Village Crosses Controversy

JEMEZ SPRINGS, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico mayor has accused the federal government of censorship after officials ordered the village to keep artistic depictions of crosses off of two planned federally-funded bridges.

Jemez Springs Mayor Edmond Temple told KRQE-TV that officials recently told the village to do away with plans to place crosses on the bridges over fears that someone might complain the village was promoting religion on a federally-funded project.

Federal funding for the bridges includes money for artwork, so the village held a contest and chose a local artist's work. It features imagery from the Jemez Pueblo and the first Spanish mission built there, including a priest and six crosses.

Mayor Temple said federal officials warned him that using public money for overt religious images was an invitation for controversy.