Mall Changes Tune, Permits Christian Carolers to Intone Christmas
by Allie Martin and Jody Brown
January 6, 2004
(AgapePress) - The children's and youth choirs of one California church were able to sing Christmas carols at a local mall after they had been told they could not perform the songs because they were too religious and constituted "proselytizing."In the weeks leading up to Christmas, various groups were able to perform at the Promenade Mall in Temecula. But when the children's and youth choirs of Mountain View Community Church asked mall officials for permission to present a program that included secular and Christian Christmas carols and scripture reading, they were prevented from performing.
Church leaders contacted the Pacific Justice Institute, which sent a letter to mall management. According to PJI president Brad Dacus, the mall quickly reversed its decision.
Brad Dacus | |
"Those kids got to sing the songs of Christmas and read the Christmas story [from the Book of Matthew]," Dacus explains. "It was a wonderful delight for those children to know that they, in fact, don't have to be treated like second-class citizens because they proclaim the true meaning of Christmas."Mountain View Community's pastor, John Wells, says churches have the responsibility to take a stand when they feel they are being treated unjustly and "not just sit idly by when others discriminate against us." Dacus says the law is clear in such cases.
"In a few states like California, shopping mall owners actually have a legal responsibility and obligation to allow groups like choirs to come in and sing and perform when they allow other groups to come and [do the same] in certain parts of the mall," the attorney says.
Dacus adds that there is nothing illegal with recognizing the true meaning of Christmas.
