Sheesh.....

The Nativity scene was put up before the holidays by the "Christians of Winnebago County," and yet to be taken down when the complaint was made. Shh.... don't tell anyone but my neighbors still have their inflatable nativity scene up. I don't know about you but I wouldn't exactly feel like removing my Christmas decorations in the middle of a blizzard either - especially when they're frozen to the ground. The County originally owned the nativity but sold it to the Ministerial Association. Apparently if the County still owned it and was responsible for putting it up, they would be in violation of the constitution - however they can allow groups to use the property for specific purposes for a set length of time.

The legal director of ACLU says the 'three-month display at the courthouse without clearly visible attribution violates the doctrine of the separation of church and state.' A sign with attribution was posted on the back of the sign but apparently that wasn't good enough. The nativity scene was not hurting anyone and it was not shoved in anyone's face.

If adult oriented businesses are an expression of free speech.... why can't a nativity scene be one as well? I would not complain if there was a Santa Claus on the Courthouse lawn. Being threatened by the ACLU is a subject on the Board of Supervisor's agenda this week - they did not break the law by allowing private citizens to erect a nativity scene on the Courthouse lawn.

http://www.aclj.org/Media/PDF/ACLJ_Holid...