A Nativity display in an Iowa town was removed from a fire department following a complaint from an atheist group, leading to discussions about its relocation.
The city received a letter arguing that showcasing the scene on public property was inappropriate and divisive.
The removal sparked local debate, with some suggesting the addition of non-religious holiday decorations. (Trending: Dr. Fauci Says the Unthinkable About Going To Church)
The controversy also brought attention to a separate display involving a satanic altar in the state’s capitol building.
The mayor aims to resolve the Nativity display issue in compliance with the First Amendment before Christmas.
“Right now, we’re just … looking through to see what options we have,” Toledo, Iowa, Mayor Brian Sokol said.
“My intent as mayor is to get it back at the fire station. We obviously just want to make sure we do it in a way that complies with any First Amendment issues.”
“It’s unfortunate that we even have to have this discussion.”
“It was donated to the city and has been up every year for 15 to 20 years.”
“It will be a discussion item for the council to decide if we put it back up or permanently relocate it. … We have received a lot of positive comments and the feedback has been [to] keep it up.”
“A lawsuit could be a possibility, but unfortunately, it seems too many groups want to sue about anything.”
“Nativity scenes on public property are unnecessary, inappropriate and divisive,” the letter read.
“It is irrefutable that the nativity is a religious, Christian symbol. The best solution is to remove this nativity scene and discontinue hosting religious displays on public property altogether.”
“I know I’m a godless heathen, but this is a special time,” Eastern Iowa Atheists founder Justin Scott said, encouraging the use of secular decorations.
“Friday morning I went to the City Hall to see who had asked for that to be taken down, and I was given the letter and the name of the person,” Becky Faircloth said.
“It was found out that this person doesn’t even live in our community. This person is from another community not even connected to our county.”
“I think that the frustrating part is that the complaint wasn’t even a local complaint. It was not even in the same county,” Sokol said.
“An out-of-towner drove through and filed a complaint. And that’s what brought the City Council’s attention.”
“And then in the meantime, we received a letter from a coalition threatening a lawsuit if we did not remove it.”
“We’re all here because this is a good town. This is a free town. And we, as the majority, should be able to say what it is we want, and we want that Nativity back at the fire station,” one resident noted.
“I don’t like people burning flags, I don’t like people burning Bibles, and I don’t like people telling us we can’t have a Nativity scene at our fire station,” Councilman Joe Boll said.
“We are not dropping this,” Sokol said.
“The city attorney is still reviewing our options; again, we think we do have options so that we can put it back, but in compliance.”
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