Liberty Counsel presents oral arguments before Appeals Court over Nativity scene display

Last updated on: November 12, 2020 at 2:39 pm by Bethany Blankley

Liberty Counsel presents oral arguments before Appeals Court over Nativity scene display 2020-11-12T14:39:55-05:00 Bethany Blankley

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Today attorneys from the nonprofit religious freedom organization, Liberty Counsel, presented oral arguments before a three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals arguing against a federal judge’s ruling that had prohibited a Nativity scene from being displayed at the Jackson County Courthouse in Indiana.

At issue is whether or not religious and secular symbols and displays can be displayed on public property, according to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

At the time the Nativity scene was put on display, so also was an annual holiday display, which includes figures depicting a large lighted Santa Claus, a sleigh with reindeer, and a group of Christmas carolers. The courthouse grounds are also decorated with lights and non-religious symbols related to the holiday season.

The U.S. Supreme Court and numerous federal appeals courts have recognized that government entities may recognize Christmas as a holiday and may maintain Christmas displays that include both religious and secular symbols. Yet Judge Tanya Pratt ruled that the Nativity scene figure could not be displayed on court grounds.

Liberty Counsel filed a motion asking the court to allow the Nativity scene to be displayed during the holiday season this year while the judges make a decision.

The plaintiff who sued the county, which is represented by Liberty Counsel, does not live or work in the county and does not transact any business in the Jackson County Courthouse. In order to be able to sue, a plaintiff must have standing.

The judge wrongly found that the plaintiff had standing to sue, which Liberty Counsel says she does not. And the opinion the judge issued does not use Supreme Court precedent, “discusses several conflicting opinions that used three different tests. … The opinion states the display passes some of the conflicting tests and fails others.”

The judge’s “flawed reasoning on both the issue of standing and the Establish Clause” could mean that if appealed, the case could ultimately be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668 (1984), the United States Supreme Court held that such a Nativity scene was permissible to display on public property, stating:

To forbid the use of this one passive symbol—the crèche—at the very time people are taking note of the season with Christmas hymns and carols in public schools and other public places, and while the Congress and Legislatures open sessions with prayers by paid chaplains would be a stilted over-reaction contrary to our history and to our holdings. If the presence of the crèche in this display violates the Establishment Clause, a host of other forms of taking official note of Christmas, and of our religious heritage, are equally offensive to the Constitution.”

Liberty Counsel’s Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said,

“The Jackson County holiday display does not violate the First Amendment. The Supreme Court and many federal courts have ruled such displays are constitutional, especially when the display includes other secular symbols of the holiday, and this display in Jackson County is no exception. The High Court has never recognized this type of manufactured ‘offended’ observer standing and this challenge fails for both lack of standing and lack of merit.”

Christianity

politics

Jackson County Courthouse

Liberty Counsel

Nativity display

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

US Supreme Court

Previous Post

November 12, 2020

400 years ago Pilgrims land in Plymouth, compose Mayflower Compact [video]

Next Post

November 16, 2020 Squanto: a story of providence enabling the Pilgrims to survive [video]

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Christianity Islam politics Sexuality transgender Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 October 2019 September 2019 July 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 July 2016 June 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Whom did Paul leave sick at Miletus, showing that early Christians sometimes suffered illness?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Trophimus Barnabas Timothy Silas