ADF: More than 800 attorneys nationwide ready to combat attempts to censor Christmas

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The Alliance Defense Fund announced today it has more than 800 attorneys available nationwide to combat any improper attempts to censor the celebration of Christmas in schools and on public property.

"An overwhelming majority of Americans of all faiths agree that we should celebrate Christmas," said ADF President Alan Sears. "This is a time for goodness, giving, and hope--not a time for fear, intimidation, and the disinformation of agenda-driven, anti-Christmas legal entities."

According to recent polls,

96 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, 2003).
90 percent of Americans recognize Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ (Gallup, 2000).
88 percent of Americans say it is okay for people to wish others "Merry Christmas" and the majority of Americans are more likely to wish someone they just met "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays" (CNN/USA Today/Gallup, 2004).
87 percent of Americans believe nativity scenes should be allowed on public property (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, 2003).

"As in years past, ADF's goal this season is to inform, educate, and help protect the rights of the 96% of Americans who celebrate Christmas regarding their rights," Sears explained.

"We want to dispel the myths about religious expression at Christmastime that have prompted wrongful acts of government censorship of religious speech," Sears said. "Merry Christmas. It's okay to say it."

The purpose of ADF's Christmas Project is to clear up misconceptions about seasonal religious expression on public property:

The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled that public schools must ban the singing of religious Christmas carols or prohibit the distribution of candy canes or Christmas cards.
School officials may refer to a school break in December as "Christmas Vacation" or as a holiday without offending the Constitution.
School officials do not violate the Constitution by closing on religious holidays such as Christmas and Good Friday.
No court has ever held that celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas as religious holidays requires recognition of all other religious holidays.
The "Three Reindeer Rule" used by the courts requires a municipality to place a sufficient number of secular objects in close enough proximity to the Christmas item (such as a crèche) to render the overall display sufficiently secular. Although the overall display must not convey a message endorsing a particular religion's view, Christmas displays are not banned as some people believe. Simply put, the courts ask, "Is the municipality celebrating the holiday or promoting religion?"

Participating with ADF in this year's Christmas Project are Coral Ridge Ministries, Focus on the Family, Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York, and the majority of America's state family policy councils.

ADF will represent people of faith, as well as school districts or other entities, free of charge--as it has in numerous instances in recent years--to defend their freedom of speech regarding Christmas, even after Christmas is over.

ADF has prepared a free informational pamphlet titled "The Truth about Religious Expression at Christmastime." An informational legal memorandum that can be sent to school officials regarding the law and Christmas expression is also available. Visit www.saychristmas.org or call 1-877-TELL-ADF.

ADF is a legal alliance defending America's first liberty--religious freedom--through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
www.telladf.org www.saychristmas.org

Related information

1 posted on 11/02/2005 6:29:36 PM PST by Coleus

To: 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; afraidfortherepublic; Alas; al_c; american colleen; annalex; ...

Enough with the Reindeer, don't forget to purchase and put up your outdoor Nativity Scenes.

2 posted on 11/02/2005 6:32:24 PM PST by Coleus (I support ethical, effective and safe stem cell research and use: adult, umbilical cord, bone marrow)

This is great.

CAN WE WAIT UNTIL AFTER THANKSGIVING?

I'm so tired of the holiday "creep". I prefer mine one at a time.

BTW - My local public schools banned any and all Halloween
stuff at school this year.

Winches!

3 posted on 11/02/2005 6:35:35 PM PST by tryingtomakesenseofthis

To: tryingtomakesenseofthis

4 posted on 11/02/2005 6:38:41 PM PST by Michael Goldsberry (an enemy of islam -- Joe Boucher; Leapfrog; Dr.Zoidberg; Lazamataz; ...)

To: tryingtomakesenseofthis; Coleus; FormerACLUmember; Congressman Billybob

This is great.

CAN WE WAIT UNTIL AFTER THANKSGIVING?

I doubt it. The ACLU has been targeting Christmas for decades.

5 posted on 11/02/2005 6:39:24 PM PST by Paleo Conservative (Hey hey ho ho Andy Heyward's got to go!)

May I be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas! LOL

6 posted on 11/02/2005 6:39:30 PM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)

To: tryingtomakesenseofthis

CAN WE WAIT UNTIL AFTER THANKSGIVING? >>

No, political correctness is a year-round endeavor. Christianity, certain American holidays and western civilization are being demonized, especially in the schools. Also, Most stores have Christmas and winter accessories up when school starts in September.

