The ACLU’s chapter in Hawaii has announced that it will file a federal lawsuit against the city of Honolulu because the city banned a painting of a nude woman on a cross from being displayed on public property. The painting by Daria Fand, “Last of the Believers,” was banned from an exhibit last March at Honolulu Hale.
The Catholic League’s response caught even the ACLU off-guard. Here is what William Donohue told the media:
“I am writing to all city council members in Honolulu asking them to consider the following proposal: in the event the ACLU wins in court, I want them to pledge right now that they will accept from the Catholic League a painting of a traditional Catholic crucifix to be displayed next to the work by Daria Fand. The expression of religious speech on public property must be uniformly protected: To wit, if it is acceptable for the government to sponsor Fand’s idea of religious speech, then it should be acceptable to sponsor mine.”
Already, some council members have expressed interest in our proposal. We’ll keep members appraised of future developments.
