Ohio May End Fight Over City Seal As Religious Symbol

ACLU News Wire: January 31, 1999 — Ohio May End Fight Over City Seal As Religious Symbol

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STOW, OH — The City Council in Ohio has ordered legislation that could end its two-year legal battle to keep an emblem which features religious symbols, the Associated Press reported today.

Council members has asked for two pieces of legislation the, AP said. One would drop the city’s appeal of a ruling which called the seal unconstitutional and the other calls for the seal’s redesign.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit in 1997, saying the seal, used on city documents for 32 years and featuring a cross and an open book that looks like the bible, violated the separation between church and state, AP reported.

Christine Link, Executive Director of the ACLU of Ohio told the AP that she was unsure whether the new design would be acceptable to the organization.

“Is it just the words or do they keep the Bible? We’re not going to sign off on anything in advance,” she said.

According to AP, a committee meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, when a public comment will be taken, but no vote is expected. The next full council meeting will be held February 11, 1999.

Source: Associated Press, January 31, 1999