New York City, N.Y., Dec 2, 2009 / 06:18 am
Christians should not show timidity in cultural disputes over traditional Christmas songs, displays and Nativity scenes, the head of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights says. He charges such disputes are contrived by a small set of “mean-spirited people” who wrongly insinuate that many non-Christians are offended by Christmas.
Many reports surface each year regarding local governments putting restrictions on traditional Christmas displays, and Christmas 2009 is no exception.
A life-sized crèche was displayed for about 50 years in the public square of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. However, this year the display has been banned because one man said he wanted to have a sign which read “Celebrating Solstice – Honoring Atheist War Veterans” to accompany the manger.
Leesburg, Virginia has banned its traditional display of a crèche, menorah and a Christmas tree. A Nativity scene which since World War II has been displayed on the grounds of the Manitowoc County Courthouse in Wisconsin will also be absent.