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County Reverses Order On Removing Stars and Angels From Christmas Trees

By Howard M. Friedman

Bowing to a storm of criticism from around the world, Acting Sonoma County (California) Administrator Chris Thomas yesterday rescinded his request that stars and angels be removed from Christmas trees in county buildings. (See prior posting.) The original ban was put in place after a complaint by an activist who has a long history of opposing government use of religious symbols. According to yesterday's Santa Rosa (CA) Press Democrat, Administrator Thomas now says that county employees should just use their best judgment as to appropriate decorations in public spaces. Thomas said his original decision was based on concerns that the county would be seen as endorsing a particular religion, but he changed his mind after a conversation with County Supervisor Shirlee Zane convinced him that there were varying opinions on whether that was the case. Meanwhile, Barry Collins, a trial attorney in the Public Defenders Office, had put up a Christmas tree with a star in the lobby of his building to protest Thomas' ban. Collins is Jewish, but says he does not believe the star is a religious symbol. He contends it is symbolic of American tradition, like stars on the American flag. He points out there is a star on the White House Christmas tree. The entire issue will be discussed a a future county supervisors' meeting.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on December 24, 2009 (boomark / email).