One of the nation's longest-running church-state conflicts could be nearing a conclusion.
As part of a bill setting defense policy, Congress would authorize the defense secretary to transfer a scenic parcel of federal land in the La Jolla section of San Diego to a private group — the Mount Soledad Memorial Association.
The parcel contains a memorial to the nation's veterans and a 43-foot-high cross that federal courts have determined is an unconstitutional effort by the government to endorse a religion.
The federal government has owned the land since 2006 when Congress stepped in to acquire the parcel from the city, which was facing court-ordered fines.
Still, after more than 25 years of litigation, nobody familiar with the dispute will be surprised if this latest effort falls short.
