Nativity Scene Supporters Win Trojan War in Michigan

by Allie Martin
October 6, 2004

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(AgapePress) - After a ten-month battle, a city in Michigan has agreed to allow a religious-themed Christmas display on public property.

Earlier this year, several community activists and religious leaders in Troy, Michigan, asked their city council for permission to erect a Christmas display in the Peace Garden, a piece of public property in the city's downtown area. Initially, officials were reluctant to grant the request, fearing any display bring on a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, or some other plaintiff, charging the city with violating the so-called separation of Church and State.

Brad Dacus

But eventually, according to Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) president Brad Dacus, clearer heads prevailed. "The city of Troy decided to go ahead and allow there to be a Nativity scene display on the city downtown grounds after a number of people in the community -- including some city council members -- got involved and contacted the Pacific Justice Institute," Dacus explains.

PJI is a non-profit legal defense organization that specializes in the defense of religious liberty, parental rights, and other civil rights. The group works diligently to provide legal support at no charge to clients facing opposition or threats to their constitutionally protected rights and freedoms.

Dacus says PJI weighed in and sent the city officials a legal opinion letter on the matter, which he says "took care of a lot of their fears and concerns about possibly being sued by the ACLU, and they decided to reverse their position." So, after a long battle between Troy and a coalition of local religious leaders and community activists, the city council voted to approve the religious-themed display. Although located in an area accessible to the public, the Christmas display will be funded by private donations.

PJI's spokesman notes that many public officials are fearful of having lawsuits brought against them by the ACLU or other, similar groups. He says the case in Troy is significant because it "sends a really solid message to other cities throughout the country that, as we approach the holiday season in the next few months, there's no reason for them to unequivocally just deny these kinds of holiday displays that recognize the origins of Christmas."

Dacus adds that it is important for citizens and local governments to realize that religious displays do not automatically violate the "establishment clause" of the U.S. Constitution. In fact, he points out, no constitutional mandate exists compelling public officials to eliminate all references to Christianity from the public arena.