I’d like to put up a Christmas manger scene in Constitution Court with 3-foot-high plastic figures of Mary and Joseph and a baby. For some, this is a no-brainer while for others it is controversial, so the following is my argument for doing so:
Funding
My church and others in town would pay for it. No taxpayer funds would be used.
The reason for the season
Arguably there would be no winter holiday known as Christmas if the biblical stories in Luke 2 and Matthew 1-2 were not firmly embedded in Western Culture. In Thailand which is 95% Buddhist, Christians who comprise 1% of the population have to go to great lengths to explain who Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men are. Not so in Forest Park. Even residents who don’t believe in God agree that it’s a charming story and don’t need footnotes at the bottom of the page to fill in the details.
Santa Claus
The jolly old elf with a white beard (and white skin) is a relative newcomer to the Christmas scene. Apparently there was a third century bishop — St. Nicholas of Myra — who gave gifts to children but a sled pulled by reindeer is a much later addition to the narrative.
Check out The Night Before Christmas (1822) by Clement Clark Moore who described Santa as a “jolly old elf” with a “little round belly,” riding a sleigh with reindeer.
Separation of church and state
Let’s use an AI summary of the First Amendment Establishment Clause to clarify the government relationship outlined in the Constitution
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the U.S. government from establishing or endorsing a religion … by forbidding government-sponsored churches, aiding one religion over others, or forcing financial support for religion.
Key principles & tests
“No Establishment”: The government cannot create a church, favor one religion, or aid all religions.
Lemon Test: A three-pronged test from Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) asks if a law has a secular purpose, its primary effect neither advances nor inhibits religion, and avoids excessive government entanglement with religion.
Endorsement Test: Government action shouldn’t convey a message that non-adherents are outsiders or that the state endorses religion.
Coercion Test: The government must not coerce individuals into religious activities, especially in public schools.
Setting up a manger scene next to the 22-foot-high Christmas tree (which is not a Christian symbol) in Constitution Court would not be government sponsorship of religion, especially since my proposal requires no taxpayer money. It’s simply a way of recognizing the legitimate and constitutional place of religion at an appropriate time of the year.
Freedom of religious expression
The First Amendment goes on to declare, “Congress shall make no law … prohibiting the free exercise thereof [religion]; or abridging the freedom of speech. Google “freedom of religious expression and you’ll find things like:
The Supreme Court’s recent decisions, particularly under the current conservative majority, have significantly shifted interpretations of the Establishment Clause, often prioritizing Free Exercise rights, leading to rulings that allow more government funding or support for religious activities. While earlier landmark cases like Everson v. Board of Education (1947) established a strong “wall of separation,” recent rulings tend to view government neutrality as requiring accommodation for religion, rather than strict separation.
Would a manger scene impose religion?
No. The recent Pew Research Center survey of 36,908 U.S. adults revealed that 63% of U.S. adults now identify as Christian compared to 78% in 2007.
If secular humanists worry that setting up a manger scene in Constitution Court creates a slippery slope — give ’em an inch and they’ll take a mile — they haven’t been paying attention to the direction cultural winds are blowing:
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church — closed
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church — closed
The Presbyterian Church — closed
The Methodist Church — closed
St. John School — closed
St. Bernardine School — closed
It’s almost funny. If anyone needs to worry about slippery slopes, it’s the Christians in town!
In the latest village newsletter, our Village Administrator Rachell Entler wrote, “We want to remind everyone that the annual Menorah Lighting will take place on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 5 p.m. in Constitution Court. This event is always a meaningful tradition for our community, and it reflects the diversity and sense of togetherness that make Forest Park such a wonderful place to live.
Amen. A manger scene would do the same
What I’m asking for is giving credit where credit is due, especially when no one protested when a menorah was set up by the tree last year. Again, a Christmas tree is not Christian symbol.
I read a one minute prayer before the meal at the monthly Chamber of Commerce luncheon, a practice that acknowledges the majority and respects the minority.
The U.S. Congress (both the House and Senate) opens its daily sessions with a prayer, led by their official chaplain or guest chaplains, a tradition dating back to the First Continental Congress in 1774.
Common sense does not require a wall of separation.
