ALLIANCE DEFENSE
FUND NEWS RELEASE
December 08, 2005
– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020
Library agrees to allow display
of full nativity scene
after ADF letter to library officials prompts mayor to make request
BARTLETT, Tenn. - Officials with the
Memphis Public Library System have agreed to allow figures
representing the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the wise men back into
a nativity scene on the Bartlett Public Library's community shelves.
News of a letter to the library by an attorney with the Alliance
Defense Fund apparently prompted the mayor of the city of Bartlett to
ask the library to reverse their decision to exclude the figures.
"I'm sure just about everyone would rather have a merry Christmas than
one stripped of its obvious meaning," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel
Nate Kellum. "It's okay to display Christian symbols like a nativity
scene on public property that has been opened to the public for free
expression. We'll be monitoring the situation to make sure that this
is not just a one-time exception to an unconstitutional policy that,
in fact, needs to be changed."
The nativity scene is part of a local church's Christmas show
announcement. Brandi Chambless, a member of the music ministry at
Broadmoor Memphis Church, submitted the announcement, but library
officials told Chambless that she would have to remove the
"inappropriate" figures of the baby Jesus, Joseph, Mary, and the wise
men from an accompanying nativity scene (www.telladf.org/news/pressrelease.aspx?cid=3617).
Chambless plans to go to the library to include the figures in the
nativity scene today at 5:15 p.m. CST.
The community shelves have traditionally been open to groups and
individuals for the display of announcements, advertisements, and
other items as a means of providing information to the community.
"An overwhelming majority of Americans celebrate Christmas," Kellum
said. "ADF is pleased to help educate government officials regarding
what the Constitution really says about public religious expression
related to Christmas."
As part of ADF's Christmas
Project, ADF-allied attorneys have contacted more than 10,300 school
districts nationwide so far this year to inform them of the truth
regarding religious expression at Christmastime. For more information
on the project, visit
www.saychristmas.org.
ADF is a legal alliance defending America's first liberty--religious
freedom--through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
www.telladf.org
www.saychristmas.org
