Posted on 12/20/2006 2:23:14 PM PST by Coleus
Santa Claus is back in town -- after surviving a religious controversy in which he was given the temporary heave-ho from the front lawn of the borough library. The eight-foot inflatable decoration was abruptly taken down Friday after a resident called Mayor John E. Murrin to remind him that Santa Claus also was known as St. Nicholas to Christians -- and therefore could be considered a religious figure.
Now, under a compromise reached by borough officials, Santa will have company as all faiths have been invited to contribute to the display. The caller suggested that if the borough was going to host a Christian display on public property, it also should make room for other religions. The caller asked that a menorah be allowed on the library lawn as well.
Murrin ordered the Santa Claus taken down to give him time to consult with Borough Attorney Ken Petrie to review case law regarding religious displays on public property. But Santa's sudden disappearance from the library lawn prompted an outcry from citizens over the weekend.
"The mayor opened a real Pandora's box when he took Santa down," said Carl Padula, a former borough councilman and current head of the Democratic club. "Santa Claus is for all the children. He's not a religious figure. For him to take it down is just asinine." Padula said he doesn't refer to Santa Claus as jolly St. Nick. "To me, he's Kris Kringle," he said.
Art Kafka, a member of the Pompton Lakes Chamber of Commerce, notes that Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus rode through town on the back of a borough fire truck at the beginning of December to kick off the holiday season. "I think the whole thing is ridiculous," Kafka said. "There's nothing religious about Santa Claus. He's a myth."
Murrin agrees, "but our attorney has advised us that Santa Claus can be considered a religious figure." "It doesn't matter what religion you are; all kids love Santa Claus," he said. But the mere thought of a Christmas without Santa on the library lawn proved rather deflating. The council struck up a compromise aimed at maintaining the proper separation between church and state.
"We decided to open the display up to all religions in town," Murrin said. "We called each our eight houses of worship and invited them to participate in the holiday display."
Pompton Lakes has seven Christian denominations and one Jewish synagogue. So far, only the synagogue, Congregation Beth Shalom, has joined in the display. A small neon blue menorah now stands on the front lawn. A short distance away is the re-inflated Santa Claus, standing next to Frosty the Snowman, who has managed to steer clear of the controversy. "Santa Claus is back up, and he's staying up," Murrin said.
We have one of the most conservative representatives in all of congress in Scott Garrett.
We have a nativity scene every year right on the grounds of the municiple building (along with a menorah) and a minister says a prayer when the town Christmas tree is lit in front of the same municiple building.
Hell we even have a junior rifle and pistol club at the indoor gun range!
Scott Garrett is awesome.
"We've been good, but we can't last...hurry Christmas! Hurry fast!" ~ Alvin & The Chipmunks
Just for the record (and in case he lurks here) I've never, EVER lost my faith in Santa. :)
Americana all the way!
All of these problems start with one trouble making Clymer that cant mind his own business.
When a call like this comes in the best thing to do is to laugh out loud at the clown making it and tell them to blow it out
this mayor sounds like a eunuch. If bret schundler were mayor, he would take those whiners on. All he had to do was to put up other religious symbols to keep everyone happy. And someone tell this dolt that a Santa clause is NOT a religious symbol. He became popular after the Saturday Evening Post started to print his picture in their paper. Ho, Ho, Ho. Furthermore, a Nativity scene is a religious, Christian display not Santa and reindeer.
I'm actually old friends with this guy's daughter. Let's just say that Pompton Lakes is an...interesting town. It's tough to pinpoint, but there is just this general weirdness that radiates from there.
You know, it's almost becoming a contest. Every year, it's who can make the most ridiculous "charge", be the most "offended", demand the most "accommodation".
I'm sick of it. I'm just sick and tired of every damn bit of it.
Devout liberals should demand a copy of the tax code be put up.
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