Posted on 12/22/2009 8:53:25 PM PST by Born Conservative
The Nativity scene and menorah are back on the Luzerne County Courthouse lawn, surrounded by some new secular decorations.
Added were Santa and Mrs. Claus, two reindeer, some candy canes, a little elf handling mail for Santa, a Christmas tree and signs that say “Happy Holidays” and “Happy Kwanzaa.”
Passing motorists honked in support.
The Nativity and menorah had been removed Wednesday after a litigation threat from the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. After a huge public outcry about the removal, county officials accepted an offer for free legal representation from the Wilkes-Barre law firm Rosenn Jenkins & Greenwald.
Though a suit may result, the county and Rosenn firm have attempted to work with both organizations to reach an agreement on a display that does not violate the constitutional separation of church and state, said county Solicitor Vito DeLuca.
Justin Vacula, the King’s College student who initiated the complaint about the display, watched county workers as they set up the display Monday morning and said he is satisfied.
“I think the display is great. They put up other things. They’re doing it right this time. The manger isn’t isolated and illuminated at night over everything else,” Vacula said.
He jokingly said that the only thing missing is a Festivus pole, a reference to a fictitious holiday mentioned on the TV sitcom “Seinfeld.”
Vacula said he has received “a lot of hate mail from loving Christians.”
“They’re not representing their religion very well. I’ve received a lot of threats – a lot of after-death threats,” he said.
He does not regret his decision, saying people must be willing to speak out and become educated about the law.
“It was worth it. The courthouse should have done it right the first time, but now they’re doing it right,” he said.
The removal of the Nativity and menorah has sparked two protests at the site.
Inspired by these demonstrations, Dupont resident William Clarke arrived there Monday morning and paced the sidewalk in a Rudolph costume to criticize county Treasurer Michael Morreale, who was recently charged with a summary offense of deer hunting over bait.
Morreale has said he did not know the bait was there.
“Please don’t bait me. Santa needs Rudolf (sic) for X-mas,” Clarke’s sign said.
Community activist Gene Stilp encourages people to gather on the courthouse lawn at 4 today to celebrate the return of the Nativity.
“It’s good to be thankful and gracious,” Stilp said.
the atheists should celebrate their own holidays instead of antagonizing everyone else.
It’s foolishness to those who do not believe but life and peace to those He reveals Himself to. Happy Birthday Jesus.
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would someday walk on water?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered
Will soon deliver you.
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby
You’ve kissed the face of God.
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding
Is the Great I Am
...what part of Catholic College does this guy NOT understand? I would be surprised (and disgusted) if there weren’t any signs of religion there.
I guess since Atheist's (yes it is a religion of it's own) have no guiding principles beyond "how does it make ME feel" there is no hope of resolution.
The ONLY place Kwanza is used in ALL of Africa is as an old currency in Angola.
It is NOT a relgion it is NOT a fiath of any kind itis NOT followed ANYWHERE in Africa. I have lived in South Africa for over 2 years and these fools are just that...fools as is ANYONE who is DUMB enought to fall for Kwanzaa...and global warming.
Let's arrange for this guy to go to the University of Tehran so he can see what REAL religious oppression is like, and take the same "principled, heroic, courageous, postively Prometheus-like" stand against it there.
I'll chip in for a set of flowers to be sent fourth-class.
Cheers!
they believe in p-ssing everyone else off.
Why is it that nobody ever challenges nutbags like this over their claims of separation of church and state?
that way, those who believe in Christmas can take it off, and those who don't can work til their hearts content.....
we have to remind ourselves folks....everyday, every year....Christmas is about Jesus ....its about Mary and Joseph....its about the three kings, etc...
its a Christian holiday and no matter how Jews or blacks want to obscure the facts, it is what it is......
kwanza.....what a joke....
kwanza is just another self-gratifying made up holiday so we can worship the black cuture again (11 students nearly kill a white kid in Jersey....shh...its a secret)
Kwanzaa is what it is. No worse than Labor Day IMHO
At least those who celebrate Kwanzaa don’t insult other religions and demand that decorations, creches, menorahs, etc be taken down
Are there any atheist colleges? If so, I want to send my kids there and demand that they build a chapel so they can attend mass.
What kind of dumb bass atheist would intentionally attend a Catholic school and then complain about it? Like moving near an airport and complaining about plane noise.
Sounds like part of a planned legal harassment program to me.
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