FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  A church is challenging Broward County's refusal to allow it to display a religious message along a two-mile holiday lights attraction at a county park.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Calvary Chapel filed a federal lawsuit Oct. 22 claiming unconstitutional censorship. The church seeks permission to display a cross and sign reading "Jesus is the Reason for the Season  Calvary Chapel" along the annual drive-through attraction that draws more than 250,000 visitors.
The county first rejected the church's message in April but then approved both the cross and message in June. In August permission was withdrawn, the lawsuit claimed. The county 9issued a new policy in September allowing sponsors to pick from designs offered by the county.
"Very clearly it's a First Amendment case," said John Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, a civil liberties organization based in Charlottesville, Va. "All they're asking is just to be part of an event where hundreds of other businesses are celebrating Christmas and be able to say what they want to say within reason."
The church is willing to pay the $15,000 fee to display its message.
