After a Christian organisation put a Christian and anti-abortion display in the Wisconsin State Capitol, an atheist group decided to send a message of their own, the Washington Times reports.
Concerned Women for America (CWA)—a conservative Christian activist group—received a permit to display a cross and anti-abortion literature inside the Capitol building during Holy Week.
When the atheist Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) found out about the display, they secured a permit for the Capitol as well.
FFRF put a sign in the Madison building's rotunda that reads:
"Nobody died for our 'sins.'
"Jesus Christ is a myth.
"P.S. your god says, 'Thou shalt not steal.'"
FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said that a Christian message in a government building is hypocritical and a women's group adhering to biblical principles is troublesome.
"It's unfortunate to see a sectarian symbol that is increasingly used as a symbol of political intimidation in our state capitol," Gaylor said in a statement.
"It's also unfortunate to see women serving as a front for a patriarchal religion based on women's subservience and second-class status.
"This is the same group that helped defeat the Equal Rights Amendment, citing its allegiance to biblical principles, instead of civil liberties under our secular government."
A CWA spokeswoman told Fox News that although she disagrees with the atheist message, she is thankful that the US Constitution allows freedom of speech.
Faith and Freedom Coalition Chairman Ralph Reed was less polite. He called the anti-Christ sign "repugnant", and disrespectful to Christian beliefs.
"I think this is unnecessarily a sign of contempt," Reed told Fox News. "It's demeaning, it's insulting... unnecessarily so."
Reed added, "I would certainly hope that people would show more respect for and deference on this most high and holy week, but unfortunately... we crossed that line a long time ago."
