ACLU Will Not Challenge Historic Springfield Nativity Scene in Illinois State Capitol Building by Dan Gura

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS -- Recently, the American Civil Liberties Union issued a statement saying the group would not legally challenge the rights of those who intend on displaying a Nativity Scene inside Illinois' state capitol building in Springfield.  In an article by Kurt Erickson of the Bloomington Pantagraph, Erickson wrote: "The American Civil Liberties Union says it won't fight a plan to erect a Christian nativity scene inside the Capitol Rotunda.  After a month-long review, the Illinois chapter of the ACLU said Daniel Zanoza's proposal to erect a display inside the Statehouse depicting the birth of Jesus is a form of free speech in a public forum.  Rather than oppose the Lincoln man's plan because it could violate the constitutional separation of church and state, ACLU spokesman Ed Yohnka noted in an opinion issued Wednesday that other groups could exhibit their own symbolic displays in the same area for the same number of days."  See:  http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/11/12/news/doc491b27550eb8e499667447.txt 

 

The Springfield, Illinois Nativity display can be seen in the state capitol building from December 2nd through December 28th.  A ceremony will be held to commemorate the event at noon on Dec. 2nd.  The combined choirs from St. Alexander's Catholic Church from Villa Park, Illinois will perform before an invocation will be given by Pastor Dustin Fulton of the Jefferson Street Christian Church in Lincoln, Illinois.  There will be some short speeches with a press conference scheduled to follow.

 

"As the event approaches, the community and all those involved with this project are growing with excitement," said Daniel Zanoza, Chairman of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC).  "The support from the local community has been outstanding and we simply couldn't have done this without the work put in by Committee members.  It is truly a labor of love meant to honor the birth of Christ.  I feel there is no higher calling."

 

The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee has received a great deal of support from the Chicago-based Thomas More Society.

Founded in 1997, the Thomas More Society, Pro-Life Law Center, is a not-for-profit, public interest law firm based in Chicago and dedicated to fighting for the rights and dignity of all human life.  The Society vigorously defends clients in state and federal courtrooms around the country, addressing vital issues across the pro-life spectrum, including pregnancy discrimination, end-of-life health care, the right of conscientious objection for medical workers, and freedom of speech for peaceable nonviolent protest.

Under the leadership of President and Chief Counsel Tom Brejcha, the Society champions the rights of pro-life activists — including in the United States Supreme Court, where they won two decisive victories in the past three years (2003, 8-1; 2006, 8-0).  http://www.thomasmoresociety.org/about%20thomas_more_society.html 

The Thomas More Society has not only underwritten the Springfield Nativity Scene project, but has also provided legal counsel to the group. 

 

"We simply couldn't have done this without the Thomas More Society and its president Tom Brejcha," said Zanoza.  "I cannot praise the organization enough for its support of this cause and without them, at least for this year, the Springfield Nativity Scene would not have happened."

 

The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee sees the display in the state capitol as a way to honor the birth of Christ.  But the group's organizers also hope the display will accomplish other goals.  In recent years, many believe there has been a systematic attack on the demonstration of faith in the public square.  The group's members hope a nativity scene sitting in the state capitol will encourage citizens across the state and nation for that matter to erect similar displays in their communities.

 

The precedent for the Springfield Nativity Scene was first set in a federal court ruling titled, "Grutzmacher vs. Chicago Public Building Commission" in 1989 which stated such displays were constitutional on government property as long as they are supported by private funds.  Another nativity scene will be on exhibit in the Daley Civic Center Plaza in downtown Chicago shortly after Thanksgiving Day and has been erected every year since the 1989 Grutzmacher case.

 

"We are honored to provide legal counsel in support of this project which is long overdue," said Brejcha.  "The right of private citizens to proclaim their religious faith and faith-based values in the public square was upheld in 1989 when Chief Judge James B. Parsons of the federal district court in Chicago held there could be no discrimination against religious expression on Daley Plaza in Chicago where, ever since, a Nativity Scene has been displayed annually.  As political speeches and rallies are commonplace at our State Capitol, free speech rights encompass religious speech on equal terms."

