Permit for Big Mountain Jesus reauthorized

The Flathead National Forest will reauthorize a special use permit for The Knights of Columbus to keep a statue of Jesus Christ on Big Mountain. The permit is for 10 years and is for the display of a statue of Jesus Christ on a 25-foot by 25-foot parcel of land near the top of Chair 2 at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

“I understand the statue has been a long-standing object in the community since 1955, and I recognize that the statue is important to the community for its historical heritage based on its association with the early development of the ski area on Big Mountain,” Flathead National Forest Supervisor Chip Weber said.

The statue’s historic value and eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places is in part directly linked to the current physical location of the statue.

The decision to renew the permit was reached using an environmental analysis process for Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act. The Flathead National Forest accepted public comment from Oct. 19 to Dec. 8, 2011. The public comment period and other forms of public involvement are vital components of natural resource and related decisions for the Forest Service. Approximately 95,000 comments were received and reviewed. The comments did not identify substantive concerns related to environmental conditions.

The statue of Jesus has stood on Big Mountain near the top of Chair 2 for about 60 years. A decision last year by the U.S. Forest Service put the statue in jeopardy for remaining on its 25-by-25 foot parcel of land leased from the Forest Service. The statue has been in its current location since 1953 and is considered to be a memorial to local World War II veterans. The Knights of Columbus and veterans of the 10th Mountain Division erected the statue.

A permit for the statue expired in 2010 and the Knights of Columbus applied for renewal, but were denied after concerns that the statue violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution for promoting any religious doctrine. The Knights of Columbus appealed the decision.

The Forest Service last fall chose to delay a final decision on the statue to seek public comment on the proposed action.

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

Once the new permit is returned to the Flathead National Forest by the Kalispell Knights of Columbus with signature and payment, it will be signed by the Forest Supervisor and remains in effect for the next 10 years.