San Antonio atheist sues pastor behind giant cross in Corpus Christi: 'It's tacky as hell'

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A San Antonio man is suing a Corpus Christi pastor who invited the city's mayor and two city council members to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for what's been touted as the largest cross in the Western Hemisphere.

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Patrick Greene sued Pastor Rick Milby of Abundant Life Fellowship in Nueces County Court on March 8, alleging that Milby violated the state Constitution's language about giving preference to a specific religion, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times reported.

Greene also wants the court to admonish Corpus Christi Mayor Nelda Martinez and council members Lucy Rubio and Carolyn Vaughn for attending the January groundbreaking for the Corpus Christi Cross Project.

"When I saw the mayor in her official position and the council in their official positions were attending a groundbreaking ceremony for a Christian symbol – that smacked right in the face of the Constitution of the state of Texas," Greene told Fox News' Todd Starnes.

Greene also called the idea of the 230-foot tall cross "tacky as hell" in the interview with Fox News.

"I don't think it should be within eyesight because it jeopardizes people's safety on the road," Greene told Fox News.

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Milby balked at Greene's lawsuit, telling Starnes, "It's ridiculous. He's attacking my rights and the rights of the mayor. The groundbreaking was on a Sunday and these are Christians and they have a right to their faith."

Martinez also fired back at Greene, pointing out that Corpus Christi means "body of Christ."

"No matter what belief you have, this is the name of our city and it was my constitutional right to attend, and I will never regret being there for this wonderful moment," Martinez told the Caller-Times.

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Miles Risley, Corpus Christi's city attorney, told the Caller-Times he believes the lawsuit is frivolous.

"He is absolutely misinterpreting this law," Risley said.

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports