[conservatrice]

Unbelievable. It's a Christmas tree. If you don't like Christmas or the reason for Christmas (Christ), then don't go!

[FormerACLUmember]

This is typical on Long Island. There is fierce anti-Christian bigotry as exemplified in this case.

[B Knotts]

Uhh...it's a Christmas tree.

[Kimmers]

"There is a lot of hostility going around"

We are at war against terrorism and they are feeling hostile because a priest said Jesus Christ?....who needs terrorists when we have the citizens of this community and other idiot liberals scattered throughout?

[CommandoFrank]

Open mouth.......insert foot!

[Semper Paratus]

Would they have a problem with Wicca giving a fertility bleesing to the May Pole?

[samtheman]

"I'm getting an education on this myself as I speak to a number of people in the community, and realize there really is a concern that the holiday is being diminished because people such as myself who gloss over the specific purpose of the holiday," he [Supervisor Jon Kaiman] said. "In the discussions and meetings I've had with Father Nick and Monsignor McCann (the pastor of St. Mary's) since last Friday, as well as my conversations with local residents, I've gotten a new perspective on the issue."

Supervisor Jon Kaiman still can't say the C word.

[Kimmers]

Hello before I make a comment I should read the whole article and not slam all the citizens of this community it just takes a few idiots to ruin a village....

[Fiddlstix]

Good Grief!

[Hadean]

Mr. Kaiman obviously forgot something very critical in his outburst. What he meant to say was this:

"I just want to make it clear that this is no way a religious ceremony. YEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!"

[JulieRNR21]

Attended a Christmas Boat Parade in FL this evening.

One boat had a replica of the Nativity scene with lights that said "Happy Birthday, Jesus Christ'........which is exactly the event that Christmas celebrates!

[metmom]

"this is inappropriate." Then, Kaiman got up and told the crowd, "I just want to make it clear that this is no way a religious ceremony."


WHAT PLANET IS HE FROM? For cryin' out loud it's CHRISTmas. What does he think the holiday is all about in the first place?

[Salvation]

God bless Father Nick!

[Salvation]

Maybe we all need to send the mayor a religious Merry Christmas greeting!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Calpernia]

NYC Tizzy Alert!

:)

[Noachian]

"I just want to make it clear that this is no way a religious ceremony."

I don't know if this guy, Kaiman, is stuck on stupid or not, but nobody this clueless should be elected to office in a town full of Christians.

[Aliska]

Maybe this is relevant. Maybe it is not. People should be more careful sometimes about who they are messing with. I once promised someone to recount a chapter in a book I had once read and forgot.

Edward Rowe Snow wrote many true accounts about shipwrecks. A priest had come down to the dock in Southern England in a past century to bless a ship before it embarked. The sailors were drunk and jeered and mocked the priest, all but one. At sea, the ship sank, and all lives were lost but the one sailor who had not mocked the priest who somehow managed to cling onto some debris and either made it safely to shore or was rescued.

I'm not sure, but Snow was probably of the Protestant persuasion from a long line of old New England families which is neither here nor there.

[Just Lori]

A Catholic Priest mentions Jesus Christ at a blessing. Who'da thunk?

[saquin]

The headline of this article is not only poorly written but patently false (typical of the media).

After reading the article it's clear it wasn't the "priest's tree blessing" that sent the town into a "tizzy." It was the clueless local politician who felt the need to announce "this is not a religious ceremony" at a Christmas tree lighting.

The headline is very misleading.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***When the Rev. Nick Zientarski uttered the name of Jesus Christ during his traditional blessing of the official Christmas tree ***

Well, it wasn't like he blessed a menorah! So, what's the problem!