OH Mayor Reluctantly Removes Christian Displays, Saying Atheists "Have a Point"

[NeoGreen]

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2018/12/03/oh-mayor-reluctantly-removes-christian-displays-saying-atheists-have-a-point/

OH Mayor Reluctantly Removes Christian Displays, Saying Atheists “Have a Point”
By Hemant Mehta, December 3, 2018

For decades now, the city of Dover, Ohio had been putting up a Nativity scene on public property to celebrate the Christian holiday. That’s in addition to a Ten Commandments monument in the area. After a local resident informed the Freedom From Religion Foundation about the problems earlier this year, the group sent a letter to Mayor Richard Homrighausen explaining why this was a violation of the First Amendment and urging him to either take down the displays in the future or risk a lawsuit that the city would inevitably lose.

They correctly followed the advice this time around. Both displays were moved from their usual downtown locations to… a few feet over on the grounds of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. (Check out the Ten Commandments display in this Google Maps image and notice the church next door. The monument was just moved from city property to that church’s property.)

But that minor inconvenience that saves the city from a costly lawsuit is still the subject of all kinds of whining from residents and officials who love tradition more the law.

(snip)

“Yeah, they have a point,” but I still want to break the law. That guy is mayoring wrong.

But it’s not like FFRF demanded the eradication of those displays. They just said city officials shouldn’t be the ones putting it up. If the church wants to do it, fine. If there’s an open forum and anyone can submit a display, fine. But for the city to endorse Christianity like this goes against the Establishment Clause.

[Major Nikon]

1. Privilege is a hard habit to break

[Siwsan]

2. I'm sure most towns have sufficient churches for such displays

I've never understood why anything think it necessary to put them on government related properties.

[NeoGreen]

3. I believe...

...see Reply #1, would be a proper response.

Just sayin'

[Mariana]

4. They want to make sure the non-Christians know their place.

I hope the mayor and the resident who alerted the FFRF stay safe - this kind of thing often leads to vandalism, harassment and death threats from Christians.

[guillaumeb]

5. As he should.

Separation of church and state being a foundational principle even if one frequently ignored.