WTRF.com UPDATE
WTRF.com UPDATE
Steubenville City Council is scheduled to meet at 7:30 Tuesday evening at the City Building.
The cross in the City's logo has become the center of controversy, as the Wisconsin based group, Freedom From Religion Foundation has called for it to be taken down.
At least ten area lawyers have offered to take on the case pro bono. City Council is expected to discuss the pending lawsuit to keep the cross on the logo.
Stay with WTRF.com for updates on this story.
WTRF.com UPDATE
Wheeling attorney, James Bordas, of Bordas and Bordas Law Firm, has now offered to represent the City of Steubenville for free, if they choose to take on the Wisconsin based group, Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF).
The FFRF threatened legal action over the use of a cross and silhouette of the chapel at Franciscan University of Steubenville in the cities official logo.
"Crosses do not belong on the logos of American cities. We are not a 'Christian nation' or a theocracy, but were first among nations to adopt a secular constitution wisely separating religion from government," said FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor.
Bordas believes the city is being bullied. He says the FFRF is wrong, and it all boils down to the purpose of the City of Steubenville.
"This is not the predominant sign, this is just one of many," Bordas said of the cross and chapel in the logo. "If this was the cross and cross alone, I think they have an argument, but that's not the case."
Bordas and Bordas is the largest plaintiff's firm in West Virginia and they have the resources to take on the group and whoever else joins the fight.
Bordas expects the ACLU to come in with "guns loaded", but said his firm is not the least bit concerned.
Last week, the FFRF claimed victory after the city agreed to remove the cross from their logo, but the city is now weighing their options after an outpouring of support and offers from lawyers and groups who want to help. A petition to keep the logo was also given to city council in their meeting on Tuesday.
Thursday, the FFRF sent out a release warning the city not to be "duped" by religious right groups offering them pro-bono help.
City Manager, Kathy Davison, told 7News this week that the city had not yet come to any conclusions about what they will do.
Bordas said he plans to attend a meeting with the city and some of the national groups offering their help on August 14th. A lawyer with the Franciscan University of Steubenville is also offering his help. Bordas is hoping they can all work together on this.
WTRF.com UPDATEThere are new developments in the Steubenville logo controversy as an activist group now warns the city to back off in the fight over whether religious symbols should be taken off its logo.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation on Thursday cautioned the city of Steubenville not to risk taxpayers' money by opposing the effort by the group .
The Madison, Wis.-based group has threatened to sue if it doesn't happen.
Earlier this week, city officials didn't take any action at a council meeting to remove the symbols on the logo.
The city's logo features the cross and silhouette of the Christ the King Chapel on the Franciscan University of Steubenville campus.
WTRF.com UPDATE
The controversy over the City of Steubenville's unofficial logo continued in the regular meeting of City Council Tuesday night.
Residents packed council chambers to address the removal of a cross and an image of Franciscan University of Steubenville's Christ the King chapel from that logo.
Several council members have come out against the removal.
Knights of Columbus representative Marshall Myers even presented City Manager Cathy Davidson with a petition containing over 300 signatures.
"I feel that it doesn't push any particular belief, it just shows who we are in this city. But ... Obviously, we're Catholics, and we're passionate about our faith. So, we feel, 'Why should an outside organization be allowed to dictate what the citizens of this city desire?'' said Myers.
Myers also told council they collected the signatures after Masses over the weekend at St. Peter Catholic Church.
ORIGINAL STORY
The City of Steubenville has had its current logo for years, but now all of a sudden it has become a hot topic.
Some are calling the logo controversial. The city has been called to remove the cross and chapel belonging to the Franciscan University of Steubenville from their logo or face a lawsuit, a threat made by the Freedom of Religion Foundation. The foundation claims it does not follow the separation of church and state.
One councilman disagrees and says there should be more religion instead of less.
Officials at Franciscan University are outraged by the group's threat.
"This is not the promotion of one religion over another or the promotion of any religion," said Franciscan University spokesman Tom Sofio. "It's the city choosing very identifiable progress leaders to put on their logo."
Some city residents do not want to see the logo change. One resident said she did not consider the logo offensive and that they need to bring things back instead of taking them away.
Franciscan University says they will keep the cross and chapel in their logo. As for the city, they have been instructed by Law Director Geary Repella to remove it or they could face costly court battles, spending money the financially strapped city does not have.
Officials from the City of Steubenville met with attorney representing four law firms for over two hours on Tuesday regarding a possible lawsuit over their unofficial logo.
The city was moved to do this after receiving threats from the group "Freedom From Religion Foundation" because their logo contains a cross and silhouette of Franciscan University.
The attorneys in Tuesdays meeting are considered experts in the field of constitutional law and tonight they offered up council to the city on what their options would be if a lawsuit would be filed.
City Law Director Gary Repella said that within the next week or two council will meet again and choose a firm or combination of firms and then make a decision on what they'll do with the cross.
He said the city has received two letters from the group threatening the city. Since that time they have been reviewing the law and Tuesday was an opportunity to talk to experts so they could give the city some ideas on what the outcome would be in a case like this.
City Officials have been advised by the different attorneys they heard from today to not comment on the situation.
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