Keeping the Nativity Display in Christmas

In a Pittsburgh suburb, community leaders in the Borough of Canonsburg wanted to continue with a half-century old tradition of displaying a Nativity scene in town.  For 57 years, the Knights of Columbus has displayed a Nativity scene in front of the municipal building with the permission of the Borough.

Well, this year - it happened.   A resident complained - sending a letter to the Borough contending that the nativity display is "highly disrespectful to the citizens of the borough (who) are not Christians."

Many in the community were outraged.  The Nativity scene was put up - not in front of the Borough building - but at another location.

Not long after the controversy began, we were contacted by a local pastor who asked us for assistance. 

We have sent the Borough of Canonsburg a detailed informational letter that explains the law and how the municipality can set-up a Nativity display in front of the Borough building in accordance with the law. The fact is that displaying a Nativity scene in front of a municipal building does not automatically create a constitutional crisis. The display does need to conform with existing law; however, that can usually be accomplished with little difficulty.

You can read the letter here.

We have important information on this topic posted to our Christmas Resource Center - information that applies to celebrating Christmas in public schools, local and state governments, and the business community.  That information is posted here.

It's our hope that this information will encourage communities like Canonsburg and others to include the Nativity scene in their Christmas displays.   As always, we stand ready to assist communities on this issue.