You always read about it in the paper, you see it on the news, in fact some deny that it actually happens, but this year the ACLU came to town and did try to steal Christmas.

Recently, our Nativity Scene and Menorah were removed from the Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania Courthouse Lawn.  These Christmas displays have been used for the past 20+ years without issue; well that’s until a group identifying themselves as “The NEPA Freethought Society” decided to make an issue of it.

This group claims their purpose is to: To serve as a watchdog, support system, and advocate on behalf of atheists/freethinkers who are victimized by discrimination.  Sadly enough, this group IS the definition of discrimination and is the farthest thing from somebody being victimized.  They are nothing more than a handful of snot-nosed, intolerant, crybaby progressives that want to promote the religion of secular humanism.

These displays were not infringing on their rights to practice Secular Humanism.  Nobody bothers this group of freethinking, science book thumping humanists yet they claim victim status?

A clip from the local paper reads:

Nativity Scene, Menorah Removed From Pennsylvania Courthouse Lawn

WILKES-BARRE, Pa.  —  Officials in northeastern Pennsylvania have removed a pair of religious holiday symbols from a public space after being threatened with legal action.  Luzerne County commissioners took down the creche and menorah from the courthouse lawn on Wednesday after receiving an objection from two civil liberties groups.  The ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State told the county in a Dec. 11 letter that the displays are an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.

County Solicitor Vito DeLuca says officials chose to forgo a legal fight because of a local budget crisis and other pressing matters. The nativity scene is county-owned and has been placed on the lawn in Wilkes-Barre for decades. The county added a menorah about 20 years ago.

An unconstitutional government endorsement of religion?  Is the government telling us which church to subscribe to?  No. Are they enforcing, mandating, or promoting a religious doctrine with holiday decorations? No.  But leave it up to ACLU lawyers to twist it into something it’s not.  Needless to say, following the threat of a lawsuit gutless officials removed the displays as members of the Freethinkers rejoiced and mocked supporters.  Here are some quotes from their website:

Like clockwork, these people appear.

Justin Vacula: Who wants to counter-protest the protest? 10AM at the courthouse Friday morning! Bring some coffee and get ready for some laughs. (If they even show up)”

Since these quotes have been obtained their forums have become private and you need to be approved to join.  I guess they don’t want us to see them gloating?  Cowards!

Speaking of laughs, here’s something to laugh about. After a few protests, the displays have been put back up, the ACLU and Freethinkers have been told to go take a jump and a local law firm has decided to defend the city’s displays against any lawsuit brought by the ACLU.  Now, I wonder why the Freethinkers have made their forums private again?

Here’s a clip from the local Timesleader:

Holiday scene gets a reprieve – A local law firm offers to represent Luzerne County in the event of litigation by the ACLU.
By Jennifer Learn-Andes

A Nativity and menorah will be returned to the Luzerne County Courthouse lawn – likely by Monday – as part of a holiday display featuring other secular objects, county Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said Friday.

The display will be possible because the Wilkes-Barre law firm Rosenn Jenkins & Greenwald has agreed to represent the county at no cost if a lawsuit is filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Petrilla said.

Some county officials decided to remove the Nativity and menorah Wednesday night after the litigation threat, saying they didn’t have the time and money to invest in a suit.

County officials say they were inundated with complaints about the removal. About 20 citizens also gathered at the site where the Nativity once stood on Friday morning carrying statues and a flag of the Nativity scene.

“It’s just clearly very important to the people of Luzerne County, and we hear their plea,” Petrilla said. “I’m grateful to them for displaying their emotions regarding the matter.”

Though a suit may result, the county and Rosenn firm will attempt to work with both organizations to reach an agreement on a display that does not violate the constitutional separation of church and state, said county Solicitor Vito DeLuca.

Minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban said he didn’t support the removal and learned about it from a news article. He said he spoke with other organizations that are willing to help the county in its defense, including the Alliance Defense Fund and the Pa Family Institute.

The Rosenn firm has also donated $1,000 to purchase secular holiday items that will be needed for the display, Petrilla said.

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Thank you Rosenn Jenkins & Greenwald.

What concerns me now is the fact that they felt it necessary to desecrate the menorah and manger scenes to comply with what has been determined by secular humanist progressives as “unconstitutional.”  My hope is that this was just a move to get the displays back up for this year and not a long term solution to avoid being bullied around by 20+ Freethinking Humanists and the ACLU.

So where do we go from here?

For starters, we need to start calling Secular humanism what it is, a religion. Fact is, it was considered a religion until it was no longer convenient for these folks to call it one.  It’s time our government stops promoting this religion over others!!!

John Dewey described Humanism as our “common faith.” Julian Huxley called it “Religion without Revelation.” The first Humanist Manifesto spoke openly of Humanism as a religion. Many other Humanists could be cited who have acknowledged that Humanism is a religion. In fact, claiming that Humanism was “the new religion” was trendy for at least 100 years, perhaps beginning in 1875 with the publication of The Religion of Humanity by Octavius Brooks Frothingham (1822-1895), son of the distinguished Unitarian clergyman, Nathaniel Langdon Frothingham (1793-1870), pastor of the First Unitarian Church of Boston, 1815-1850. In the 1950’s, Humanists sought and obtained tax-exempt status as religious organizations. Even the Supreme Court of the United States spoke in 1961 of Secular Humanism as a religion. It was a struggle to get atheism accepted as a religion, but it happened. From 1962-1980 this was not a controversial issue. But then Christians began to challenge the “establishment of religion” which Secular Humanism in public schools represented. They used the same tactic Atheists had used to challenge prayer and Bible reading under the “Establishment Clause” of the First Amendment. Now the ACLU is involved. Now the question is controversial. Now Secular Humanists have completely reversed their strategy, and claim that Humanism is not at all religious, but is “scientific.”

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Second, we need to clarify “The separation of church and state” and unpervert what is meant by the first amendment to set the courts straight!

The intent of the framers was to ensure that there was not a federally established religion that would persecute those minor religions, such as what happened in England. Prior to 1835 7 of the original 13 states actually had established religions, because the Bill of Rights applied exclusively to the Federal government, a concept that has been bastardized by modern day jurisprudence and reliance on the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. In no way did the framers intend that ours be a society devoid of religion, nor do I imagine they would be pleased about the disparity in the manner in which Christianity is treated versus minority religions such as Islam, Hinduism, etc., by the Courts and governments in general. It seems as though Christianity, or anything affiliated with Christianity, must meet a higher standard to be “approved” or to “pass” the Establishment clause “test” than other religions. – Freeper IMissPresidentReagan

Until that happens we can only do what we know how to do best:  Become vocal, protest, pressure our politicians to stand up for what IS Constitutional, and wish your local ACLU chapter a Merry Christmas!