A Tennessee sheriff who’s being sued by an atheist organization for posting an Easter Sunday message on the department’s Facebook page says he might file a counter lawsuit against the group.
The New Jersey-based American Atheists filed a complaint against Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson earlier this month on behalf of an unnamed local woman.
Sheriff Watson told the Cleveland Daily Banner in an interview last Friday that he “will ‘seriously consider’ moving ahead with a counter lawsuit against the plaintiffs who have filed a lawsuit against him.”
The Christian Post reported that earlier this month the group American Atheists filed a complaint against Watson before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Southern Division.
At issue was a Facebook post on the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office page that celebrated Easter Sunday.
“Today is one of the most historic days; not only did Jesus die on the cross for our sins, but he rose on this day. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice, and offered himself for our sins. This day represents the best gift any of us could receive, which is ‘Eternal Life’ with our Heavenly Father,”
Both the post and the page have since been taken down.
American Atheists denounced both the message and the apparent deleting of comments to the Easter post that were critical of Watson’s religious views.
“Defendant Sheriff promoted or furthered, or attempted to establish or established a particular religion, the Christian religion, by his acts set forth herein…..Defendant sheriff’s actions in suppressing speech are overbroad, overreaching, and are oppressive and demeaning to plaintiffs and other citizens with whom he disagrees.”