The construction of a cross-shaped pier by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association on a public beach in New Jersey has sparked outrage among thousands of residents.
The Christian special interest group is currently facing backlash from thousands of Jersey Shore residents for building a pier that looks like a Christian cross on a public beach. While the Christian group justifies its decision, critics are calling it “Christian bullying.”
The group’s decision to build the pier with private funds allowed it to avoid the official approval process, leading to accusations that they are violating the separation of church and state.
Despite the criticisms, the Christian group remains firm in its decision to build the pier. According to the group, the original pier, which was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, was founded on religious beliefs. Therefore, it is appropriate to rebuild the pier in the form of a Christian cross. The group has expressed its love for the fact that the pier looks like a cross.
The critics, however, argue that the cross-shaped pier is just another example of Christian oppression. They have urged state and local officials to intervene before the pier is completed. The pier is set to open on December 7, 2022, but this may be delayed if the anti-Christian groups use their power in government to slow down the building process.
Presbyterian Pastor Douglas Grote has called the new pier a sad example of “Christian bullying.” In his guest column for NJ.com on August 23, Pastor Grote expressed his concern that the Christian group is using the cross as a Trojan horse to force their religion on the secular community. He believes that any political power that appears to bully its captive, vulnerable, secular citizenry into accepting a sectarian cross is a likely human rights violator.
Pastor Grote plans to take a stand against the Christian movement during the next Ocean Grove Home Owners Association. He hopes to request a vote to halt construction of the pier until matters are investigated and all citizens are consulted and approve the cross-shaped pier, just as democracy should work.
The controversy surrounding the cross-shaped pier raises questions about the separation of church and state. While the Christian group has the right to build the pier with private funds, critics argue that the pier’s design violates the secular nature of public spaces. It remains to be seen how the issue will be resolved, but it is clear that the community is divided over the Christian group’s decision to build the pier in the form of a Christian cross.
Source: AWM
