Group decries A group advocating the separation of church and state says a plan to change city regulations so a Makakilo church can display a large cross is further proof that Mayor Jeremy Harris and the city favor Christian-based faiths over others.
city plan to
allow crosses
It says the proposal is proof
Mayor Harris favors Christianity
over other religionsBy Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin"They want to carve out free speech rights and free exercise rights for religions that can afford it," said Mitchell Kahle, president of the Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of Church and State.
Kahle was responding to the city's proposal to allow 16-foot and taller "symbols," including crosses, to be placed only on properties designated as meeting places which, by law, must be at least 20,000 square feet in size. If approved, the plan would effectively allow for the return of the 20-foot-tall cross at St. Jude Catholic Church in Makakilo.
Meanwhile, pending building permit applications for two other symbols would most likely be rejected under the proposed amendment to the Land Use Ordinance because of the property-size issue.
Andrew Crothier, minister of the Satanist Church of Hawaii and a member of Kahle's group, has applied to put up a 20-foot high black pentagram, outside his Manoa home. Michael Golojuch Jr., also a member of Kahle's group, has applied to put up a 20-foot symbol associated with gay pride outside his Makakilo townhouse.
The controversy began when Golojuch questioned the legality of the St. Jude cross, which had been visible from an H-1 freeway offramp. The church removed the cross Thursday, but city officials confirmed that they were working on a proposal that would make it legal.
Planning Director Randall Fujiki said the city may even impose the new rule on an interim basis pending approval of the permanent regulation from the City Council.
Crothier said the proposal would be discriminatory to his group and others who worship on properties of less than 20,000 square feet. Crothier said his group meets twice a month at his home in Manoa, or some other residence, rather than at an established facility. "Due to the stigma that Satanists have had, it's not the easiest thing to find a location to create a church," he said.
Golojuch said he would not be able to put up his symbol if the city approves the new plan. He said he finds the city's latest plan more appalling after hearing that Harris met with Christian leaders to discuss the future of outdoor crosses in the wake of the St. Jude controversy.
City spokeswoman Carol Costa said Harris met recently not just with Christian leaders, but "representatives from all faiths," to discuss the issue.The Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of Church and State, has enlisted the American Civil Liberties Union to represent the two men in their applications. Brent White, ACLU legal director, said his clients would prefer the city allow all the signs or, if necessary, no signs higher than 16 feet. What would be wrong, he said, is if some signs are allowed but not others.
City & County of Honolulu
