Atheist Who Sued TX Mayor over Cross Project Drops Lawsuit

An atheist who filed a lawsuit against the mayor of Texas is now dropping his case.

Patrick Greene filed suit earlier this month against Mayor Nelda Martinez for planning to attend the groundbreaking of a project to build a 230-foot cross along an interstate in Corpus Christi.

"When I saw the mayor in her official position and the council in their official positions were attending a groundbreaking ceremony for a Christian symbol — that smacked right in the face of the Constitution of the state of Texas," Greene told Fox reporter Todd Starnes.

The land the cross is being built on is owned by the Abundant Life Fellowship congregation and the project is being funded by private donations.

Mayor Martinez told reporters that the cross was a dream of her father's and also represents her city of Corpus Christi.

"The name of our city is Body of Christ, and I will tell you I will never forget that conversation I had with my father about his dream and his hope," she explained to the Corpus Christi Caller Times. "No matter what belief you have, this is the name of our city and it was my constitutional right to attend. I will never regret being there for this wonderful moment."

On Wednesday, Greene announced that he had dropped the lawsuit altogether due to his wife's health.

"I am sending a request to the civil court today to dismiss the entire lawsuit," he told the Caller-Times. "My wife was just diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and osteoporosis and I don't want this lawsuit to complicate our lives. As an atheist, my moral standards put my wife first at all times."

Martinez said that Greene's wife is in her prayers, but advised that she will not back down from attending the services that she desires.