My local public schools banned any and all Halloween
stuff at school this year. >>

They are taking all the fun out of being a kid. In a school in Sussex county NJ the nurse banned all candy for Halloween. It's only ONE day!

and

I think the dems are considering a law to ban candy sales.

7 posted on 11/02/2005 6:42:16 PM PST by Coleus (I support ethical, effective and safe stem cell research and use: adult, umbilical cord, bone marrow)

Thank you! and to you and yours.

8 posted on 11/02/2005 6:42:58 PM PST by Coleus (Roe v. Wade and Endangered Species Act both passed in 1973, Murder Babies/save trees, birds, algae)

9 posted on 11/02/2005 6:43:50 PM PST by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity

10 posted on 11/02/2005 6:49:43 PM PST by BnBlFlag (Deo Vindice/Semper Fidelis)

To: Leapfrog; tryingtomakesenseofthis

Today is Deepavali, or Diwali

Happy Divali to one and all

11 posted on 11/02/2005 6:50:47 PM PST by Coleus (Roe v. Wade and Endangered Species Act both passed in 1973, Murder Babies/save trees, birds, algae)

12 posted on 11/02/2005 6:52:12 PM PST by PatriotGirl827 (There are no short cuts to any place worth going.)

ADF is one of the finest organizations in the country. Anyone wanting a place to put donations to good use, this would be it.

13 posted on 11/02/2005 6:56:27 PM PST by PistolPaknMama (Al-Queda can recruit on college campuses but the US military can't! --FReeper airborne)

Merry Christmas PING.

14 posted on 11/02/2005 6:57:46 PM PST by HighlyOpinionated (In Memory of Crockett Nicolas, hit and run in the prime of his Cocker Spaniel life, 9/3/05.)

To: PatriotGirl827

I'm SO glad to hear this! I was just thinking earlier that we may be in for another fight from the left regarding anything Christian,with Christmas coming up. I am glad the ADF is stepping in just in case! I back them wholeheartedly!

15 posted on 11/02/2005 7:34:09 PM PST by FeeinTennessee (http://hometown.aol.com/feereports/feepolitics.html)

When I was in Grade School a little over ten years ago, we sang Christmas carols in the school Christmas concert, and the official Board of Education calendar called it "Christmas Vacation."

When I was in High School, the school administration played Mannheim Steamroller on the last days before Christmas during the three lunches, which, mind you, has instrumentals on several songs which could be argued as explicitly religious.

But now, I find that the calendar has become "Winter Break," and my little brother's Grade school concert is a "Winter" theme. The fact is that it is the Socialist nuts, the "need to get a clu" ACLU, and the Demoncraps, who with their PC madness has quickly changed a holiday tradition to something bland.

I say, let's put Christmas out in public (after Thanksgiving, of course.) Better yet, let us push the real reason for the season--the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. And let's do it without shame.

If but a few of us do it, it can very well have a huge impact on the nation. It starts here with us. Let's Roll!

16 posted on 11/02/2005 7:56:01 PM PST by rzeznikj at stout (Liberalism: The world's singular leading cause of truth decay...)

To: rzeznikj at stout

I find that the calendar has become "Winter Break," >>

the pagan winter solstice. Public schools do teach religion, the religion of gaia, secular humanism, environmentalism and earth worship.

17 posted on 11/02/2005 8:08:37 PM PST by Coleus (Roe v. Wade and Endangered Species Act both passed in 1973, Murder Babies/save trees, birds, algae)

Nativity Scenes.

We always have at least two IN our home as well. We have a real big one on the coffee table and a smaller one on the dinning table.

We have always sang happy birthday Jesus on Christmas morning.

18 posted on 11/02/2005 8:56:23 PM PST by processing please hold (Islam and Christianity do not mix ----9-11 taught us that)

To: tryingtomakesenseofthis

I'm so tired of the holiday "creep". I prefer mine one at a time.

Amen! Amen! AMEN! I went to Macy's yesterday to get a dress shirt, and they ALREADY had their secular holiday decorations up (Christmas trees, et al). I was thinking to myself, "C'mon!"

19 posted on 11/03/2005 7:28:11 AM PST by Pyro7480 (Sancte Joseph, terror daemonum, ora pro nobis!)

Thanks for the ping.I will volunteer my time and make it 801 attorneys that will defend Christmas.

Remember the play in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. Let's see them try and have that kind of play in school now.

20 posted on 11/03/2005 8:51:36 AM PST by MattinNJ (Allen/Pawlenty in 08-play the map.)

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