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| California nativity scene row reaches peak as churchgoers head to court | California nativity scene row reaches peak as churchgoers head to court |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| In Santa Monica, it has become an annual tradition as predictable as the early arrival of the Christmas season: a row between Christians and humanists over the life-size depiction of the Nativity in a public park. | In Santa Monica, it has become an annual tradition as predictable as the early arrival of the Christmas season: a row between Christians and humanists over the life-size depiction of the Nativity in a public park. |
| But this year, it has taken on an extra twist. On Monday, the dispute landed in a California courtroom after a religious group sued for the right to erect its nativity display in the face on an official ban. | But this year, it has taken on an extra twist. On Monday, the dispute landed in a California courtroom after a religious group sued for the right to erect its nativity display in the face on an official ban. |
| A county judge denied their bid, but the dispute is likely to rumble on, with the Christian plaintiffs vowing to appeal the verdict. | A county judge denied their bid, but the dispute is likely to rumble on, with the Christian plaintiffs vowing to appeal the verdict. |
| The controversy focuses on a plot of land in Palisades Park that has been home to a traditional Christmas setting. | The controversy focuses on a plot of land in Palisades Park that has been home to a traditional Christmas setting. |
| Nestled next to the nativity depiction in recent years has been a simple sign, erected by humanist Damon Vix, with a quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson: "Religions are all alike – founded on fables and mythologies." | Nestled next to the nativity depiction in recent years has been a simple sign, erected by humanist Damon Vix, with a quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson: "Religions are all alike – founded on fables and mythologies." |
| But last year, fellow atheists went further, erecting tongue-in-cheek displays paying homage to the "Pastafarian religion", complete with depictions of the Great Flying Spaghetti Monster. | But last year, fellow atheists went further, erecting tongue-in-cheek displays paying homage to the "Pastafarian religion", complete with depictions of the Great Flying Spaghetti Monster. |
| Others posters had pictures of Poseidon, Jesus, Santa Claus and the devil, with the message: "Thirty-seven million Americans know myths when they see them. What myths do you see?" | Others posters had pictures of Poseidon, Jesus, Santa Claus and the devil, with the message: "Thirty-seven million Americans know myths when they see them. What myths do you see?" |
| Some Christians failed to see the funny side. Instead most of the posters were vandalised, with black spray paint daubed over the messages. | Some Christians failed to see the funny side. Instead most of the posters were vandalised, with black spray paint daubed over the messages. |
| So this year, local officials told churchgoers not to erect their familiar Christmas scene in Palisades Park in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the hostilities. | So this year, local officials told churchgoers not to erect their familiar Christmas scene in Palisades Park in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the hostilities. |
| In an email, deputy city attorney Jeanette Schachtner explained that the singing of carols, acting out the nativity and handing out religious literature would still be allowed. But life-size models of Jesus, Joseph, Mary and assorted animals would not. | In an email, deputy city attorney Jeanette Schachtner explained that the singing of carols, acting out the nativity and handing out religious literature would still be allowed. But life-size models of Jesus, Joseph, Mary and assorted animals would not. |
| The decision also had the benefit of saving authorities the time and effort of overseeing the lottery process to hand out booths in the park in the run up to Christmas. | The decision also had the benefit of saving authorities the time and effort of overseeing the lottery process to hand out booths in the park in the run up to Christmas. |
| But the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee was not satisfied with the arrangement and has sued for the right to erect its display. | But the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee was not satisfied with the arrangement and has sued for the right to erect its display. |
| "If they want to hold an opposing viewpoint about the celebration of Christmas, they're free to do that but they can't interfere with our right to engage in religious speech in a traditional public forum," said William Becker, attorney for the committee. | "If they want to hold an opposing viewpoint about the celebration of Christmas, they're free to do that but they can't interfere with our right to engage in religious speech in a traditional public forum," said William Becker, attorney for the committee. |
| "Our goal is to preserve the tradition in Santa Monica and to keep Christmas alive," he added. | "Our goal is to preserve the tradition in Santa Monica and to keep Christmas alive," he added. |
| The matter is due to come before a judge in Santa Monica on Monday. | The matter is due to come before a judge in Santa Monica on Monday. |
| For his part, Vix doesn't appear overly concerned, indicating that he doesn't plan any further action. | For his part, Vix doesn't appear overly concerned, indicating that he doesn't plan any further action. |
| "If I had another goal, it would be to remove the 'under God' phrase from the pledge of allegiance but that's a little too big for me to take on for right now," the 44-year-old builder told the Associated Press. | "If I had another goal, it would be to remove the 'under God' phrase from the pledge of allegiance but that's a little too big for me to take on for right now," the 44-year-old builder told the Associated Press. |
| The battle of the Palisades Park is the latest local dispute between humanists and Christians to play out in the national media. | The battle of the Palisades Park is the latest local dispute between humanists and Christians to play out in the national media. |
| Earlier this year, a row broke out over a nondescript stretch of road in Florida after churchgoers blessed Polk County's Highway 98 to try to prevent sinners and wrongdoers from entering the community. | Earlier this year, a row broke out over a nondescript stretch of road in Florida after churchgoers blessed Polk County's Highway 98 to try to prevent sinners and wrongdoers from entering the community. |
| In New York, humanists provoked the ire of religious commuters by taking their message to the subway in a series of ads. | In New York, humanists provoked the ire of religious commuters by taking their message to the subway in a series of ads. |
| National secular groups also bought full-page newspaper ads and hundreds of TV spots to convey their response to Catholic bishops' activism around women's healthcare issues. | National secular groups also bought full-page newspaper ads and hundreds of TV spots to convey their response to Catholic bishops' activism around women's healthcare issues. |
| "In recent years, the tactic of many in the atheist community has been, if you can't beat them, join them," said Charles Haynes, a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center and director of the Newseum's Religious Freedom Education Project in Washington. | "In recent years, the tactic of many in the atheist community has been, if you can't beat them, join them," said Charles Haynes, a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center and director of the Newseum's Religious Freedom Education Project in Washington. |
| "If these church groups insist that these public spaces are going to be dominated by a Christian message, we'll just get in the game and that changes everything." | "If these church groups insist that these public spaces are going to be dominated by a Christian message, we'll just get in the game and that changes everything." |
| A recent study by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found 20% of Americans say they have no religious affiliation, an increase from 15% in the last five years. | A recent study by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found 20% of Americans say they have no religious affiliation, an increase from 15% in the last five years. |
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