Jesus statue may be spared by Forest Service

The Flathead National Forest supervisor is withdrawing his earlier decision to deny a permit renewal for the memorial statue of Jesus Christ located on the Big Mountain, citing the statue's possible historical significance.

The statue is near the top of Whitefish Mountain Resort's Chair 2 on a 25-by-25 foot parcel of land that has been leased from the Forest Service since 1953.

The statue was erected as a memorial to Montana's returning World II veterans with the support of the Army's 10th Mountain Division.

Forest Supervisor Chip Weber notified the regional forester Friday that he is withdrawing his Aug. 24 rejection of the permit in order to formally seek public comment in the next few weeks.

"It has always been clear to us that there are strongly held values associated with this monument and that it is important to the community," Weber said. "Information that developed after my August 24th decision is a significant factor driving this withdrawal and reconsideration."

The Montana State Historical Preservation Office has determined that the site in question is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. In response to the forest's inquiry, the preservation office said that the monument, "...is a local landmark that skiers recognize, and it is a historic part of the resort."

Details about the public comment period for this proposed action will be released sometime next week as details are finalized, the Forest Service said.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Rep. Denny Rehberg, had sent a follow-up letter to Forest Service officials, urging them to delay implementation of the earlier decision in order to allow time for a legislative solution to be enacted.

"While I certainly don't agree with the decision the Forest Service made to force relocation of this historically significant World War II monument, I can appreciate that they are in a tough spot," said Rehberg.

"In the face of public outcry from all corners of the country, reasonable people are interested in finding a workable solution. Unfortunately, such a solution may require legislation, and that takes time. What we don't want is for the Forest Service to forcibly remove the statue before we have an opportunity to implement a solution. It's been there for nearly six decades without hurting anyone, what's the harm in waiting a little longer to reach a common-sense solution?"

Rehberg's office noted that support for the memorial had come from veterans groups, religious organizations, community enthusiasts and even a self-professed atheist who proclaimed his "love" for the statue on Twitter.

"It's really too bad that a few individuals from out-of-state are so eager to ruin something that almost everyone in the community supports," said Rehberg.

Weber's decision to reject the permit had relied heavily on advice of the Forest Service's Office of General Counsel and legal precedent.

"The Supreme Court has held that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the government from promoting or affiliating with any religious doctrine or organization," Weber's decision had stated.