Cathy and Terry Hodgson, a couple from New Concord, Ohio, went on Fox News the other day to share photos of their new lawn ornament. It’s a four-feet-tall picture of Jesus and some bleating creatures under the text “The Lord Is My Shepherd.”

Why did Fox deem this worthy of national attention? Because a year ago, the ACLU informed a local public school that a similar sign that had been displayed in the building for more than forty years was in violation of the law and asked that it be removed. In a five-to-zero vote, the school board agreed to take the sign down.

Fox News’ Steve Doocy seems to be positively gloating over the Hodgsons’ lawn art, presenting it as some clever end run that the couple had done around the ACLU. But why? While the sign may bother people who are allergic to religious kitsch, there is nothing constitutionally wrong with it, and I know not a single atheist or civil libertarian who’d be offended by it in its new location. (In public schools or on government property, however, that’s another matter.)

By the way, note how the text at the bottom of the TV image says, at various times, “The Fight For Faith” and “Faith Under Fire” — and sometimes both. ‘Cause that’s fair and balanced, right?

Also, that’s not how you spell “shepherd” (1:03). Maybe the Murdoch empire could invest in a dictionary? Or at least pray for one?



