"'FFRF Victory in Ellwood City, Pa.--Crèche Will Go'
"Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), Press Release, 20 December 2011
"FFRF thanks the Borough Council of Ellwood City for honoring the Constitution in the face of a cross-toting mob and a mayor who would rather preach than lead. After weeks of communication with FFRF over their original letter on December 1, 2011, the Borough council, at the recommendation of their attorney, passed a resolution yesterday that will remove the nativity scene from public grounds for good after this year.
"The council voted 4-2 in favor of moving the banner to private property.
"Borough Attorney Edward Leymaire presented the councilwith the two options: to 'to keep the display in front of the municipal building, with the addition of a banner supplied by [FFRF], or to maintain the display as it is forthis year and move it onto private property the following year.' Council President Anthony DeCarbo voted in favor of moving the nativity to private property because, 'We took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Pennsylvania.' FFRF commends DeCarbo and the other three council members for making the sensible and constitutional choice.
"Mayor Court, who originally offered to hang FFRF's banner only to break his word after FFRF had mailed the banner, did not agreewith the decision, but had no vote.
"FFRF's banner reads:
'At this Season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.'
"'This whole kerfuffle shows why the Founders wisely chose to build a wall of separation between state and church--because religion in government is so very divisive,' said FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. The solution was simple: move the nativity to private property.
"FFRF would also like to thank Prof. Stephen Hirtle of Pittsburgh for his time and dedication to upholding the constitutional principle of the separation of state and church.
"The Freedom From Religion Foundation, based in Madison, Wis., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational charity, is the nation's largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics), and has been working since 1978 to keep religion and government separate."
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Reaction to the Decision by the Holy Huffers
"ELLWOOD CITY (KDKA) — Constitutional law isn’t much on the mind of 3-year-old Xavier who stopped by the manger on the Ellwood City Municipal building’s front lawn.
"Earlier this month, 500 or more protesters turned out after the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation threatened legal action if the crèche remained on public property.
“'I can tell you this--I [will not] back down,' Ellwood City Mayor Anthony Court said, determined not to budge.
"The nativity display was surrounded by secular and other symbols of the season to bring it more in line with Supreme Court rulings.
"But limited borough funds and fears of lengthy litigation prompted council to vote 4-to-2 Monday night to leave the crèche where it is this year and move it in 2012 to a far less controversial spot.
“'Well, my stance hasn’t changed,' Mayor Court said. He says council was offered only two options.
'“One to put their banner up or to move the nativity scene,' Court explained. 'Council opted to move the nativity scene.'
"The banner, proposed by the anti-religious group, reads: 'There are no gods, no devils, no heaven or hell. Religion is but a myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.'
"Reaction to council’s decision is mixed.
“'I believe in keeping church and state separate,' says Joe Moczan, 'But I think they’re pushing the issue way too far for little things like this.'
“'I just think it’s dumb,' says Diane Cynkar, 'It’s been there all these years and what harm is it doing? Why move it?'
"Annie Laurie Gaylor, president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, told KDKA’s Mary Robb Jackson in a phone call that they never intended to ban the nativity scene – only to get it off public property.
"She says they’re pleased that their concerns are satisfied and that reason and the constitution prevailed."
("Ellwood City To Move Nativity Scene in 2012," CBS News, KDKA-TV, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, filed by Mary Robb Jacison from Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, 20 December 2011; see photograph of the Nativity scene to be removed at:
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011/12/20/ellwood-city-to-move-nativity-scene-in-2012/)
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For the letter sent by FFRF to the Ellwood Borough Council on 1 December 2011, explaining why its display of the creche on government property violated constitutional precedent, see:
http://ffrf.org/uploads/legal/Ellwood%20City%20Creche%20Letter%202011.pdfEdited 8 time(s). Last edit at 12/21/2011 01:44AM by steve benson.