Charleston Firehouse Ordered to Remove Nativity Scene

CHARLESTON, S.C. - A fire department in South Carolina has removed a nativity display from a station after getting a complaint.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported Monday that the nativity scene was removed from Charleston's Fire Station 12 after the complaint that the display supports Christianity.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter dated Dec. 17 to Mayor Joe Riley and Fire Chief Thomas Carr asking that the display be removed. The letter says a local resident complained.

The complaint was referred to the city's legal department, which recommended the scene be removed, citing U.S. Supreme Court rulings against promoting one religion over another.

A number of Charleston fire stations have Christmas decorations, but those include Santa Claus and holiday lights.
___

Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alan Shaw on December 23, 2009 at 12:17pm

There is only one God, and if that question needs to be asked, then I doubt we will ever be on the same page in this debate. That being said, I agree that Bald is not a hair color, and that Atheism or Agnosticism are not religions.

At no time did I demean, discount or dismiss all other religions. I have repeatedly said that all religions should be treated equally, but they are not. In MA they had the one day rule applied to them, locally we have no one day rule. Either we should allow all religious displays or none of them, but the government should not be picking and choosing like we are on some kind of spiritual cafeteria line.

Since I see there is another thread about the Nativity being put back up, I will assume that this thread will be allowed to die a natural death.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on December 23, 2009 at 12:27pm

Ben,
The ratcheting up comment came from you bringing in joshua and jericho and god sending people into battle etc etc. We went from a discussion about rights and freedoms to biblical quotes and references. You're certainly welcome to go there but they are irrelevant in a discussion about constitutional guaranties.

Your bringing in scripture seems like steering to me. I've tried to stay on topic that public property is not the place for religious displays. Yes Riley has relented, on the advise of the town's attorney to include other displays. A phyrric victory to most I would guess.

Ratcheting up the discussion I've addressed.

You are being disingenuous in saying "Do you understand the relevance now?" was in no way sarcastic. It was you making your point and chiding me for seemingly not being able to get it. Then again, it's clear that I have yet to "get it". I would need to agree with you all of the way to "get it" and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

As I understood it, the town's attorney determined that so long as other displays/beliefs were included then the display could be re-displayed. Try not to take too much pleasure from it. It was less a victory than a capitulation in the minds of many. The preferred result would have been the creche only. After all, it is christian holiday.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on December 23, 2009 at 12:29pm

There is only one God
Clearly you don't know or understand Hinduism. They have a pantheon of gods and have for over 6000 years! I think longevity alone should count for something. Seemingly many gods are better than one.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on December 23, 2009 at 1:35pm

No tax money involved in the creche display - it was bought with a kitty contributed by the firefighters and it was displayed on adjacent private property.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by NATE on December 23, 2009 at 1:37pm

this is ridiculous .... i think that we have a thing called freedom of religion in this country....todays society is really messed up ..... people worry about the wrong thing......GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on December 23, 2009 at 3:05pm

Interesting article here regarding the Christmas season and how some of other religions fall into the HOLIDAY season.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091223/GPG0101/912230...