In the Australian rural city of Warrnambool, it has been a tradition since 1967 that an illuminated Cross is displayed, from Christmas through to Easter, on top of a local water tower for all to see.

Now the local council is going to have it removed.

Why?

One citizen, Mr Graham Keith, lodged a complaint.

He said that because Australia is a “secular” society — and because the Cross is “a religious symbol” — it is therefore “not right that it should be on public property”.

Not what? Hasn’t Mr Keith got his wires crossed?

If we’re committed to being secular, then nothing is “right”. And nothing is “wrong”. Life is simply a power struggle. You get your way by coercing others — exploiting their fear and/or their greed.

Any idea of anything being “right” is a purely religious concept.

* * *

Warrnambool’s local priest, Father John Fitzgerald, said, “I can understand some people objecting to a religious symbol like the Cross being placed on a government-owned structure and I respect that.”

That sounds a bit weak.

Isn’t the Cross more than just a “symbol”?

The Cross is the instrument of suffering on which Christ the divine Son of God died to redeem the world.

Surely the priest is obliged to make that point.

Not everyone may be ready to accept that it is so. But isn’t the role of the Church to challenge others to think about the Cross whenever the opportunity arises?

* * *

Every Christian family in Warrnambool should now put up a Cross on their property where everybody can see it.

Make a stand for God.

Why not?

And at the same time push for the Council to restore the public Cross.