Forest Service Deal Saves Jesus Statue

The much contested Jesus statue on top of Big Mountain in Whitefish will stay put for at least another 10 years. The Forest Service recently announced that it will extend the lease for the land on which the statue sits.

As early as last October, the Forest Service was set to deny a lease renewal partly in response to complaints that the statue violated the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.

Congressman Denny Rehberg, who has been heavily involved in the case had this to say about the Forest Service’s change in direction.

The Forest Service also determined that the statue was  eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. If the statue is listed it will most likely stay put, even if the land reverts back to the Forest Service in ten years time.