The US Supreme Court ruled that a World War I memorial cross in Bladensburg, Maryland, can remain on public land (Eric BARADAT)

Washington (AFP) – The US Supreme Court, in a case testing the constitutional separation of church and state, ruled on Thursday that a World War I memorial cross can remain on public land.

The nation’s highest court voted 7-2 to allow the 40-foot (12-meter) tall “Peace Cross” to continue to stand in a busy intersection in Bladensburg, Maryland.

The concrete cross was put up nearly 100 years ago to honor young men from Prince George’s County, near Washington, who were killed during World War I. It lists the names of 49 county soldiers who died.

The American Humanist Association had filed suit to have it taken down on grounds that it violated the constitutional separation between church and state.

Delivering the majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito said “retaining established, religiously expressive monuments, symbols and practices is quite different from erecting or adopting new ones.

“Even if the original purpose of a monument was infused with religion, the passage of time may obscure that sentiment,” Alito said.

“As our society becomes more and more religiously diverse, a community may preserve such monuments, symbols, and practices for the sake of their historical significance or their place in a common cultural heritage,” Alito said.

“The Cross has also acquired historical importance with the passage of time, reminding the townspeople of the deeds and sacrifices of their predecessors,” he added.

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.

“Decades ago, this Court recognized that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution demands governmental neutrality among religious faiths, and between religion and nonreligion,” Ginsburg said.

“Numerous times since, the Court has reaffirmed the Constitution’s commitment to neutrality,” she said. “Today the Court erodes that neutrality commitment.”

“Just as a Star of David is not suitable to honor Christians who died serving their country, so a cross is not suitable to honor those of other faiths who died defending their nation,” Ginsburg said.

Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.