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Rehberg Proposes Land Swap to Protect Jesus Statue

By Beacon Staff

HELENA – U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg proposed a land swap Monday to save a Jesus statue that is facing eviction from U.S. Forest Service land.

The Forest Service recently rescinded its initial decision to remove the five-decades-old statue from a Whitefish ski hill amid an uproar over the decision. The agency announced Monday that a new public comment period was open as it analyzes the matter again.

Rehberg wants to take steps to ensure the statue can stay put. He is proposing legislation that would hand over the landmark’s home — a 25-by-25-foot patch of land — to the Big Mountain ski resort. The resort, in turn, would swap the same amount of land elsewhere to the Forest Service.

The resort, where the statue has been a curiosity and sight to skiers for years, has said it does not want the statue to be taken down.

The Forest Service has warned that current laws and past court decisions could be stacked against allowing it to lease land for the Jesus statue. In reviewing its decision, however, the agency noted that eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places could help the monument.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation prompted the review after arguing the Forest Service was breaching separation of church and state rules by leasing the land for the Jesus statue. It has been pushing the agency to stand by its original decision to remove the religious icon.

The group, which said it has received hostile hate mail from the shrine’s supporters, did not immediately respond Monday to Rehberg’s latest proposal to swap the federal land to the ski resort.

Members of the local Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, erected the statue in the 1950s. They included World War II veterans who were inspired by religious monuments they saw while fighting in the mountains of Europe. The group has said the statue made of a cement-type material is too fragile to be moved.

Rehberg said his proposed land-swap legislation provides another option should the Forest Service reject the lease renewal.

“Fortunately, the public outcry in Montana and around the country bought us some time,” Rehberg said in a release. “I certainly hope the Forest Service will respect the wishes of just about everyone in the local community, but if they decide to fold to out-of-state lawyers, it’s important to have an ace in the hole.”

The Forest Service said Monday it will take public comment on a new 10-year lease through Dec. 8.