ADF Contacts Over 3,600 School Districts Over Attempts To Censor Christmas

Alliance Defense Fund ^ | Nov. 18, 2004 | ADF Media Relations

[Lindykim]

Web: http://www.alliancedefensefund.org    Email: info@telladf.org     Phone: 1-800-TELL-ADF    ADF contacts over 3,600 school districts nationwide regarding attempts to censor Christmas   Release Date: 2004-11-17 Primary Category: Religious Freedom ADF Media Relations 480-444-0020 ADF contacts over 3,600 school districts nationwide regarding attempts to censor Christmas Second annual Christmas Project declares, "It's okay to say Merry Christmas!"

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—The Alliance Defense Fund has contacted over 3,600 school districts across the nation within the last month explaining the law with regard to the celebration of Christmas in the public schools.

"The phrase 'separation of church and state' is not in the U.S. Constitution, but because of the fear, intimidation, and disinformation groups like the ACLU promote, many public officials and educational leaders mistakenly believe it is their duty to silence Christian religious expression," said ADF President Alan Sears.  "ADF's goal this season is to inform and educate the 96% of Americans who celebrate Christmas regarding their rights."

The number of school districts contacted continues to grow as part of ADF's Christmas Project, which includes the mobilization of a nationwide force of more than 700 allied attorneys available to combat any attempts to censor the celebration of Christmas in schools and on public property.

Earlier this month, ADF delivered the same information on the law to every state board of education and National Education Association (NEA) chapter in the country, as well as to the national NEA office and the U.S. Department of Education (www.alliancedefensefund.org/story/?id=537).  Among the 3,600 school districts contacted are every school district in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Mississippi, and Virginia, as well as numerous school districts in other states.

The goal of ADF's Christmas Project is to clear up misconceptions about seasonal religious expression on public property:

The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled that public schools must ban the singing of religious Christmas carols or prohibit the distribution of candy canes or Christmas cards.

School officials may refer to a school break in December as "Christmas Vacation" or as a holiday without offending the Constitution. School officials do not violate the Constitution by closing on religious holidays such as Christmas and Good Friday.

No court has ever held that celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas as religious holidays requires recognition of all other religious holidays.

The "Three Reindeer Rule" used by the courts requires a municipality to place a sufficient number of secular objects in close enough proximity to the Christmas item (such as a crèche) to render the overall display sufficiently secular.  Although the overall display must not convey a message endorsing a particular religion's view, Christmas displays are not banned as some people believe.  Simply put, the courts ask, "Is the municipality celebrating the holiday or promoting religion?"

ADF will represent people of faith, as well as school districts or other entities, free of charge to defend their freedom of speech regarding Christmas.

The United States and its presidents historically have recognized religious holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.  On December 24, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke to the nation, saying, "Here, at home, we will celebrate this Christmas Day in our traditional American way because of its deep spiritual meaning to us; because the teachings of Christ are fundamental in our lives; and because we want our youngest generation to grow up knowing the significance of this tradition and the story of the coming of the immortal Prince of Peace and Good Will."

"We want to dispel the myths about religious expression at Christmastime that have prompted wrongful acts of government censorship of religious speech," Sears said.  "It's okay to say, 'Merry Christmas!'"

ADF has prepared a free informational pamphlet titled "The Truth about Religious Expression at Christmastime."  An informational letter that can be sent to school officials regarding the law and Christmas expression is also available. 

Visit www.alliancedefensefund.org/faqs/resources.php or call 1-800-TELL-ADF. ADF is America's largest legal alliance defending religious liberty through strategy, training, funding, and litigation. www.telladf.org

Related Information  Early Christmas gift: City wins, ACLU loses  

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[tracer]

Confucius say: "Hard to jerk knee when foot in mouth".... 8~D

[MineralMan]

"I thought it was about the Israeli Defense Forces."

Did you? Another non-reader?

[little jeremiah]

I do like this article, and see my next post!

[little jeremiah]

Dear Homosexual Agenda Ping People,

I am herewith starting a new (additional) ping list, entitled "Moral Absolutes Ping List". It will cover such topics as: pornography, NOT homosexuality since that has its own list, marriage and fidelity issues, possible school and/or childraising and other family issues, universal moral issues, media as it relates to morality in general or particular, 10 commandment issues, and the dastardly deeds of the ACLU. And whatever strikes my fancy.

IF - any of you want ON this new pinglist, freepmail me. No doubt a lot of these issues may be on other lists; this may change as I do it. I do not plan this to be an ultra busy list; just articles that prove a point or have some special interest. Although it may wind up being busier than I plan...

Any input, ideas, or pings to relevant articles appreciated!

Thanks,
little jeremiah

[little jeremiah]

Who do you think is being thanked?

[JesseHousman]

The ADF is a gaggle of America and Christian haters that need to be outed big time!

[HostileTerritory]

Oh for heaven's sake. Please READ the article before making the same wrong knee-jerk reply three other people have already made on this thread!

[ZULU]

I've done the same thing myself - numerous times.

[JesseHousman]

Yes, Hostile, you're absolutely right.

Those of us who are still working have a tendency to read too fast and furious.

Thanks for pointing out my ridiculously stupid blunder.

[Grampa Dave]

""The phrase 'separation of church and state' is not in the U.S. Constitution, but because of the fear, intimidation, and disinformation groups like the ACLU promote, many public officials and educational leaders mistakenly believe it is their duty to silence Christian religious expression," said ADF President Alan Sears. "ADF's goal this season is to inform and educate the 96% of Americans who celebrate Christmas regarding their rights."

ACLU = ANTI CHRISTIAN LAWYERS UNION OR JIHAD WITH A LAW DEGREE

[apackof2]

bump

[Wil H]

"I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."

...That would be GOD, therefore, you can safely say, Giving thanks to God is generally considered a RELIGIOUS ACT.

[moog]

I am just glad to see them standing up this year and making the first moves on this issue. Normally The ACLU speaks first and the schools give in. Hopefully this year it won't happen.

While I know that most conservatives don't see the "separation of church and state" I have nonetheless seen them use that arguement in cases where the government is infringing on religion. I have read of some recent cases where the government is trying to make laws prohibiting religions from discriminating in their hiring practices (e.g. against hiring those of the gay persuasion) when employing others. Some conservative there have argued that there is "separation of church and state." I think that a religion should have its own say in who it hires, that it should not be determined by the government. Also, we must be careful on private or religious groups who receive federal or government money as there may be strings attached. I prefer to mostly keep private (especially religious) entities private and not be wards or agents for the government or enforcement of restrictive rules.