On The Front Lines
Rutherford Institute Issues Twelve Rules of Christmas Guidelines for Christmas, Thanksgiving Holiday Celebrations
Rutherford Institute Attorneys Clarify Right to Religious Expression During Holiday Season
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--In response to a growing tendency among public schools, government officials and even private businesses to ban references to Christmas or Christianity during the holiday season, The Rutherford Institute is making available guidelines regarding what can and cannot be done to celebrate the holidays. The Twelve Rules of Christmasâ„¢ are available here. Individuals with legal questions or in need of legal assistance should call (434) 978-3888 or email staff@rutherford.org.
"Whether through ignorance or fear, Americans are painfully misguided about the recognition of religious holidays," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. "For example, every year we hear many complaints from parents about school officials banning any reference to the word 'Christmas.' There is an irrational bias against anything remotely religious unless it's sanitized and secularized, and unfortunately far too many parents, students and teachers erroneously believe they cannot do anything to celebrate Christmas in the public schools."
Institute attorneys have already started receiving complaints about efforts to rid holiday displays and celebrations of Christmas references. For example, for 65 years, the City of Berkley has allowed a holiday nativity scene to be displayed in front of its City Hall. The nativity scene has been displayed alongside other symbols of the holiday season, including a Star of David, snowmen, Christmas trees and a Santa Claus mailbox. However, after the American Civil Liberties Union reportedly accused the City of violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment with its nativity display and threatened a lawsuit, city officials began debating whether or not to continue their long-standing practice of allowing the holiday displays in front of City Hall. Institute attorneys recently contacted the Berkley (Mich.) City Council, assuring them that the City's holiday display, which includes symbols of Christmas, Chanukah and the secular aspects of the year-end celebrations, does not violate the Constitution. Incidents of censorship of Christmas in years past are equally reflective of the misunderstanding over the separation of church and state and what can and cannot be done to celebrate Christmas in public. For example, a Florida elementary school omitted songs about Christmas from its holiday concert program while including songs celebrating Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the "winter season."
City officials in Tillamook, Ore., acting on a citizen complaint, ordered the removal of a Nativity display at a drive-thru espresso stand because the owner leased the property from the city. According to a Michigan parent, an elementary school music teacher, acting on instructions from the school principal, eliminated the word "God" from all songs in her school's holiday concert. Children were instructed to be silent rather than say "God" whenever the word appeared in the music. Institute attorneys also point to misunderstandings over acknowledging or thanking God at Thanksgiving. For example, a third grader had her comments censored from the Thanksgiving edition of the school paper after she stated that she was thankful for living in a country where she could choose her religion.
