Christian Easter Message Brings Truth and Hope Despite Adversity

Thomas More Society Sponsors 9th Annual Easter Cross, Sunrise Service and Divine Mercy Icon in Chicago’s Daley Plaza

(Chicago, IL – March 30, 2015) – In the wake of continual attacks on religious freedom, Thomas More Society continues to defend private citizens’ right to express their faith in the public square. This Easter, the Society partners with private citizens for the ninth year to sponsor “Jesus in Daley Plaza” – a 19-foot tall cross and 10-foot tall image of the resurrected Jesus in Daley Plaza’s public forum. An Interdenominational Easter Sunrise Service featuring prayers and music will be held on Sunday, April 5, at 6:30am. Daley Plaza is located at 50 West Washington, between Clark and Dearborn, in downtown Chicago.

On Thursday evening, April 2, at 7:00pm, the huge cross will be raised, draped in purple linens. On Easter Sunday, as the resurrection of Christ is celebrated, the drapery will be changed to the traditional white to symbolize renewed life. At the same time, “The Divine Mercy” image of the resurrected Christ will also be revealed. The nine-day prayer vigil “Prayer in the Public Square,” will run through Monday, April 13.

“By displaying these symbols of the Cross and Divine Mercy icon in the public square, we highlight the Christian meaning of Easter,” said Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society. “These Easter displays, privately funded and sponsored, are clothed and armored with the full protection of the First Amendment of our U.S. Constitution. We’re adding a welcome, overdue dose of redemptive truth to our excessively secularized marketplace of ideas, where Easter is so often reduced to images of bunnies, multi-colored eggs, and candy-laden baskets.”

The Thomas More Society helps groups and individuals across the country to defend  their First Amendment right to express religious beliefs freely and openly in traditional public forums, especially during the holiday seasons of Christmas and Easter.

Last year, the Divine Mercy icon was vandalized, which drew wide attention to the display and brought many Christians out to view it and pray in Daley Plaza. This year’s display will commemorate the hope and truth of the Christian message, despite others’ attempts to deflect and shut it down.

The Easter Cross and the Divine Mercy Image displays were designed and built by Karl and Nancy Fritz and family.