 

The Springfield Nativity Scene is solely supported by funds contributed from the general public.  Members of the group say, though donations have been coming at a brisk pace, there is still a long way to go before the group reaches the break-even point.  The entire project, including the cost of the statues, materials, etc. are considerable and fundraising will go on through the end of the year.

 

"According to the research done by the Committee, the nativity scene display in the Illinois state capitol is history," said Eunice Conn, a member of the SNSC and a highly influential community activist from Polo, Illinois.  "I don't think we're just talking about the state of Illinois here either.  If there are other nativity scenes in the state capitol buildings of other states, we'd like to hear about it.  But for right now, I believe something very special will take place in Springfield, Illinois on December 2nd."

 

Besides the standing nativity scene, church choirs are encouraged to perform in the state capitol throughout the Christmas season.  Groups interested in doing so can contact Sarah Scheidler at the Thomas More Society at (312) 782-1680.  For those interested in making a contribution to the SNSC, checks or money orders should be made out to the Thomas More Society with the words "Nativity scene" on the memo line and mailed to: the Thomas More Society, 29 South LaSalle Street, Suite 440, Chicago, IL 60603.  Donations can also be made online at http://www.thomasmoresociety.org/ by clicking on the "Donate" button and designate your donation for the nativity scene.  All donations are tax-deductible.

 

For more information on the Springfield Nativity Scene project, e-mail: springfieldnativityscene@xmail99.com

 

Anyone wishing to receive RFFM.org e-mails should contact: Dan@rffm.org   
 
Comments to RFFM.org's blog which include ad hominems or personal attack will automatically be rejected.  No hyperlinks allowed.

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS -- Recently, the American Civil Liberties Union issued a statement saying the group would not legally challenge the rights of those who intend on displaying a Nativity Scene inside Illinois' state capitol building in Springfield.  In an article by Kurt Erickson of the Bloomington Pantagraph, Erickson wrote: "The American Civil Liberties Union says it won't fight a plan to erect a Christian nativity scene inside the Capitol Rotunda.  After a month-long review, the Illinois chapter of the ACLU said Daniel Zanoza's proposal to erect a display inside the Statehouse depicting the birth of Jesus is a form of free speech in a public forum.  Rather than oppose the Lincoln man's plan because it could violate the constitutional separation of church and state, ACLU spokesman Ed Yohnka noted in an opinion issued Wednesday that other groups could exhibit their own symbolic displays in the same area for the same number of days."  See:  http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/11/12/news/doc491b27550eb8e499667447.txt 

 

The Springfield, Illinois Nativity display can be seen in the state capitol building from December 2nd through December 28th.  A ceremony will be held to commemorate the event at noon on Dec. 2nd.  The combined choirs from St. Alexander's Catholic Church from Villa Park, Illinois will perform before an invocation will be given by Pastor Dustin Fulton of the Jefferson Street Christian Church in Lincoln, Illinois.  There will be some short speeches with a press conference scheduled to follow.

 

"As the event approaches, the community and all those involved with this project are growing with excitement," said Daniel Zanoza, Chairman of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC).  "The support from the local community has been outstanding and we simply couldn't have done this without the work put in by Committee members.  It is truly a labor of love meant to honor the birth of Christ.  I feel there is no higher calling."

 

The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee has received a great deal of support from the Chicago-based Thomas More Society.

Founded in 1997, the Thomas More Society, Pro-Life Law Center, is a not-for-profit, public interest law firm based in Chicago and dedicated to fighting for the rights and dignity of all human life.  The Society vigorously defends clients in state and federal courtrooms around the country, addressing vital issues across the pro-life spectrum, including pregnancy discrimination, end-of-life health care, the right of conscientious objection for medical workers, and freedom of speech for peaceable nonviolent protest.

