Rob Sherman News

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         August 12, 2010        

Sherman sues Friends of the Cross
to force return of unconstitutional grant

Rob Sherman filed a federal lawsuit, today, to force Friends of the Cross to disgorge a $20,000 State grant that it received from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to reconstruct a giant, 11-story-high Christian cross, known as Bald Knob Cross, located on private land in the Shawnee National Forest, near Alto Pass and Carbondale, in southwestern Illinois.

The lawsuit was filed today at 11:24 a.m. in the Federal District Court for the Central District of Illinois in Springfield.  The case was assigned to the Honorable Michael P. McCuskey, Chief Judge of the Central District.  All litigation documents for Case 3:10-cv-03206 will be available via the PACER system.

Defendants in the lawsuit include Friends of the Cross, the State of Illinois, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity ("DCEO"), Governor Pat Quinn and DCEO Director Warren Ribley.

It should be noted that it was the Illinois General Assembly which created this Grant and ex-Governor Blagojevich who signed the Grant into law. The contract between Friends of the Cross and DCEO was then signed by former DCEO Director Jack Lavin. Pat Quinn and Warren Ribley had nothing to do with it, but were named as Defendants because they were asked, this year, to rescind the grant but declined to do so.

There has never been any question, outside of southern Illinois, that this State Grant is blatantly unconstitutional. The only questions have been whether I could get the Christians to voluntarily obey the law by returning the money, or if I would have to drag the Christians into court to get them to obey the law, the way that Union County Sheriff had to drag Rev. Bill Vandergraph into court to get him to stop raping four-year-old girls.

Reverend Vandergraph, a 72-year-old Pentecostal preacher, resigned as President of Friends of the Cross two weeks ago, subsequent to his arrest one month ago for the alleged "sexual penetration of a four-year-old girl." His first court date on the child rape charges is tomorrow, at which time additional charges that he is a pervert who molested children may be filed. Rob Sherman News presumes that Vandergraph is innocent until proven guilty.

There is an actual link between the theft of taxpayer dollars by Christian clergy and the theft of a child’s innocence by Christian clergy. The link is that Christian clergy seem to have the attitude that they can get away with anything they want to, as long as they do it on the sneak.

The job of State’s Attorneys is to prosecute clergy for the epidemic of criminal wrongs that they engage in on the sneak.

The job of atheists is to take clergy to court to challenge the epidemic of civil wrongs that they have perpetrated, on the sneak, against the People of Illinois, such as stealing massive quantities of taxpayer dollars to operate or maintain their houses of worship, parochial schools and religious ministries. It’s a big job, but somebody’s gotta do it. Maybe, today, you’ll choose to financially support my efforts.

Previous Rob Sherman News stories on this subject matter:

Friday, August 6:  Supplemental document file also proves fraud committed by Friends of the Cross

Thursday, August 5:  Contract proves fraud committed repeatedly by Friends of the Cross

Wednesday, August 4:  Lisa Madigan asked to investigate contract fraud by Friends of the Cross

Sunday, July 18:  Don't tear down the Vandergraph Cross of Shame

Saturday, July 17:  Friends of the Cross leader arrested for raping four-year-old girl!

Monday, July 5:  New $52 million Grant scandal at the Illinois General Assembly and DCEO

Tuesday, June 29:  Sherman meets Senate sponsor of $20,000 grant to Bald Knob Cross

Wednesday, June 16:  Day of Reckoning rapidly approaching for Friends of the Cross to return the $20,000

Thursday, June 3:  Pictures from meeting with Quinn, presentation to Friends of the Cross and from Stanley Cup Playoff game

Wed., June 2:  Sherman meets with Friends of the Cross and with Governor Quinn to discuss Bald Knob Cross controversy

Saturday, May 22:  Sherman to tell Friends of the Cross: Return unconstitutional $20,000 State grant

Tuesday, May 4:  Illinois donates $20,000 to restore 111-foot-high Christian cross on private land

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