A religious freedom group issued a response to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) over his criticism of the United States Merchant Marine Academy’s choice to cover a painting of Jesus at its New York location.
The academy placed a curtain of the 10-by-19-foot “Christ on the Water” painting in response to a complaint it received in January from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. The foundation’s complaint represented 17 Merchant Marine Academy midshipmen, faculty, and graduates.
Cruz opposed the move and dispatched a letter dated Feb. 22 to Merchant Marine Academy Superintendent Joanna Nunen.
“The email alleged the Academy’s display of ‘Christ on the Water’ violates ‘the salient time, place, and manner requirements of American Constitutional law’ and demanded that you remove it,” wrote Cruz….