Posted on 12/18/2004 1:30:05 PM PST by 26lemoncharlie
County officials in Florida reversed a decision that banned display of Christmas trees in public facilities, including libraries, recreation centers and community centers.
Christmas tree at Arkansas public library
Pasco County, north of Tampa, made the reversal 24 hours after the American Center for Law and Justice sent a letter [pdf filed] to officials.
"We are pleased that the county admitted its mistake and reversed its legally flawed decision removing Christmas trees from county facilities," said ACLJ chief counsel Jay Sekulow. "The law is very clear about this issue -- the display of Christmas trees is constitutional and the county had no legal basis in removing them."
Officials ordered the trees removed because they were considered religious symbols, said Dan Johnson, assistant county administrator for Public Services.
Sekulow has argued five cases at the Supreme Court involving issues of religion in public life.
He advised that "before taking such drastic measures in the future, it would be beneficial for county officials to get a clear and accurate understanding of the law."
The ACLJ's letter cited a 1989 decision in which the high court said: "The Christmas tree, unlike the menorah, is not itself a religious symbol. Although Christmas trees once carried religious connotations, today they typify the secular celebration of Christmas."
Furthermore, the Supreme Court and numerous lower courts have held that Nativity scenes and menorahs may be displayed on government property without violating the Constitution.
This season, the ACLJ also helped reinstate the display of a Nativity scene in a senior center in Missouri operated by the federal government's Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Meanwhile, an atheist couple is demanding that the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Wash., remove a decorated tree from its City Hall, even though it isn't called a Christmas tree.
Sidney and Jennifer Stock say the "giving tree," which has generated nearly $25,000 worth of donations, is offensive, reports KOMO-TV in Seattle.
"There are a lot of people who've come to this country, maybe have been here for years, who don't feel freedom to say anything," said Jennifer Stock. "So we feel we're saying it for those people. Not just for ourselves."
You know, As an Atheist I am so offended by the blatent
Display of Churches and Synogogues. I want Churches and
Synogogues BANNED! (sarcasm)
I find many Liberals comments offensive. Does it mean I can ban them too?
They do good work.
Like I have posted before:
I am a part of the Majority, that allows the Minorities to live in this country by being TOLERANT of them. I have reached my level of tolerance!
Contact Speaker Hastert, and your Reps, these ACLU Bums and the rest have gotten out of control. It's time for the MAJORITY to RULE!!
How did “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” get warped into removing the Ten Commandments from our public buildings? How did religious protection allow millions of unborn children to be murdered by the religion of socialistic secular humanism?
We have every right to display crosses or nativities around public buildings. The only thing the Constitution restricts is having the government select one particular form of Christianity for everyone. The judges are violating their oaths when they restrict our religious freedom. Each of them who do so must be impeached.
The Christmas tree is rooted in paganism. When the Christian churches came to Ireland they integrated their pagan traditions and Christianity. The Christian churches adopted the Christmas tree,
Really, how long will it be until Christmas is banned all together! It has already begun....
Let it never be forgotten that Atheism is in itself a purely faith-based belief (i.e. withouth any scientific proof) about the existence and nature of God. As such, Atheism is a religion.
We are the Majority, we should start acting like it.
AMEN!!
Wow, just re-read the article, We are so used to the ACLU taking both sides of an issue... (just when ya think ya know why ya opened your yap hole), Everything I said in the post about the ACLU stands except for the part about their blatant attempt to remain Tax Exempt, since it was the ACLJ that attacked the Ban on Christmas Trees.
To all of you ACLJ folks, my apologies for mistaking you for ACLU types.
TT
Agreed. However it is the second sentence of the amendment that is under fire, i.e., "nor prohibit the free exercise thereof." How can government prohibit the display, i.e. "exercise" of religious symbols. The answer is they can't. It is unconstitutional. Right.
Anyway, that is were the fight lies. Not in the "establishment" part.
***I find many Liberals comments offensive. Does it mean I can ban them too?***
I'm with YOU on that.
Praise God.
It's bigger than the Christmas. It's a win. It tells them they are going to far...it's a spark.
>>get warped into removing the Ten Commandments from our public buildings?<<
They are still up in the USSC, front and back!
True they are violating our rights by not letting us have free exercise of our religion, but they are using the establishment clause they misinterpreted to do it.
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