From The Thomas More Law Center
For 63 years, a privately maintained Nativity scene has been displayed during the Christmas season on a public median in Warren, Michigan.
That 63 year-old tradition was abruptly halted by the Macomb County Road Commission as a result of a threatening letter it received from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a militant atheist organization.
The Thomas More Law Center has filed a federal lawsuit to overturn the Road Commission’s decision. This is the first battle of the 2009 Christmas season to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” And we request your financial support.
Not so many years ago, these coming weeks really were the most joyous time of the year. You’d see the public celebration of Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ – everywhere.
But I fear those traditions are becoming the America of the past.
So where is Christ at Christmas? Of course, He is always present among us. Yet, today as we prepare to celebrate His birthday, we are told we cannot erect public displays celebrating this blessed event.
In large part, this is due to government officials capitulating to threats of lawsuits by organizations like the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the ACLU.
So, in the City of Warren, rather than stand up to the atheist-agenda, the Road Commission took the easy way out and ordered the removal of the Nativity scene that was a part of that City’s history and tradition.
The Tradition
Since 1945, a Christmas nativity display has been erected by the Satawa family and members of the community. The Plaintiff in our case, John Satawa, took over the responsibility of erecting the nativity display after his father, Joseph Satawa, passed away. The first Nativity statues were donated by St. Anne’s Catholic Church. Over the years, members of the community and private businesses, including a Boy Scout Troop from St. Anne’s Parish, have assisted in keeping the Nativity tradition alive during Christmas.
When the Road Commission ordered John to remove the Nativity display, he called the Thomas More Law Center for help. Last week we filed a lawsuit in Federal Court at no charge to the Satawa family. The Road Commission attorney is adamant in his position – No Nativity.
This lawsuit will take years to litigate and will cost the Law Center tens of thousands of dollars. We need your help to fight this assault on America’s Christian heritage.
Rob Muise, the Law Center attorney handling this case, has already filed a motion for a court order allowing John Satawa to erect his Nativity display this year and while the litigation is ongoing.
The Freedom From Religion’s threatening letter claimed the presence of the nativity display on the public median violated the “constitutional principle of separation of church and state.”
However, a federal appellate court recently recognized that the phrase “separation of church and state, ” — nowhere found in our constitution — is extra-constitutional and has grown “tiresome.” The constitution “does not demand a wall of separation between church and state.”
Still, municipalities and schools are intimidated into removing expressions celebrating Christmas—a National and State Holiday—because they may get sued or offend someone.
Just think – after receiving ONE letter from a militant atheist organization claiming they represented ONE unidentified person offended by the Display, the Road Commission ended this 63 year-old Christmas tradition.
This is why the Thomas More Law Center needs your help. Christians must defend those symbols and traditions which serve to instruct and remind our children and future generations of the Christian principles upon which our Nation was founded.
Your tax deductible donation will help keep “Christ in Christmas.”
May God Bless you and your loved ones this Christmas season.
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