Atheist Sign Stolen From Courthouse Lawn; Reward Offered

By Mike Perleberg Police say the Freedom From Religion Foundation's sign (shown on the left) was stolen this past weekend. The Bill of Rights nativity display remains on the lawn of the Franklin County Courthouse in Brookville near several Christmas and religious displays. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3. (Brookville, Ind.) - Somebody disobeyed the Seventh Commandment - "Thou shalt not steal" – when they took an atheist organization’s banner from the Franklin County Courthouse. The Freedom From Religion Foundation had put up the banner with county approval on November 28. It is located just a few steps away from a Christian nativity scene which the Madison, Wisconsin-based atheist organization had unsuccessfully sued to have removed last year. This year the FFRF put up a banner at the courthouse in Brookville stating that there are no gods, devils, angels, heaven, or hell. “There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds,” the sign read. Police say that the banner was stolen from the public property this past Saturday night or Sunday morning. Another Bill of Rights nativity display that FFRF placed next to that sign was left intact. The sign display shows Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the Statue of Liberty gathered around a manger in which a page of the Bill of Rights lays. The Freedom From Religion Foundation is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest for the sign theft. RELATED STORIES: Atheists Join The Religious On The Franklin Co. Courthouse Lawn Holiday Displays Going Up At Franklin Co. Courthouse Oldenburg Council Votes To Leave Memorial As Is; Atheist Resident Threatens Lawsuit Atheist Display Will Accompany Nativity At Courthouse Federal Judge Dismisses Franklin Co. Courthouse Nativity Lawsuit After Nativity Lawsuit, County Establishes Courthouse Display Permits Agreement Allows Courthouse Nativity To Stay Until Dec. 26; Legislation To Be Filed In Ind.