Library backs down, welcomes holy family

WorldNetDaily ^ | December 7, 2005

[NYer]

The mayor of a Memphis suburb today asked the staff of a local library to allow the public display of a full nativity scene after officials had barred figurines representing Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the wise men, saying their presence would be "inappropriate."

As WorldNetDaily reported, the prohibition by the Memphis Library system resulted in a nativity scene that included just three farm animals and a shepherd boy.

The controversy arose when Brandi Chambless, a member of the music ministry at Broadmoor Memphis Church, submitted an announcement for display on the Bartlett Branch Library's community shelves regarding the church's upcoming Christmas show. Library officials accepted the announcement but told Chambless that she would have to remove the "inappropriate" figures of the baby Jesus, Joseph, Mary and the wise men from an accompanying nativity scene and limit it to farm animals alone.

"Now we've got a bunch of barnyard animals in our display. We've got a sheep, a goat, a cow," Chambless said last night on the Fox News Channel's "O'Reilly Factor." "We just think it's the most ridiculous thing."

This morning, Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald stepped into the fray and asked the library to allow the entire nativity set to be displayed.

"We felt it was kind of odd to have a partial display," Ray Rainey, chief administrative officer for the City of Bartlett, told WND.

Rainey indicated he was trying to contact Chambless to let her know of the mayor's action. He also left a message at the Broadmoor Church telling a receptionist "they can feel free to come over to the Bartlett Library and complete their nativity scene if they'd like to do that."

Betty Anne Wilson, assistant director for library advancement at the Memphis Public Library, confirmed that the Bartlett branch would "honor [the mayor's] request."

The community shelves have traditionally been open to groups and individuals for the display of announcements, advertisements and other items as a means of providing information to the community.

"It truly is ridiculous that we even have to discuss whether a nativity scene can be displayed at Christmas," said Alliance Defense Fund senior legal counsel Nate Kellum. "Libraries are supposed to encourage free expression and thought. Government officials do not have the authority to pick and choose which items in a Christmas nativity scene are acceptable for display."

ADF had written a letter to library officials saying the display submitted by Chambless in no way violates the U.S. Constitution.

[NYer]

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Rodney King]

and the wise men from an accompanying nativity scene and limit it to farm animals alone.

So are they acknowledging then that wise men are Christians?

[NYer]

So are they acknowledging then that wise men are Christians?

Perhaps, they are acknowledging that Christians are "wise men" ;-)

[Mikey_1962]

Fight them at each and every turn...

[stylin19a]

what i was wondering about this library...
Do they have the bible on the shelves ?
Do they have any religious books in the library ?

[GloriaJane]

I guess the Library officials forgot.....

"DID YOU FORGET WHY THERE IS A CHRISTMAS"

[NCC-1701]

I live a couple of miles from the library. I'm going to go pay my respects to the FULL Nativity display. Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald is right on with this.

[netguide]

RE: "inappropriate" figures of the baby Jesus, Joseph, Mary and the wise men from an accompanying nativity scene and limit it to farm animals alone.
They were probably just being more Biblical since the shepherds were at the manger scene and the Wise men arrived probably months later. Yeah I'm sure that's what they were thinking. (sarcasm)

[ducks1944]

Remember this as lots of people will be asking for money. I'm sending every one back (using there prepaid envelope) with the word NO MORE MONEY IF WE HEAR AND SEE MERRY CHRISTMAS and not happy holiday. This will put a stop all of this very QUICK.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE ! !

[ducks1944]

Remember this as lots of people will be asking for money. I'm sending every one back (using there prepaid envelope) with the word NO MORE MONEY IF WE don't HEAR AND SEE MERRY CHRISTMAS and not happy holiday. This will put a stop all of this very QUICK.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE ! !

[GloriaJane]

"Remember this as lots of people will be asking for money. I'm sending every one back (using there prepaid envelope) with the word NO MORE MONEY IF WE HEAR AND SEE MERRY CHRISTMAS and not happy holiday. This will put a stop all of this very QUICK. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE ! !"

That's a good idea! Merry Christmas to you too!!

[RobbyS]

ADF had written a letter to library officials saying the display submitted by Chambless in no way violates the U.S. Constitution. The scary thing is that the library staff would think so. Are they so terrified of the ACLU?

[Coleus]

It seems more and more of this anti-Christmas and anti-Jesus crusade is happening in the Bible Belt. I wonder why?

[bboop]

The library staffs in these parts (Los Angeles) are often raging libs/ Commie Grannies/ out to fight for their Marxist visions.

[RobbyS]

My wife said to me yesterday: "I thought that liberal was supposed to mean tolerant?" I replied: these are radicals, "up-rooters."

[RobbyS]

The "elites" in the South are under pressure to be of like-mind with their northern and west-coast peers.

[plan2succeed.org]

The ALA (American Library Association) censors out Christmas.