Indiana Residents Rally To Keep Nativity On Courthouse Lawn – WLWT Cincinnati
1,100 Signatures Gathered In Petition Drive
Residents of Brookville, Indiana rallied at the Franklin County Courthouse on Saturday to save a nativity scene that has come under fire.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to Franklin County commissioners and the Brookville Town Council demanding the removal of the scene from the courthouse lawn.
The group said that the display violates the First Amendment and said it had received a complaint about it.
The group said that displaying the Nativity alone would indicate that the local government was endorsing one religion above others.
The letter indicated that if the reindeer already on the courthouse grounds were not separated from the display as they are now, or there were other seasonal decorations, such as a Santa Claus, the display would be more secular and would likely comply with legal precedent.
Brookville Town Council President Michael Biltz said the display, owned by the city, has been at the courthouse for at least 50 years without complaint.
Saturday, residents gathered at the courthouse and presented about 1,100 signatures to Franklin County Commissioner Tom Wilson.
The signatures were gathered at businesses around Brookville in an effort to keep the nativity where it is.
Via: Brookville Residents Rally To Save Nativity – Holidays News Story – WLWT Cincinnati.
