daily Inter Lake reported Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the agency received another 10,000 comments collected by U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg's congressional website, also supporting renewing the lease for the statue, a memorial for World War II soldiers erected by the Knights of Columbus.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Flathead Secular Association oppose the lease renewal, arguing that a religious statue on public land violates separation of church and state rules.

Those comments are still coming in, as well, said Derek Milner, who is leading the public review project.

Thursday is the comment deadline.

"We'll continue reviewing comments and we'll prepare a decision memo," said Joe Krueger, the Flathead forest's environmental coordinator. The decision is expected in late January or early February.

In August, Forest Supervisor Chip Weber issued a decision denying the lease renewal after the agency's legal counsel advised that the statue is a violation of the Constitution's Establishment clause and cited legal precedent regarding religious symbols on public lands.

That decision outraged many and the Forest Service decided to take public comment and reconsider its decision.

Rehberg introduced legislation that would provide for an exchange of similar parcels of land between the Forest Service and the Whitefish Mountain Resort's private holdings on Big Mountain.

The agency also could pursue a land swap without congressional action, as it has in other circumstances.