Tom Brejcha, chief counsel at Thomas More Society, tells AFN the Nativity scene tells a story of Christ’s birth that most people want to hear. He says more people seem willing to exercise their First Amendment right to tell it.
"I think we're come to the realization that religious speech should be treated at least as well as political speech,” he says. “And that's been the big breakthrough."
The group American Nativity Scene is helping citizens erect a Nativity scene in a public space while Thomas More, if necessary, is helping the group if there is a legal challenge.
Many trace the first-ever Nativity scene to Francis of Assisi, the Italian Catholic friar famous for his vow of poverty. It is said Assisi, on Christmas Eve in 1223, used a cave and live actors to portray the Christ child, Mary, and Joseph.
Brejcha compares the beauty of the Nativity, which is God coming down in human form to save us, with the Satanic display erected in Iowa’s statehouse.
“Contrast that message to the Christmas message,” he says. “I think people will see that the message of love, fellowship and respect for the birth (of Christ) this is what our life on earth should be all about."
“The message of hope delivered by the Baby Jesus celebrates the joy of new life,” said Ed O’Malley, president of American Nativity Scene. “This troubled world can benefit from more hope and more joy.”
