Church State

Despite complaints and threats of protest from an atheist group, a Pennsylvania mayor followed through with his town’s annual Christmas tradition of displaying a Nativity scene in front of the Municipal building on Friday.

Hundreds gathered at Ellwood City’s borough building to support the erection of the Nativity display, which was part of a 50-year tradition of the city, WCN reported. Last year, the Freedom From Religion Foundation in Michigan tried to break the ritual, accusing Ellwood City of endorsing Christianity.

The FFRF contended that the city violated the separation of church and state through the erection of the Nativity scene and threatened to protest this week as a result. more >>

Associates of Family Research Council recanted an earlier criticism, and clarified their primary concern, regarding the involvement of evangelical groups on issues of religious freedom.

“We acknowledge and deeply regret the factual error we made in asserting that these groups have been silent when, in fact, they have addressed this issue thoughtfully,” Robert Schwarzwalder, senior vice president at Family Research Council, and Julia Kiewit, associate editor at Marriage and Religion Research Institute, an affiliate of FRC, stated Wednesday.

Schwarzwalder and Kiewit had claimed on Monday, in a First Things blog post, that the National Association of Evangelicals, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and evangelical publications had not advocated for religious conscience protections. more >>

The assistant principal of Bannerman Learning Center in Green Cove Springs, Fla., is suing Clay County School District and the school's principal after he says she violated his constitutional rights by sending him emails containing religious and political messages.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed Nov. 18 in the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Florida, school principal Linda Turner used her school email address to “impose her religious views” on assistant principal Patrick Capriola and other school employees.

Capriola and his lawyers hope to receive monetary damages and also injunctive relief against “prayer and other religious proselytizing” from Turner. They also hope to put an end to the “endorsement and promotion of specific political doctrine” which they say also came from Turner. more >>

A Christian mural painted on a wall inside a Virginia high school is currently under investigation by the ACLU, who questions the legality of the painting because of its location.

Created by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, one of the largest Christian sports organizations in America, the mural at James River High School in Chesterfield County displays a large black cross with a biblical verse that reads, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man. Col. 3:23.” Underneath the cross the club affirms in all caps, “Competing for him.” The FCA’s logo is also clearly established.

When members of the Virginia ACLU found out about the painting through a local reporter, they were concerned about a possible establishment clause violation. more >>

A sheriff in Onslow County, N.C. is taking heat from a national atheist organization after he purchased an advertisement in the local newspaper declaring that “the Truth of God” is greater than the opinions of those who hold doctoral degrees.

"I don't make it any secret. I am a Christian, and I'm referred to by the reporters with the local papers as a 'devout Christian.' I think there's only one way to be a Christian, and that is to be exactly what you feel like Christ wants you to be,” said Sheriff Ed Brown in an interview with The Christian Post on Monday.

The advertisement, which is written in letter format and is addressed to “All Decent and Respectable Citizens of a Decent and Respectable Society,” features the county sheriff's logo and is signed by Brown. In the ad he states that American citizens have a tendency to trust men who are highly educated rather than God (though he mistakenly refers to them as those with “doctrinal” degrees rather than those with “doctoral” degrees). more >>

A lawsuit against a Virginia County school system over a display that includes a Decalogue is set to go forth after a failed effort by the school system to get the case dismissed.

Giles County Public Schools will be taken to court over a Ten Commandments display that was placed in Narrows High School.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and the Freedom From Religion Foundation took up the case of an anonymous student who was offended by the display. more >>