Category Archives: The Scrooge Report

‘Militant Atheist’ Erects Festivus Pole Near Nativity Scene in Florida Capitol

BY TYLER O’NEIL , CP REPORTER

The Festivus pole, a relic from the 1990s NBC sitcom “Seinfeld,” made an appearance in the Florida Capitol on Tuesday, after a self-described “militant atheist” received permission to set it up near a Nativity scene.

“A Pabst Blue Ribbon Festivus pole is a symbol of ridiculousness,” Chaz Stephens, editor in chief of South Florida advocacy blog MAOS (My Acts of Sedition), told The Christian Post on Tuesday. He set up the pole, not to celebrate a 1990s holiday, but to protest the Nativity scene and other religious monuments set up in public spaces.

“It’s a made up holiday from the 1990s, but it’s a symbol of separation of church and state, in my mind,” Stephens explained… FULL STORY

Congressmen: No ‘Merry Christmas’ Emails Allowed

WASHINGTON, D.C., CP – Members of the House of Representatives have been told they are not allowed to wish their constituents “Merry Christmas” or “Happy New Year” via the mail.

The Congressional Franking Commission, which reviews congressional mail to determine if it can be paid for with tax dollars, issued a rule saying that no holiday greetings, including the traditional Christmas greeting, may be stated in official mail.

FULL STORY: http://www.christianpost.com/news/reps-banned-from-saying-merry-christmas-in-official-letters-65227/

Atheists Want Texas Courthouse Nativity Scene Down

The constitutional legality of the nativity scene displayed on the lawn at Henderson County Courthouse in east Texas being is being contested by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and atheist group based in Madison, Wis…

Full story: http://www.christianpost.com/news/is-texas-nativity-scene-ground-zero-for-the-war-on-christmas-64552/

‘Coalition of Reason’ protests Denver’s Nativity scene

An atheist group calling itself the “Colorado Coalition of Reason” is putting up three billboards protesting the Nativity scene at the Denver City & County Building, the Denver Post reported today.

TheScroogeReport.com

From the Denver Post:

“The Nativity scene is a religious icon and it’s on public property,” said Marvin Straus, who is spearheading the billboard campaign planned for four weeks by COCORE.

Straus, who is the co-founder of Boulder Atheists, said that he is a strong believer in the First Amendment and the separation of church and state. The Nativity scene, Straus said, “is government supported religion. They (Denver city officials) are aware it is offensive to many people.”

The billboards are identical. They say, “STOP government support of religion. MOVE this Denver nativity scene to a church.”

“It is a particularly beautiful Nativity scene – wouldn’t it look beautiful in a church or somebody’s home,” said Straus.

In September 1986, following a fierce seven-year court battle, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that there was nothing unconstitutional about Denver’s display of life-size figures of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus on the steps of the Denver City and County Building.

The court found that the Nativity scene neither advances nor inhibits Christian beliefs.

Read more: Group paying for three billboards protesting Denver Nativity scene – The Denver Post