Atheists that claim they are tolerant explain this

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The group is BASED in Wisconsin, but seems to have members in Texas.

I'd prefer a Godzilla tree

Dear Commissioners,I am writing on behalf of a concerned area resident and taxpayer, as well as other Texas members of the Freedom From Religious (sic) Foundation (FFRF), who object to the erection of a nativity scene on Henderson County property. Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin, with over 17,000 members across the country, including over 800 in Texas. Our purpose is to protect the fundamental constitutional principle of separation of state and church.
It is our information and understanding that a large nativity scene is on display at the Henderson County Courthouse and that it is the only seasonal display on the grounds (see photo enclosed). It is unlawful for the County to maintain, erect, or host this nativity scene, thus singling out, showing preference for, and endorsing one religion. The Supreme Court has ruled it is impermissible to place a nativity scene as the sole focus of a display on government property. See Allegheny v. ACLU of Pittsburgh, 492 U.S. 573 (1989); Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668 (1983).

http://www.lc.org/resources/nativity.htm

Sorry but Nativity Scenes on Public Property are Constitutional, there are certain rules that have to be followed concerning them, but Texas arguably has the stronger case because Christmas is a National Holiday.

Problem for the Atheists case is that depending on what else was put up with the Nativity scene, the US Supreme Court has already ruled that Nativity Scenes are okay.

Text of letter from Freedom From Religion Foundation:
PO Box 750
Madison, WI, 53701
608-256-8900
www.ffrf.org
December 1, 2011
Dear Commissioners,I am writing on behalf of a concerned area resident and taxpayer, as well as other Texas members of the Freedom From Religious (sic) Foundation (FFRF), who object to the erection of a nativity scene on Henderson County property. Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin, with over 17,000 members across the country, including over 800 in Texas. Our purpose is to protect the fundamental constitutional principle of separation of state and church.

It is our information and understanding that a large nativity scene is on display at the Henderson County Courthouse and that it is the only seasonal display on the grounds (see photo enclosed). It is unlawful for the County to maintain, erect, or host this nativity scene, thus singling out, showing preference for, and endorsing one religion. The Supreme Court has ruled it is impermissible to place a nativity scene as the sole focus of a display on government property. See Allegheny v. ACLU of Pittsburgh, 492 U.S. 573 (1989); Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668 (1983).

In County of Allegheny v. ACLU of Pittsburgh, 492 U.S. 573 (1989), the Supreme Court held that a county government’s creche displayed in the county courthouse was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. The Court stated,

“Lynch v. Donelly, confirms, and in now way repudiates, the longstanding constitutional principle that government may not engage in a practice that has the effect of promoting or endorsing religious beliefs. The display of the creche in the county courthouse has this unconstitutional effect.” Id. at 621.

The court further determined that the placement of the creche on the Grand Staircase of the county courthouse contributed to its illegality because “no viewer could reasonably think it occupies this location without support and approval of the government.” Id. at 599-600. Moreover, the Court found that the nativity scene “sen[t] an unmistakable message that [the county] supports and promotes the Christian praise to God that is the creche’s religious message.” Id. at 600.

It is irrefutable that the creche is a religious, Christian symbol. See Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. at 711 (Brennan, J. dissenting)(stating that the creche is a “re-creation of an event that lies at the heart of the Christian faith”). Allowing the display of an inherently Christian message on government property unmistakably sends the message that Henderson County and the City of Athens endorse the religious beliefs embodied in the display.

When the County allows this manager scene to be created, which depicts the legendary birth of Jesus Christ, it places the imprimatur of the County government behind the Christian religious doctrine. This excludes citizens who are not Christian – Jews, Native American religion practitioners, animists, etc., as well as the significant and growing portion of the U.S. population that is not religious at all (15% of adults), including complainants and taxpayers in Henderson County. As the Court said in Amancio v. Town of Somerset, “[To] insist that government respect the separation of church and state is not to discriminate against religion, indeed it promotes a respect for religion by refusing to single out one or two creeds for official favor at the expense of all others.” Amancio v. Town of Somerset, 28 F.Supp.2d 677, 681 (D. Mass. 1998).

There are ample private and church grounds where religious displays may be freely placed. Once the government enters into the religion business, conferring endorsement and preference for some religions over others, it strikes a blow at religious liberty, forcing taxpayers of all faiths and of no religion to support a particular expression of worship.

We request that, as Henderson County Commissioners, you take immediate action to ensure that no religious displays are on city or county property. Please inform us in writing of the steps you are taking to remedy this First Amendment violation so that we may notify our complainant.

http://www.malakoffnews.net/2011/12/06/group-demands-county-remove-nativity/
quote:

http://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-asks ... t-the-inn/

Freedom of Religion in the 1st Amendment to the Constitution does not mean you have the right to use force to keep people from following their religious beliefs.

Why is an atheist group in Wisconsin filing a lawsuit to have a Nativity scene in Texas taken down?

[i]Christian pastors in Henderson County, Texas, are fighting back against atheists who are demanding that a nativity scene located on a courthouse lawn be taken down.

It does not. The Christians are free to have nativity scenes in their own property. They are also free to put up a nativity scene in the courthouse lawn as long as the space is given also to other religions and secular groups to put their own displays.

Once again, it is not your right to be a Christian that is under attack from the atheists. It is your imaginary entitlement to be the only religion in the US that is under attack.

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote, "The goal of avoiding governmental endorsement [of religion] does not require eradication of all religious symbols in the public realm".

It does not mean local governments can simply endorse a religion. The statements by the supreme court are clear. If they want very hard to put nativity scenes in public property, other religions and secular groups better be included too.

The Nativity Scene is on a piece of property paid for by all the tax payers in the district, some of whom may be atheists. The First Amendment was extended by the Courts to the States (and their subdivisions). No religion shall be established. If the Nativity Scene is moved to private property that atheist group will take no action.

But how does a nativity scene on public grounds constitute the establishment of a religion? The nativity scene was not put there by an act of Congress no does it exclude non-Christians from the political franchise. No one is required to be a Christian to hold office or vote in the county. If they could show that the nativity scene was financed by state funds then I would agree with them. In that case it should be removed.