How One Courageous Man Quietly Affected a Nation

The National Catholic Register ^ | 1/25/18 | Joseph Pronechen

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Donald Creatore in red tie stands to the right side as his pastor blesses the creche on town hall green. (Courtesy of Knights of Columbus)

In January, one local man who shied away from credit brought about a decision that would ultimately encourage others throughout the country

The modest person who takes a stand and makes a great impact isn’t only the fiction of a movie or novel. One humble person’s belief can make a great impact that resonates across state after state and affects many people. But unlike fiction’s usually finale, hardly anyone would know who that person was.

Donald Creatore, who passed away in mid-January in Connecticut, was one of those unsung heroes. A plumber by trade, he got to the point where he was not going to take ‘no’ again for an answer when it came to his faith. The major case and his decision was about putting up a Nativity set on public land at his town hall green in Trumbull, Connecticut.

And it took nearly a whirlwind trip from lower and appeals courts to the Supreme Court and back again to the lower court, but he got the green light to put up the Nativity on the town hall green.

A quiet man, a humble man, and a man of principles beat the big guys who wanted to stifle a religious display at Christmas. But Don Creatore didn’t do it only for himself. In fact, he shied away from credit.

Years ago when I spoke to him about it, he modestly brushed aside credit for getting the crèche there on display.

When Kevin “Seamus” Hasson, Becket Fund’s founder and president emeritus heard about Creatore’s passing, he told me, "Don Creatore was an unassuming hero. He didn't hesitate for a second to file a federal.......

[LYDIAONTARIO]

Rest in peace, Don Creatore!