In Spartanburg, South Carolina, whenever there’s a fatal accident on the road, County Coroner Rusty Clevenger honors the lives of those who died by marking the spot with a Christian cross:
Clevenger said painting the crosses was first approved through the state Department of Transportation. He said the painted crosses on the asphalt are more permanent and serve as a reminder to drive carefully since the painting is at the spot on the road where the crash occurred.
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The evening following the cross painting, Clevenger spoke at an annual vigil for those slain in violent crimes. He defined sympathy as a feeling of compassion for another’s suffering and read a scripture from the Bible.
On a personal level, it’s admirable what he’s trying to do. However, since the Spartanburg Herald Journal won’t ask the obvious questions, I guess I have to play the bad guy here:
Is this illegal?
Does this constitute a government endorsement of Christianity?
Is Clevenger being disrespectful to people who may have been Muslim or Jewish?
Will he paint a Scarlet A if an atheist dies?
If families want to erect temporary roadside memorials with a religious theme (that aren’t a distraction to other drivers), I don’t have a problem with it. But this seems like a problem waiting to happen. Clevenger is making the assumption that all families would appreciate having their loved ones remembered with a symbol of Christianity. I know it’s South Carolina, but that won’t always be the case.
I sent an email to Spartanburg city officials asking how they plan to handle that issue if and when it occurs. I’ll post an update if I hear back.
(Image via Shutterstock)
