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County Takes Control of Holiday Displays

By Howard M. Friedman

The Chester County Daily Local reports that yesterday the Chester County, Pennsylvania commissioners voted 2-1 to have the county place its own holiday displays at the Historic Courthouse, eliminating the rivalry of past years between those erecting Christian and Jewish displays and a secular group that has put up a Tree of Knowledge. Tension between the Pastors Network and the Freethought Society were particularly intense last year as the Tree of Knowledge displayed book titles as ornaments and included titles such as "The God Delusion." The new resolution calls for the county to put up displays to celebrate the traditions of the holidays, to support the troops, celebrate peace and promote commerce. The resolution says the displays will comply with constitutional limitations. A member of the Freethought Society which opposed the new arrangement told commissioners: "This is about you deciding whether atheists are people, too...."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on November 19, 2010 (boomark / email).