"Several of the world's leading skiers are Catholics and they asked why a shrine had not been placed," according to the article. Those skiers included early pioneers of the Big Mountain ski area like Toni Matt, former U.S. downhill champion who served as a lieutenant in the 10th Mountain Division.

Still, Cameron said the religious connotations cannot be ignored.

"That contradicts all of the previous reports," Cameron said. "We are not militant atheists out to stamp out religion. We are fighting to make sure that everyone has a seat at the table."

Cameron said he formed the Flathead Area Secular Humanist Association last September, just as news of the statue's uncertain fate was reported. Until then, he never knew the statue existed, and to his knowledge none of the association's roughly two dozen members had complained.

"I'm not a skier so I hadn't seen it, but now that I know it's out there looking down on the valley, I am offended," Cameron said. "It bothers me that it's up there and that it's on government land."

U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., a vocal supporter of the statue from the beginning, pledged to continue his support of the statue.