Under the leadership of President and Chief Counsel Tom Brejcha, the Society champions the rights of pro-life activists — including in the United States Supreme Court, where they won two decisive victories in the past three years (2003, 8-1; 2006, 8-0).  http://www.thomasmoresociety.org/about%20thomas_more_society.html 

The Thomas More Society has not only underwritten the Springfield Nativity Scene project, but has also provided legal counsel to the group. 

 

"We simply couldn't have done this without the Thomas More Society and its president Tom Brejcha," said Zanoza.  "I cannot praise the organization enough for its support of this cause and without them, at least for this year, the Springfield Nativity Scene would not have happened."

 

The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee sees the display in the state capitol as a way to honor the birth of Christ.  But the group's organizers also hope the display will accomplish other goals.  In recent years, many believe there has been a systematic attack on the demonstration of faith in the public square.  The group's members hope a nativity scene sitting in the state capitol will encourage citizens across the state and nation for that matter to erect similar displays in their communities.

 

The precedent for the Springfield Nativity Scene was first set in a federal court ruling titled, "Grutzmacher vs. Chicago Public Building Commission" in 1989 which stated such displays were constitutional on government property as long as they are supported by private funds.  Another nativity scene will be on exhibit in the Daley Civic Center Plaza in downtown Chicago shortly after Thanksgiving Day and has been erected every year since the 1989 Grutzmacher case.

 

"We are honored to provide legal counsel in support of this project which is long overdue," said Brejcha.  "The right of private citizens to proclaim their religious faith and faith-based values in the public square was upheld in 1989 when Chief Judge James B. Parsons of the federal district court in Chicago held there could be no discrimination against religious expression on Daley Plaza in Chicago where, ever since, a Nativity Scene has been displayed annually.  As political speeches and rallies are commonplace at our State Capitol, free speech rights encompass religious speech on equal terms."

 

The Springfield Nativity Scene is solely supported by funds contributed from the general public.  Members of the group say, though donations have been coming at a brisk pace, there is still a long way to go before the group reaches the break-even point.  The entire project, including the cost of the statues, materials, etc. are considerable and fundraising will go on through the end of the year.

 

"According to the research done by the Committee, the nativity scene display in the Illinois state capitol is history," said Eunice Conn, a member of the SNSC and a highly influential community activist from Polo, Illinois.  "I don't think we're just talking about the state of Illinois here either.  If there are other nativity scenes in the state capitol buildings of other states, we'd like to hear about it.  But for right now, I believe something very special will take place in Springfield, Illinois on December 2nd."

 

Besides the standing nativity scene, church choirs are encouraged to perform in the state capitol throughout the Christmas season.  Groups interested in doing so can contact Sarah Scheidler at the Thomas More Society at (312) 782-1680.  For those interested in making a contribution to the SNSC, checks or money orders should be made out to the Thomas More Society with the words "Nativity scene" on the memo line and mailed to: the Thomas More Society, 29 South LaSalle Street, Suite 440, Chicago, IL 60603.  Donations can also be made online at http://www.thomasmoresociety.org/ by clicking on the "Donate" button and designate your donation for the nativity scene.  All donations are tax-deductible.

 

For more information on the Springfield Nativity Scene project, e-mail: springfieldnativityscene@xmail99.com

 

Anyone wishing to receive RFFM.org e-mails should contact: Dan@rffm.org   
 
Comments to RFFM.org's blog which include ad hominems or personal attack will automatically be rejected.  No hyperlinks allowed.

Comments

[KansasGirl]

Must be some kind of spotlight in Husseins' home district. Let's not give the masses reason for concern, right?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Because Barack Obama comes from Illinois it doesn't mean this is an Islamic state. There are many conservative, God-fearing Christians involved with this project and the above comment is an insult to their motives.

[PedanticTwit]

Or maybe, just maybe, it's not unconstitutional and doesn't infringe on people's civil liberties or the impartiality of government for a private display funded by private monies to reside on public property.

This whole "ACLU is teh debbil" thing gets irritating after a while.