It's a sore subject. And it's coming back in to the spotlight.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich wants to bring the image of the cross back to the official county seal. He tells the Daily News now that a long-missing cross is back on the historic San Gabriel Mission, it should come back to the seal.
"I don't know when it will happen, but whether it happens this year, next year or five years from now, I know it will reflect the historical significance of the county."
About five years ago, the debate about the cross was heated and intense. The ACLU threatened to sue the county if the cross wasn't removed. Thousands of people got involved, voiced their opinions and protested at board meetings. Residents were split -- one side saying it had significant historical value, the other saying it was a violation of the separation of church and state.
The Supevisor's vote on the cross was very tight -- 3 to 2 voted to remove the cross. That cost the county a cool $700,000 to replace all the seals.
But now there's a new board member that could swing the vote. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas has a master's degree in religious studies and gives hope to those who want to restore the cross.
Ridley-Thomas isn't commenting...yet.
