Big Mountain statue draws heated debate

A statue of Jesus Christ has stood with outstretched arms on Big Mountain for nearly 60 years, but how much longer it might watch over the valley remains uncertain. 

A recent decision by the Forest Service had put the statue's lease in jeopardy, but late last week, the decision was redrawn to consider new information. 

The statue, which sits near the top of Chair 2, stands on a 25-by-25-foot parcel of land leased from the Forest Service since 1953.

The permit for the statue expired last year. The Knights of Columbus, which installed the statue, applied for a renewal but was denied Aug. 24 after concerns were raised that the statue violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution by promoting religious doctrine.

Flathead Forest Supervisor Chip Weber, however, notified the Regional Forester last week that he was withdrawing his decision and formally seeking public comment in the next few weeks on whether to reissue the lease.

"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.

The Flathead Forest also learned from the Montana State Historical Preservation Office that the site might be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

A Wisconsin-based atheist group, Freedom From Religion Foundation, claimed credit last week for persuading the Forest Service to deny the permit. 

"The Knights of Columbus and its backers claim the Jesus statue memorializes World War II veterans - specifically Catholic members at Kalispell's St. Matthew's parish," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, the foundation's co-president. "This is a sham designation that insults and excludes the many ‘atheists in foxholes' and non-Christian veterans who defended our country."

The Knights of Columbus No. 1328, which maintains the statue, said moving it would likely damage it. 

"This statue represents all the World War II vets that came home to Montana, and we erected it with the support of the Mountain division of the military," said Bill Glidden, Grand Knight of the Kalispell Council. "It's been up there for 60 years, and I've never heard someone in this area complain about it."

Whitefish Mountain Resort CEO Dan Graves, who recently helped make repairs to the statue, said it's a big attraction to visitors but also has deep meaning.

"It has a whole lot of historical value," he said. "When you take into context the time it was put up - the vets lives and what they went through - it's a rich part of our history. We would like to keep it."

Others seeking to save the statue began a Facebook page and online petition. The "Save Jesus Whitefish Montana" Facebook page had more than 600 likes earlier this week. A petition on www.change.org had about 550 signatures.