ENCINITAS, Calif. -- Some residents spoke out against the "Surfing Madonna" mosaic in Encinitas on Wednesday, saying the city could be indirectly endorsing religion.

Since the mosaic appeared a month ago on a train underpass, her intrigue has grown undeniable.

"I think it is unbelievably beautiful art. You can see how many people come each day to look at it," said Encinitas City Councilmember Maggie Houlihan.

But not everyone is a fan of the mosaic. Some believe if the mosaic is allowed to stay up, the city is indirectly endorsing religion.

Those against the "Surfing Madonna" point to the Virgin de Guadalupe in Chicano Park as another troublesome example of a religious symbol being on both state and city property.

"Everybody can interpret their own reaction to what art is," said art activist Mike Clark.

Some are expressing their interpretation online.

A resident named Tim wrote in one local blog, "We can't go around installing art on public property, much less art that has a religious message like this one. If the city allowed it [to] stay, it'd be sued and it'd lose."

In the same blog, Mike Andreen offered this opinion on the mosaic: "There IS a spiritual and healing power that makes Encinitas both calming and sustaining and fits right in with the thinking that surfing is not only a sport, but it is also a religion."

"I see it more as a surfer and a 'save the ocean' banner that just happens to be the Madonna," said local artist Keith Shilling, who defended the 12-foot mosaic before the Encinitas City Council as it considers the fate of the controversial work.

The city has hired a consultant to look at all the possibilities including how to move it without damaging it.

"There's already a little bit of tile damage. We're figuring it's probably from vibrations from the train," said Houlihan.

Some businesses are already producing t-shirts and postcards with the mosaic's image on them.

Others have volunteered to display it if it does come down. Fans said whatever the mosaic's fate, one thing is for sure.

"This is still great art," said a fan.