Contact: Tom Brejcha, Esq., Chief Counsel, Thomas More Society, 312-590-3408
CHICAGO, April 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- At 7 a.m. CDT on Easter Sunday, April 12, an interdenominational group of Christians will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago.
The City of Chicago issued a permit authorizing the display of the 19-foot cross and the interfaith ceremony as an exercise of First Amendment rights to free exercise of religious faith and free speech by private citizens in a public forum. This will be the third year that the city authorities issued a permit without any legal complications.
"We thank the city and the Public Building Commission for their cooperation in allowing our clients to exercise their religious freedom and commemorate Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection in the public square," said Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society, which secured the permit.
The 19-foot-tall wooden cross will be raised in Daley Plaza on Thursday, April 9, at 9 p.m. CDT. The cross was built by Karl Fritz, Christian builder, designer and member of The Redeemer of Calvary Church, whose pastor, Rev. Dr. Gilberto J. Medina, will deliver a sermon on Sunday morning. Rev. Francis Hoffman -- also known as "Father Rocky" -- chaplain of Northridge Preparatory School and Catholic talk radio personality, and Fr. Gerald O’Reilly from St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church also will deliver Easter messages. Vocalists will include Queen Esther, Orchestra Ebenezer Ministry, a prison ministry; and Dr. Joronda Crawford of Chicago's Pro-Family Coalition.
About the Thomas More Society
Founded in 1997, the Thomas More Society, Pro-Life Law Center, is a not-for-profit, public interest law firm based in Chicago and dedicated to fighting for the rights and dignity of all human life. The Society vigorously defends clients in state and federal courtrooms around the country, addressing vital issues across the pro-life spectrum, including pregnancy discrimination, end-of-life health care, the right of conscientious objection for medical workers and freedom of speech for peaceable nonviolent protest.
As a public interest law firm, the Thomas More Society is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, supported solely by private donations. Call (312) 782-1680 or email info@thomasmoresociety.org for more information.
