Information letter affirms constitutionality of public celebration of Christmas, including nativity scenes

PESHTIGO, Wis. — Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund sent a letter Thursday to officials in the Wisconsin town of Peshtigo, reassuring them that public displays of nativity scenes are constitutional. A national secularist group demanded that Peshtigo officials remove a nativity scene placed by the Chamber of Commerce as part of a holiday display on public property.

“The American people, common sense, and the Constitution are clearly winning the war on Christmas. Ninety-five percent of Americans celebrate Christmas. The attacks on it are simply part of a larger war on all things Christian being waged by the secular Left,” said ADF Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb.

Peshtigo officials allowed private businesses or individuals to place displays for the holiday at Triangle Park, a small municipal park in the city. The holiday display included a nativity scene placed by the Chamber of Commerce, a display of Christmas trees, reindeer, Santa Claus, and a rescue squad car. But the secularist group Freedom from Religion Foundation sent a letter to Peshtigo officials, threatening legal action if the nativity scene was not removed.

ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.www.telladf.org www.saychristmas.org