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Posted on 12/08/2005 2:06:03 PM PST by dukeman
Library agrees to allow display of full nativity scene after ADF letter to library officials prompts mayor to make request
BARTLETT, Tenn. - Officials with the Memphis Public Library System have agreed to allow figures representing the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the wise men back into a nativity scene on the Bartlett Public Library's community shelves. News of a letter to the library by an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund apparently prompted the mayor of the city of Bartlett to ask the library to reverse their decision to exclude the figures.
"I'm sure just about everyone would rather have a merry Christmas than one stripped of its obvious meaning," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Nate Kellum. "It's okay to display Christian symbols like a nativity scene on public property that has been opened to the public for free expression. We'll be monitoring the situation to make sure that this is not just a one-time exception to an unconstitutional policy that, in fact, needs to be changed."
The nativity scene is part of a local church's Christmas show announcement. Brandi Chambless, a member of the music ministry at Broadmoor Memphis Church, submitted the announcement, but library officials told Chambless that she would have to remove the "inappropriate" figures of the baby Jesus, Joseph, Mary, and the wise men from an accompanying nativity scene. Chambless plans to go to the library to include the figures in the nativity scene today at 5:15 p.m. CST.
The community shelves have traditionally been open to groups and individuals for the display of announcements, advertisements, and other items as a means of providing information to the community.
"An overwhelming majority of Americans celebrate Christmas," Kellum said. "ADF is pleased to help educate government officials regarding what the Constitution really says about public religious expression related to Christmas."
As part of ADF's Christmas Project, ADF-allied attorneys have contacted more than 10,300 school districts nationwide so far this year to inform them of the truth regarding religious expression at Christmastime. For more information on the project, visit www.saychristmas.org.
ADF is a legal alliance defending America's first liberty--religious freedom--through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
I am minutes away from Bartlett. Anyone know if Mike Fleming (WREC AM 600) has been talking about this?
Good, the woman called Hannity this week and he had her hold so he could give her a direct phone number to get these people to go to bat for her.
Us Baptists might like this!
I sent an email this morning to the "comments" email address at the Bartlett Library, giving them a piece of my mind about this.
Same afternoon, I got a reply saying the Mayor of Bartlett had ordered to the return of the complete nativity scene at the Bartlett Library. (Bartlett is a small community, ajoining Memphis.)
Also the email said that the Bartlett Mayor had appealed to the Mayor of Memphis to follow suit.
We Catholics do like this.
I live a couple of miles from this library and plan to go see the ENTIRE display.
People are finally standing up and saying enough of this PC and anti-Christian nonsense. This is good news. Maybe the tide has turned.
Go out and win one for the Savior, Baptist ping.
Maybe a trip from Olive Branch might be in order.
Let me see: the f-word, the sh-word and the J-word.....
Sure. Good idea. Come on up.
I bet he will. I just logged onto the web site, and he's talking about the gang leader in California right now who's got the Commie Hollyweirders pushing for clemency...
.
He was on it yesterday. I'm sure he'll be bringing it up again.
Thanks - I remember it was something like that...
:o)
I cannot remember if Mike or Craig in the morning had the young woman on, maybe both.
Barlett is a pretty conservative area. You can forget about King Willie, The Mayor of Memphis.
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