While everyone is talking about flags that shouldn’t be on government property, the Bradley County Courthouse in Warren, Arkansas is being called out for flying a flag reading “An Appeal to Heaven”:

It’s unclear how long that flag has been up, but that’s irrelevant. It’s clearly a promotion of religion even when you ignore the fact that it comes from a group that wants Christians (and only Christians) in public office.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter recently to Judge Keith Neely asking for it to be taken down:

The “Appeal to Heaven” flag is now associated with the recent Appeal to Heaven movement, whose adherents “honor the Lord by supporting candidates for public office who are believers in Jesus Christ, who regularly attend and display a commitment to an evangelical, Gospel-centered church, and who will commit to live and govern based on biblical… principles.” … “Our government is prohibited from endorsing one religion over another, or from endorsing religion over nonreligion,” explained FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “This flag belongs on a church flagpole, not at a county courthouse.”

The smart move would be to remove the flag, give it to a local church, and be thankful you’re not getting sued.

But this is a judge in Arkansas. I don’t know if he has that capability. We’ll see how he responds…

***Update***: That was fast. FFRF says the flag is no longer up. Well done, Judge.



