Green Bay council president provokes atheists with nativity scene

[TalkingDog]

Source: AP

Council president Chad Fradette told a city committee he believed the U.S. Constitution upholds citizens' right to display symbols of their religious beliefs on publicly owned property as long as they are not paid for with tax money and other faiths aren't excluded.

snip:

On Wednesday, the group sent a letter to Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt objecting to the display as "inherently religious" and a violation of the separation of church and state.

"Displaying a creche on the city hall building conveys the message that the City Council endorses Christianity," wrote Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the foundation.

snip:

Fradette had wanted to extend an invitation to all religions to put up displays, but committee members agreed a policy was needed to prevent people from testing the boundaries of taste. Fradette asked Schmitt for permission to put up his display while the council worked out those

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WI_CITY_NATIVITY_WIOL-?SITE=WIFON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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I urge all Green Bay Pastafarians to put the FSM back in Chrifsmas. Don't fight City Hall, join them! Put up your own display!




My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

[Maat]

1. Yes, well, this law school graduate says (not giving legal advice or anything) ..

the key is that CITIZENS may put displays, provided there is equal access for all, but NOT government officials ... UNLESS the display meets the criteria set out in "Lemon v. Kurtzman" (see the "Reindeer Test"). In other words, governments tend to get away with it IF there are secular displays around it (but I wouldn't push it).

Just my humble two cents' worth.

Ah, sorry for not reading the article (on edit). He's doing this as a private citizen, not as a government official. Boy, is this council treading on thin ice. They might want to establish those equal-access rules rather quickly.

[goddess40]

2. I'd like to see a flying spaghetti monster display

Then I could live with the other stories being displayed.

[Maat]

4. As if it wouldn't be vandalized if it was put up there ..

that's what frosts me.

[boricua79]

8. who cares, really

if someone vandalizes the Flying spaghetti Monster display, it's not like a dedicated group of activists can't put more up.

[saigon68]

3. Fradette is a nut job its a publicity stunt

The moran wants to run for higher office and it's a good way to rile up the sheep in cheese town.

some of the stuff he has said on tv is positively Neanderthal

[Maat]

5. That makes sense (n/t) - got to keep The Base all riled up.

[Dave From Canada]

6. Isn't Christmas a federal holiday? If so, why wouldn't people be able to put up

decorations commemorating said holiday? Even if it's public property? If not, then maybe the Federal Government shouldn't be making religious holidays, federal holidays. If so, then maybe it's time to de-holiday Christmas. Good luck with that.

[Maat]

9. Yes, that's precisely the story.

Private citizens may put up decorations to commemorate the holiday(s) ... as long as the government makes the property available to all groups (they can set appropriateness standards).

If, however, the government wants to sponsor a creche, it is tricky (they must follow the "Reindeer Rule" - long story I'll get a link about that).

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,956506,00.html

[boricua79]

7. well, that's easily solved...

as long as it doesn't use tax money, citizens should be able to go to that city hall building and place Menorahs, Islamic Crescents, pictures of the Flying Spaghetti Monster with adoring pirates around him, etc. and it should be NO problem.

The moment a police official removes one or another of the religious symbols, have people filming the dismantlement of placed objects and sue the city for promoting ONE religion over the others.

Remember, he said "no tax money" used and as long as other faiths are not excluded.

So....go and place the Flying spaghetti monsters all around the Nativity Scene...keep doing it until its obvious that the Scene's message has been destroyed.

[saigon68]

10. I have heard that will be the plan

Of the band of merry pranksters--- who also put black trash bags over 2 of the statues on the courthouse lawn after abu ghraib

[Occulus]

11. They could also drape Jesus, Mary, and Joseph with cooked spaghetti

as a sign of His Noodliness' benediction

Or maybe just set a hot plate cooking Ramen next to the manger

:silly: