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Every December sees its fair share of "Grinches," those retailers,
schools, websites, towns and municipalities who refuse to acknowledge
Christmas as part of the "holiday season." These Christmas kill-joys are all
around.
This Christmas, the Catholic League, Father Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. and the other Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
have joined up to put the
spotlight on these folks. Should you notice one of these Grinches, please
let us know. You may submit the details either by faxing
the Catholic League at 212-371-3394, writing to us at 450 Seventh Avenue,
New York, New York 10123 or by e-mailing
catalyst@catholicleague.org.
The names of the nominees are posted below. Each
week, we will select the worst offender and
dub it the Supreme Grinch of the Week. Click on one of the bookmarks
below to jump to a specific category
In previous weeks, we have chosen one offender as
the “Supreme Grinch of the Week.” This week’s worst entry into the
Christmas Watch, however, will not be given such a title. “Grinch” is not
nearly harsh enough to describe the vile attack on Christians that Comedy
Central is offering up with it’s sick December 24th lineup,
“Sacrilicious
Sunday.”
So there will be no Supreme Grinch of
the Week for Friday, December 22. We do, however, wish to restate
how utterly venomous is the anti-Christian fare that
Comedy Central
will offer viewers on Christmas Eve.
Activists
*
Education
*
Equal
Opportunity Offenders
Government Bodies
*
Private Groups/Companies
Vandalism/Theft
*
Supreme Grinch of the Week
Activists:
The following entries to
the 2006 Christmas Watch are about individuals and groups pursing a secular
agenda.
A curmudgeon in Warwick, New York,
for kicking up a fuss about a “Breakfast with Santa” fundraiser held each
year by the PTA of Sanfordville Elementary School. One parent claimed that
the popular fundraiser, which is held on a Saturday and is completely
optional, is offensive to non-Christians because it includes a visit from
Santa Claus.
In an attempt to accommodate the
parent’s concerns, the PTA agreed to change the name of the event to “Winter
Wonderland Breakfast” and incorporate Hanukkah traditions among the
activities. This, however, did not satisfy the parent who still took issue
with the fundraiser, saying “This shouldn’t be just for one person or two
person’s religions…I wanted to represent all, not just a few.”
The superintendent
of Warwick schools had amiably offered to don a Frosty the Snowman suit in
an attempt to add more winter-themed characters to the breakfast. His
generosity, though, was not rewarded. He received a letter from a local
attorney charging that “The District should, at a minimum, modify the events
to avoid potential litigation.” The superintendent later indicated that he
should have seen the problem with a “Breakfast with Santa” earlier on.
****************
American Atheists, Inc. of
Connecticut, for petitioning officials in the borough of Griswold to end
a practice by which the government plays music from speakers connected to
the top of a local church.
10 years ago, the borough government
bought the sound system and worked out an agreement with the church, whereby
the church allowed the government to install the system in the steeple.
Throughout the years, the music of bells is emitted from the speakers.
During the Christmas season, secular songs as well as religious songs like
“Away in a Manger” are on rotation.
American Atheists have taken offense to the music, and are
demanding that the local government sell the speakers to the church, and
then proceed to monitor the volume of the music. As one man complained,
“It’s against the Constitution…It needs to be silenced.”
****************
The ACLU of Tennessee, for filing a new lawsuit
against the Wilson County School System. At issue is the Lakeview
Elementary School in Mt. Juliet, which the ACLU has accused of improperly
endorsing religion. Among the problems the group has with the school is
that at a past Christmas pageant, students role-played the birth of Christ
and sang the songs “Away in a Manger” and “Joy to the World.”
****************
ACLU Executive Director Jack Van Valkenburgh,
for criticizing Wal-Mart for wishing shoppers a Merry Christmas.
Valkenburgh had this to say of the retailer: “I think it’s a little
insensitive personally and I think it would be better if they had a more
inclusive message.”
****************
Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for
Separation of Church and State,
for charging that Wal-Mart is showing religious bias by acknowledging the
Christmas holiday. Lynn seems to think that non-Christians are intolerant
of others and will be unable to stomach seeing Christians celebrate their
faith. Lynn said of the retail giant, “they are really making a statement
that non-Christians should probably go elsewhere this holiday season.”
****************
Education:
The following entries report occurrences at our schools and
universities.
Student Affairs leaders at Boston's
Northeastern University, for calling the campus's Christmas tree a
"holiday tree."
****************
Administrators at New Jersey's Bear
Tavern School, for banning not only religious decorations, such as the
crèche and the menorah, but secular decorations like Santa Claus and
Christmas trees as well. The principal released four new guidelines:
1) All December parties need to be
winter celebrations and not celebrations of holidays.
2) All holiday decorations should be
changed in favor or winter decorations. Santa Claus, Christmas trees
and menorahs are all holiday-specific decorations.
3) The holiday sing along will be
discontinued as it has been at other school. If anyone has a
suggestion for an alternative, please let me know.
4) Films shown on the last day
before break should not be about the holidays and should be
curriculum-related.
****************
The
superintendent of New York state’s Goshen school district, for being so
afraid of offending rabid secularists that he banned religious music from
school concerts. Explaining that even if a diverse array of music
representing many religions is performed, atheists will still be offended,
the superintendent stated, “Our concerts mix classical pieces with secular
winter songs…We are not representing any holiday.”
The
superintendent admits that his policy hasn’t exactly gone over well, and
explained: “Unfortunately, we try very hard not to offend people, but in our
attempt not to offend, we offend people. We try to encompass and be
sensitive to everyone’s wishes. By doing that, we offend others.” He
offered no explanation as to why a small minority of grumps must be appeased
by the majority of people who have no problem with most religious
celebrations (of their own faith or of another faith) are not worthy of
consideration.
****************
Many of Virginia's public schools, for refusing to acknowledge
Christmas on their calendars. According to the Richmond
Times-Dispatch, "A spot check of calendars for 40 school systems 9of the
state's 134) found only five rural counties still using the terms 'Christmas
holiday' or 'Christmas break."
****************
Management of
Crane Middle School in Yuma, Arizona, for being so afraid of
offending someone that holiday celebrations are stripped of any meaning.
The school doesn’t focus on any particular event, whether secular or
religious. As the principal explained, “It’s a festive time, but we just
try to be festive—not in a religious sense.” She offered no explanation for
what makes the end of December such a festive time.
****************
The
Principal of Ohio’s New Albany Intermediate Elementary School, for
striking “Silent Night” and “Hoyo, Haya,” a Hanukkah song, from a student
concert. One parent had complained about the line “Christ the Savior is
Born” in “Silent Night.”
****************
School officials at New York’s Unity Drive Elementary School, for
censoring students’ work. According to the American Center for Law and
Justice, the students in one class were given materials and the homework
assignment of decorating a Christmas ornament to be displayed at school.
When one young
boy made an ornament depicting a cross and the words, “The Reason for the
Season: Jesus,” his work was not displayed along with the others. Instead,
it was deemed too religious and the boy was instructed to create a new,
secular ornament.
****************
Administrators at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York,
for renaming the staff Christmas party a holiday party, and then renaming it
once again a year-end party.
****************
The
principal of an elementary school in Delray Beach,
Florida, has a need to show how inclusive she is. That’s why
she has no Christmas tree, nativity scene or menorah in her office. Instead,
her spot is adorned with teddy bears wearing sweaters. Moreover, only
‘winter parties’ and ‘winter celebrations’ are tolerated. ‘We’re very
careful about this,’ she says. No doubt she is.
****************
Michigan’s Howell Public School
District, for limiting the number of religious songs that can be
performed at school concerts. According to a 10-year-old policy, at least
70% of the music must be secular. As one choir director, frustrated at his
limited selection, said, “I just find the whole think disturbing that we’re
not able to do all the literature I’d like to do.”
****************
At
Brandeis
Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky a teacher
asked her students to make a Christmas tree out of paper; it was put on her
bulletin board. But when a Jewish teacher said she was offended, she
complained to the principal, Shervita West-Jordan, and got her wish.
According to a news report, “She, and the teacher who complained, were
bothered by the fact that the tree was made up of hands which represented
all the students in the class.”
Both the teacher and the principal were angry over the words,
“Santa’s Helpers,” that were placed over the tree. “Of course, the children
in her classroom that were Indian and Muslim probably did not believe in
Santa Claus,” Jordan said. They were not “Santa’s Helpers” she insisted. She
said the tree could stay but the words had to go. She suggested “Holiday
Helpers” or “Winter Helpers,” because that would “make it a little more
inclusive.”
****************
At Missouri State University, the Office of Multicultural
Student Services does not list Christmas as part of its December
celebrations: but it does list Kwanzaa, which unfortunately they think is
spelled Kwanza. They celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from mid-September to
mid-October; October is Gay and Lesbian Month; and Native American Heritage
Month captures November. But no Christmas—just “Kwanza."
****************
At SUNY Buffalo, they celebrate a Holiday Carnival
which includes "a Hanukkah table, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day [this is a Canadian
holiday], St. Nick’s Day and Kings Day." There are also red and green
cookies for the nostalgic, and chicken is served at the Kwanzaa table.
****************
At Delaware College of Art and Design they believe in
diversity so much that "to help set the holiday mood," says Lynda Schmid,
director of admissions, "students make multisided solids based out of
various materials, including paper and copper." Sounds like a ball.
****************
Penn State is clearly the most sensitive campus this
season. Patreese Ingram has a title that is just perfect for censoring
Christmas: she is an Associate Professor of Diversity Education. She
cautions that we need to be careful when planning a holiday party. For
example, "Try to avoid dates that may conflict with important dates in other
cultures and religions." Also, "Try to keep decorations neutral, with
symbols—flowers, balloons, candles and snowflakes—that can be enjoyed by
most people." Best of all is her advice about eating and drinking: Remember,
she says, "pork is forbidden for Jewish and Muslim people. Shellfish is
prohibited for Jewish people and beef is not eaten by Hindus. While coffee,
tea and caffeinated soda may seem 'safe,' members of the Latter Day Saints
(Mormons) and Seventh-Day Adventists are prohibited from consuming caffeine.
Therefore, juice may be an acceptable choice."
****************
New York state’s
Yorktown Central School District Board of Education, for refusing a
couple’s generous offer to donate a crèche to each of its public schools.
Though the lobbies of the schools are decorated annually with menorahs and
Kwanzaa decorations, only a Christmas tree is permitted to represent this
major Christian holiday.
****************
Educators at
Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie, Florida, for nixing a
pageant called “A Penguin Christmas.” Administrators at the school decreed
that no mention of “Christmas” may be made as part of any holiday
celebrations. As one frustrated mother asked, “My child learns about
Kwanzaa and dreidels…Why can’t they sing about Santa and Rudolph?”
****************
New Jersey’s K-8 Howell School District and Board of
Education, for refusing to allow nativity scenes among the schools’
holiday displays, despite the requests of parents.
****************
Equal Opportunity Offenders:
It is not just
Christmas displays and celebrations that are stifled. Often, curmudgeons
are opposed to public displays of any faith.
Government leaders
in Olean, New York, for refusing
to allow religious displays in the town’s park. In 1995, the common council
voted to ban all such decoration.
****************
Officials in Fort
Collins, Colorado, for banning
any religious symbols from the city’s holiday displays. While the secular
Christmas tree is permitted, a groups requesting to erect a menorah was
denied. (The group will be permitted to hold a lighting ceremony on city
property before moving it to be housed in a local pub.) One city councilman
explained why there is a ban on religious symbols: “we are just not trying
to have the city in the middle of what can and cannot be displayed.”
****************
City
Council members in Willis Park, Georgia,
for denying a couple’s proposal to erect a nativity scene in the park. A
majority of the council members decided they did not want religious displays
installed on the public property.
****************
Officials in Southfield, Michigan, for removing a
menorah from its holiday display after requests were made to include a
crèche as well. Rather than allow diverse religious symbols to be erects,
city leaders are preferring to display secular symbols such as toy soldiers
and deer.
****************
Government Bodies: These
state and local governments earned a spot on our list.
City officials in Safety Harbor, Florida, for removing a nativity
scene from City Hall grounds after receiving a complaint about it, but
permitting a neighboring menorah to stay put.
****************
Officials in Washington state's Department of General Administration,
for permitting a menorah to be displayed in the Capitol Building, but not a
crèche. According to the Associated Press, "officials were concerned
that in comparison with a tree or menorah, a Nativity scene might carry a
stronger impression of government endorsement of religion."
****************
The U.S. Department of State, for restricting the content of the
"seasonal cards" sent by ambassadors. While the ambassadors are
permitted to use government funds to purchase and mail the cards, they may
not send out anything of a religious nature. According to the state
department's memo on the issue, "any messages or images on the cards should
be secular in nature (such as 'season's greetings' or pictures of wreaths,
wintry scenes, snowmen or Santa Claus) and should not convey religious
themes or messages."
****************
In
Briarcliff Manor, village officials put
up a Christmas tree and a menorah, but they balked at a request by an 80
year-old man to add a crèche (paid for by him). So he sued. In federal
court, a judge ruled on Friday in his favor. Instead of adding the nativity
scene to the display, officials in the Westchester, New York town took
everything down. “The Village erected a Menorah and a Christmas tree display
in a spirit of inclusion,” officials said. They did nothing of the sort:
they gave Jews a religious symbol and Christians a secular one, and when
they were told to treat both groups equally they elected to demonstrate
intolerance towards both. That’s their idea of neutrality—censor everyone
equally.
****************
A
city employee in Riverside California. While Olympic figure skater Sasha
Cohen was skating at a local rink, a high-school
choir started singing ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman,’ immediately sending a city employee into orbit. The city employee summoned a cop and got
him to institute a gag rule: he ordered the choir to stop singing. Baldwin
maintained that because Cohen was Jewish, she would be upset by the carol.
But the city employee never bothered to ask the skater if she objected. As
it turns out, Cohen couldn’t have cared less. As usual, those who say we
must be careful not to offend non-Christians at Christmastime are the ones
who object to Christmas—not those whom they falsely claim to represent.
****************
Officials
in the village of Briarcliff Manor, New York, for refusing to allow a
nativity scene donated by a private citizen to be displayed in a town park.
The Alliance Defense Fund has sought a temporary restraining order against
the village officials for denying the individual’s request while at the same
time using public funds to purchase and maintain secular decorations for
winter and a menorah for Hanukkah.
****************
Bureaucrats at Seattle Airport
for riding the terminal of Christmas trees that had been erected each
Christmas for the last 25 years. When a local rabbi threatened a lawsuit
were the airport not to erect a menorah as well, airport authorities opted
to get rid of the trees. (Click
here for more information.)
Addendum: After much public outcry, the
rabbi agreed not to file a lawsuit, and the airport once again put up the
Christmas trees.
****************
Officials in the county of
Hernando, Florida, for being too afraid to call the decorated evergreen
on the portico of the courthouse a Christmas tree. Instead, they insist
that it a holiday. One woman decorating the tree with red, white and blue
ribbons explained, “It’s not a Christmas tree…It shouldn’t offend anybody.”
****************
A town manager in Holden,
Massachusetts, for stating that he would approve a menorah for display
on town property (provided safety and other requirements are met), but not a
crèche. According to the town manager, the menorah is “secular enough” to
be permitted, but a nativity scene is not. Christians must make do with a
Christmas tree.
****************
Officials in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida, for
removing Hanukkah decorations from the town’s lampposts rather than add
Christmas decorations to the mix. According to Christian Newswire, a
Christian activist named Sondra Snowdon went to court in order to erect a
nativity scene outside of the town square (a menorah was already on display)
and add the Christmas symbols to the lampposts. Though a judge ruled in her
favor, lamppost decorations have been removed entirely and Snowdon pays for
the crèche herself, while taxpayer dollars are used to maintain the
menorah. In addition, Snowdon maintains that the town passed an ordinance
stating that she would be arrested if she were to hold any ceremony (such as
a blessing or prayer service) by the crèche. However, for the past five
years a rabbi has been permitted to hold a small prayer service by the
menorah.
****************
Organizers of the Hillsboro, New Hampshire “Old
Fashioned Christmas” celebration, for canceling a portion of the evening
that was to take place at the local Valley Bible Chapel. The festivities
were originally set to include a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, followed
by tea at the church and a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.”
However, when the chapel’s pastor asked to read the Christmas
story from the Gospels as well, those in charged cancelled the tea
altogether. As one member of the civic organization Hillsboro Pride (which
co-sponsors the “Old Fashioned Christmas” with the Chamber of Commerce)
explained, the people at the chapel “didn’t want to do it unless it had
Jesus’ name in there…We didn’t want to get involved in any religious stuff,
to keep it as neutral as we can for everyone.” A Chamber of Commerce member
elaborated, “A lot of people celebrate Christmas but are not Christian…and a
lot of Christians celebrate Christmas and don’t go near a church. We’re
trying not to leave people out because of their specific religious
leanings.”
****************
Commissioners in Tippecanoe
County, Indiana, for barring nativity scenes from the courthouse lawn.
Though charities and organizations are permitted to erect displays, the
commissioners decided in 1999 that they would determine what is acceptable
for gracing the lawn and what isn’t. (Prior to 1999, nativity scenes were
acceptable.) Ribbons calling attention to drug abuse and ceramic animals
have both been permitted, but crèches are verboten.
****************
City officials
in St. Albans, West Virginia, for erecting a manger scene minus the Holy
Family and the Wise Men. Visitors to the St. Albans City Park are treated
to the bizarre sight of a lit-up stable containing statues of sheep, camels
and a star. Asked about the lack of the baby Jesus, the park’s
superintendent states, “We try to explain that by law we can’t do that. We
have been advised by the (city) council not to get into that.” He further
reported that the city is trying to avoid controversy or any complaints from
the ACLU.
Addendum: After being deluged with complaints, the
Mayor of St. Albans announced that a figure of the baby Jesus was added to
the manger scene.
****************
Reynoldsburg, Ohio town officials for removing the
Nativity scene from it’s annual Christmas light display. Though the manger,
donated by the local Vineyard Community Church, was among the decorations
for the last five years, complaints from naysayers led to the mayor deciding
no religious symbols at all, rather than open the door to people of other
religions requesting that their symbols be erected as well. (One local man,
a critic of the Nativity scene, had suggested that the Hindu symbol for good
fortune, a right-facing swastika, should be permitted if a
crèche
is permitted.)
****************
City officials in Chicago for dropping New Line
Cinema’s new film “The Nativity Story” as a sponsor of the
Christkindlmarket
Christmas festival and then sending mixed-messages about the reason why.
The city’s executive
director of special events originally advised the festival’s organizers, the
German American Chamber of Commerce that allowing New Line to show scenes
from the upcoming film would be “insensitive to the many people of different
faiths” who attend the event (the name of which, in German, means “Christ
child market).
City leaders now claim that New Line’s sponsorship was
dropped because New Line’s sponsorship would violate city guidelines calling
for events to
"to refuse or reduce any blatant
commercial
message."
****************
The
Berkley, Michigan city council, for
voting to remove a nativity scene that had stood in front of city hall for
65 years. The council acted after the ACLU threatened a lawsuit.
As explained in the Catholic League
news release on the subject, “There is a lot of blame to go around.
First, there is the ACLU, an organization that is so terrified of religion
that it has actually expressed anger over a 9-foot statue of Jesus that is
located on the ocean floor off the coast of Key Largo. Second, there are the
spineless residents and clergymen in the area who liked the idea of giving
the nativity scene to the Berkley Clergy Association for display on church
property (it was one of three options on the table); in doing so, they
handed a victory to the ACLU. Third, there is the bogus argument made by the
mayor, Marilyn Stephan, who said, ‘It’s a risk to the safety of the crèche.
We want Santa to come and do the Christmas tree lighting and for the safety
of all who come, you can’t have all that stuff around.’ The stuff—baby
Jesus, Mary and Joseph—has been in the same spot for 65 years, without
incident. Fourth, there was the concern, expressed by some city officials,
that the cost of litigation might prove prohibitive: six organizations,
including the Thomas More Law Center, agreed to accept the case pro bono
(the only reasonable concern was that if the town lost, it would have to pay
the ACLU’s legal fees).”
****************
Bureaucrats in the Colorado government
for dictating what the University of Colorado’s faculty can call their staff
parties. State auditors have decreed that state money is not to be used to
celebrate religious holidays. However, according to the school’s spokesman,
“Departments can spend a little bit of money at the end of the semester for
a staff appreciation party, but the motivation cannot be the holiday
itself.”
In other words,
if, say, the philosophy department wants to dip into the petty cash to buy
some eggnog and a cheese platter during December, that’s fine—so long as
they refer to their gathering as the “Semester’s End Social.” But they
better not dare call it a “Holiday Party,” or worse still, a “Christmas
Party.” Click
here for more information.
****************
Officials of the city of Portland, Maine, for being
squeamish about the word “Christmas.” The majestic blue-spruce tree decked
with lights in the city square is called a “Holiday tree,” not a “Christmas
tree.” A marketing director for the city explained the name: “We’re trying
to keep it neutral…We don’t want to offend anybody. We are trying to
celebrate the holidays, no matter what you believe.”
****************
The Board of Selectmen of Wellesley, Massachusetts,
for refusing to include a crèche among its holiday decorations, although a
menorah and a crescent are both on display.
A local resident wished to donate a nativity scene to
replace the Christmas tree that currently represents the Christian December
holiday. The resident rightly reasoned that a religious symbol of
Christmas, and not a secular one, should be permitted along with the
religious symbols of other faiths However, the Board of Selectman denied
the resident’s generous offer.
****************
Private
Groups/Companies: The
individuals, groups and companies below all merit inclusion on our Christmas
Watch list.
Executives at Comedy Central, for
featuring a line-up called "Sacrilicious Sunday" on Christmas Eve, full of
shows designed to offend Christians.
Click here to view our news release on the issue.
****************
Harvey and Bob Weinstein, for once
again tweaking Christians by releasing a slasher flick called "Black
Christmas" on Christmas day. It’s not so much the plot of ‘Black
Christmas’ that bothers us—a wacko who terrorizes college girls at
Christmas—it’s the fact that the Weinstein boys are back again, choosing a
title and an opening date to make their latest statement.
Click here to view our news release on the film.
****************
Management at the
Orlando Cloisters in Florida, for banning all religious symbols,
including angels and nativity scenes, from the public areas of the home for
senior citizens. After the Liberty Counsel got involved and cited this
as a case of discrimination in violation of the Federal Fair Housing Act,
the Cloisters reversed its policy.
****************
Executives at General Growth
Properties, which operates over 200 malls in 44 states, for refusing to
display nativity scenes, even when donated by an interested party called
Operation Just Say Merry Christmas. The management of this Chicago company
claim they do not wish to decorate with religious symbols. However,
menorahs are displayed in its shopping centers.
This corporate
policy discriminates against Christians by allowing a Jewish symbol
representing a miracle, but telling Christians to make due with secular
symbols.
****************
Supervisors at
Commack, New York's Baumann and Sons bus company for caving in to the
complaints of one grumpy parent. When a school bus driver adorned a Santa
cap during his rounds in the Commack School District, he had to face his
bosses at the end of the day. They told the driver that a parent complained
to the district that his or her child doesn’t believe in Santa Claus, and
was offended by the hat.
The driver
ultimately informed other parents that he would likely loose his job for
continuing to remove the hat. The school district’s superintendent informed
Baumann and Sons that the hat is not a religious object and should not be
banned.
****************
A performer
called
Jessica Delfino is taking her
“Merry S--tmas Tour” on the road.
Described as “rife with Christmas-themed debauchery,” Delfino worked on
December 19 in New York City, appears in Washington, D.C. on the 21st
and travels to South Durham, North Carolina on the 22nd. Her act includes
the showing of an obscenely-titled video banned from YouTube that features
her rapping about her vagina, complete with obscene pictures flashing in the
background. Rapping about her genitals, she sings, “it will become your true
religion.”
****************
New Jersey’s Courier-Post editorial board.
On December 9, the paper ran an editorial saying, “Putting religious symbols
on government property violates the law and challenges the constitutional
right of religious freedom.” The daily is twice wrong. As we showed on
December 18, when the league erected a crèche in New York City’s Central
Park, it is not unconstitutional to put a religious symbol on public
property. Furthermore, it doesn’t challenge religious freedom to display a
manger scene or a menorah—it demonstrates it.
****************
Executives
at CBS, particularly the show “Two and a Half Men.” On the
December 11 episode, one of the characters sang “Joy to the World,” changing
the lyrics to make a bawdy song about his plans for his date that evening.
****************
Managers at Ocean County Mall in Toms River, New
Jersey, for eschewing a nativity scene in favor of secular Christmas
decorations, while at the same time allowing a menorah.
When asked
about this discrepancy, a director of marketing for the mall (a branch of
SIMON malls) replied that “We are particularly careful to try and create a
festive atmosphere that celebrates the spirit of giving and community, which
dominates the holiday season, rather than focus on religious aspects.” The
manager did not explain how a menorah is not a religious symbol while a
crèche is.
****************
Brooklyn’s
Shore Road Garden Council, for insisting on calling their Christmas tree
a “holiday tree.” After the neighborhood’s state senator protested that it
is absurd to call a Christmas tree by any other name, a council member
attempted to justify the decision by claiming, “I’m aware of his opinion on
this, but we’re trying to include all the religions because we’re trying to
be inclusive…It is a Christmas celebration that we’re having, but we’re
trying to include everybody.”
****************
New York’s Staten Island Mall, for ending the
practice of allowing an individual to erect a privately-owned nativity scene
outside of the JCPenney each year. In response to complaints from those who
did not like the crèche, the mall’s managers decided individual religious
decorations would no longer be permitted.
Instead, the
mall has erected a “holiday fixture” to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and
Kwanzaa. The fixture was described by Staten Island Advance reporter
Judy Randall as follows: “the thing, which is dusted with fake snow, might
be best described as a 7-foot tri-cornered pole. It’s totally no-frills and
so bland that the other afternoon, as I watched and waited for 20 minutes,
not one shopper stopped to take a look at it, much less admire it.”
****************
Spencer Gifts, for selling
obscene Christmas tree ornaments. The novelty store is offering six
different ornaments depicting images associated with Christmas, such as
elves and reindeer, in sexually positions. To compound the problem, in a
Spencer store in Jacksonville, Florida, the ornaments were displayed on the
shelves in plain view of children and any shopper passing by.
****************
A greeting card
company, Avanti Press,
for offering card with a photograph of a nativity scene in which the
traditional crèche figures of the Holy Family, the shepherds, an angel and
the Wise Men are replaced by canines.
****************
Pittsburgh’s Washington Square Unit Owners
Association, for banning all “holiday decorations which are identified
with a particular religious faith.” The ban came after a resident and the
Catholic League wrote to the board requesting that a crèche be permitted in
the complex’s common areas (a menorah was displayed each year). Rather than
extend equal rights to the Christian tenants, the board decided only to
allow completely generic displays. Menorahs and nativity scenes are out,
snowmen and frosted windows are in.
****************
Etiquette experts at the Emily Post Institute, for
urging businesses not to acknowledge Christmas in their “holiday” cards.
Those at the institute advise that secular cards are more appropriate.
****************
Event
organizers at New York City’s Lincoln Center, for being afraid to call a
Christmas tree by its proper name. Though the plaza at Lincoln Center
played host to a November 27 event that included a gospel chorale, a
selection from The Nutcracker, and a bedazzled tree, no mention was
made of Christmas. Rather, visitors were offered a “holiday tree” and
“Winter’s Eve” celebration.
****************
A mail-order company, Collections Etc., for offering a
“Cat Nativity” set for sale in its “Holiday Favorites 2006” catalog. The
“Cat Nativity” replaced the traditional crèche figures of the Holy Family,
the shepherds, an angel and the Wise Men with felines.
****************
A headline writer at the Associated Press, for getting
cold feet. An article about Christmas tree farmers donating trees to the
families of soldiers was originally titled “Growers donate Christmas trees
for troops in combat zones and their families stateside” at 9:43 am on
November 14. At 10:02 am the same article was sent out again on the wires.
However the headline read, “Growers Donate Holiday Trees to Troops.”
****************
Best Buy,
for omitting any mention of Christmas from its advertising. The electronics
retailer apparently thinks that celebrating a major Christian holiday would
be insulting to non-Christians. A spokesperson reported, “We’ll continue to
stick with ‘happy holidays…’ The fact of the matter is, there are several
holidays throughout November and December. We want to be respectful of
that.”
****************
North Carolina’s Northlake and Caroline Place malls,
for avoiding references to Christmas. Both malls prefer the greetings
“happy holidays” and “seasons greetings.”
****************
Vandalism/Theft:
Theft and vandalism happen with unfortunate frequency during
the Christmas season.
A thief in Norwell, Massachusetts, for stealing the baby
Jesus from a homeowner's Nativity scene. The 50 pound statue was found
at the bottom of a river.
****************
A group of hoodlums calling themselves "the Opiates"
in Rockland County, New York. The gang claimed responsibility for
stealing four figures of the baby Jesus from local Nativity scenes.
The figures were abandoned at a local high school.
****************
Vandals in Stratford, Connecticut, for smashing to
bits a crèche erected by the local Knights of Columbus on Christmas day.
****************
A thief in Raleigh, North Carolina, for stealing a
statue of the Blessed Mother from a homeowner's Nativity scene on Christmas
Eve.
****************
Vandals in Hopewell Junction, New York, for
knocking down several figures in a homeowner's Nativity scene and stealing
the baby Jesus.
****************
A thief in Portage, Indiana for stealing the baby
Jesus from the crèche erected by the local Knights of Columbus outside of a
Catholic church.
****************
Hooligans in Southington, Connecticut, for
replacing the figures of baby Jesus in the manger with stuffed monkeys at
two local churches. At one church, the statue the Blessed Mother was
stolen, along with the statue of Jesus.
****************
Arsonists in Newell, Iowa, for setting the Nativity scene at the
local Congregational Church on fire.
****************
A thief in Wellington, Florida, for stealing the baby Jesus from the
Nativity scene at the village community center.
****************
A thief in Neosho, Missouri, for stealing the baby Jesus from the
Nativity scene in a local park.
****************
A thief in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, for stealing the figures of the
Virgin Mary and the Wise Men from a homeowner's Nativity scene.
****************
A thief in Portland, Maine, for stealing the figure of baby Jesus
form a crèche in the Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul.
****************
A thief in San Francisco, California, for stealing the figures of two
sheep and a lamb from a church's nativity scene.
****************
A thief in Floyd County, Indiana, for stealing the nativity scene
from the lawn of a Methodist Church.
Thieves in Utica, Ohio, for stealing the figures of baby Jesus from
three different nativity scenes.
****************
Thieves in Salt Lake City, Utah, for stealing the manger scene from a
homeowner's yard.
****************
A thief in Millbrae, California, for stealing the baby Jesus from a
front-yard nativity scene.
****************
Thieves in Hilton Head, South Carolina, for stealing the baby Jesus
from a Catholic church's nativity scene.
Vandals in Sioux City, Iowa for smashing a homeowner's nativity scene
and knocking over his lighted trees.
****************
A thief in Halom City, Texas, for stealing the figure of baby Jesus
from a homeowner's crèche.
****************
A thief in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, for stealing the figure of Jesus
from the city's nativity scene.
Vandals in Utica, Ohio for stealing the baby Jesus and other figures
from a homeowner's nativity scene. Also in Utica, the figures were
stolen from the crèche outside of a Methodist church and from two other
homes.
****************
A thief in Mission Viejo, California, for stealing the baby Jesus
from a front-yard nativity scene and throwing the figure down the bottom of
a slope. It is fortunate that the person who found the statue had
learned of the theft and was able to return it to the owners.
****************
Thieves in
Lafayette, Louisiana, for stealing the figures of Jesus and some sheep
from a local man's nativity scene. The victim had recently donated a
statue of baby Jesus to a fellow Lafayette resident whose crèche had been
targeted by robbers.
****************
Serial thieves in the Clearing Garfield Ridge neighborhood of Chicago,
for going on a spree during which they stole 32 statues of baby Jesus.
The figures were eventually dumped on the lawn of a Catholic church.
****************
Thieves in
Jackson County, Illinois, for stealing the figures from the nativity
scene in a homeowner’s front yard. When the homeowner replaced the missing
figures, they were again stolen the very next day.
Also in Jackson County, the figure of Jesus was stolen from the
nativity scene at Pleasant Hill Christian Church.
****************
Thieves in
Tinley Park, Illinois, for stealing the baby Jesus from a homeowner’s
crèche.
****************
Thieves in
Portage Township, Michigan, for stealing the baby Jesus from a
homeowner’s manger.
****************
An employee at the Wichita, Kansas
clinic of late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller, for taking a nativity
scene. According to LifeSiteNews.com, after a member of Operation Rescue
placed the crèche on a public strip of land outside of the clinic, the
employee deemed the nativity scene “offensive,” picked it up and moved it
behind a fence on the clinic’s property where it would no longer be
visible.
A police officer
retrieved the crèche, and the district attorney’s office is considering
whether they will pursue a petty larceny charge.
****************
A thief in
Winfield, West Virginia, for nabbing Jesus from a homeowner’s nativity
scene.
****************
Vandals in
Moorpark, California, for twice attacking several Christmas displays set
up by homeowners on the same street. Along with lights and secular
decorations, they destroyed a nativity scene.
****************
A hooligan in
Plaistow, New Hampshire, for swiping the baby Jesus from a homeowner’s
manger scene and replacing it with a can of beer.
UPDATE: The vandal later returned the
statue, but had drawn devil horns on Jesus' head.
****************
Thieves in Columbus, Nebraska, for stealing the baby Jesus figures
from the nativity scenes of 12 different homeowners. The thefts began
early on the morning of Tuesday December 12 and continued into the early
evening.
****************
Hoodlums in
Tucson, Arizona, who drove a truck through several front yards in the
neighborhood of Winterhaven, destroying any Christmas decorations they came
across, including a nativity scene.
****************
Vandals in
Winthrop, Maine, for kicking over the figures in a local church’s
outdoor nativity scene.
****************
Thieves in
Ammon, Idaho, for stealing the baby Jesus from a homeowner’s nativity
scene.
****************
Thieves in
Fort Wayne, Indiana, for stealing the entire nativity scene from a
homeowner’s yard.
****************
Thieves in
Lafayette, Louisiana, for stealing the baby Jesus from a woman’s front
yard.
****************
Thieves in
Fayetteville, North Carolina, for stealing the figures of Mary and
Jesus from a local church’s display.
****************
Thieves in
New Bern, North Carolina, for stealing the baby Jesus from a store
owner’s nativity scene.
****************
Thieves in
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, for stealing the baby Jesus and the manger
from a homeowner’s nativity scene.
****************
Thieves in
Dover, Ohio, for stealing the baby Jesus figure from the crèche in a
homeowner’s front yard.
****************
Thieves in
Montgomery County, Indiana, for swiping the figures of the Holy Family
as well as two of the Wise Men from a homeowner’s nativity scene.
****************
A thief
in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, for stealing the baby Jesus figure from
the nativity display of the local Presbyterian church.
****************
Thieves in
Southborough, Massachusetts, for stealing an 8-foot tall nativity scene
from a homeowner’s yard. The bandits did not touch surrounding secular
decorations such as reindeer, a Santa Claus figure and penguins.
****************
Thieves in West Allis, Wisconsin,
for stealing the baby Jesus figure from the nativity scene on a homeowner’s
lawn.
****************
Vandals in Hardin, Kentucky, for destroying a nativity
scene erected by the Lighthouse Missionary Baptist Church. The eight foot
by eight foot display, constructed by the youth of the church, appeared to
have been struck by a vehicle. Police are searching for the responsible
party.
****************
Vandals in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for destroying a
nativity scene on a homeowner’s lawn. The bandits stole the figure of
Joseph (and later abandoned it in a ditch), stole a light from the figure of
Mary, and crushed the baby Jesus figure. In addition to this, they cut a
lights display that read “Happy Birthday Jesus,” bent an evergreen tree and
cut extension cords.
****************
Thieves in Waterbury, Connecticut, for stealing
the figure of one Wise Man and baby Jesus (one of Jesus’ arms was left
behind) from the crèche displayed in the town court.
****************
Thieves in Youngsville, Louisiana, for stealing the
figure of Jesus from a homeowner’s nativity scene.
****************
Thieves in
Naugatuck, Connecticut, for stealing the figure of baby’s Jesus from the
town’s nativity scene. The figure of Jesus was stolen last year as well.
****************
A thief in Artemis,
Pennsylvania, for stealing a manger and figures of the Holy Family from
a homeowner’s yard.
****************
Vicious vandals in Des Moines, Iowa, for attacking a
homeowner’s figure of a light-up baby Jesus. The culprit removed the doll
from a nativity scene, burned the face, threw red nail polish on it, and
twisted the electrical cord around its neck.
****************
Thieves in Santa Fe, Texas, for
stealing a Nativity scene from the front yard of a local couple’s home.
Though the majority of the manger was found abandoned a few blocks away, the
figure of the baby Jesus is still missing.
****************
Thieves in Greenfield, Pennsylvania, for stealing a
man’s nativity scene from his front yard. A homeowner left his house only
to find that his 42 inch display of ceramic figures had been lifted.
****************
Vandals in Three Rivers,
Massachusetts, for tearing down the Christmas tree erected by the Three
Rivers Chamber of Commerce, and destroying its ornaments.
Hours earlier, locals had enjoyed the
tree-lighting ceremony, which included a choir and a visit from Santa
Claus. Despite the destruction, the members of the chamber of commerce plan
on erecting a new Christmas tree.
Supreme Grinch of the Week:
Here are our past winners.
In previous weeks, we have chosen one offender as
the “Supreme Grinch of the Week.” This week’s worst entry into the
Christmas Watch, however, will not be given such a title. “Grinch” is not
nearly harsh enough to describe the vile attack on Christians that Comedy
Central is offering up with it’s sick December 24th lineup,
“Sacrilicious
Sunday.”
So there will be no Supreme Grinch of
the Week for Friday, December 22. We do, however, wish to restate
how utterly venomous is the anti-Christian fare that
Comedy Central
will offer viewers on Christmas Eve.
****************
The entry below was
named Supreme Grinch of the Week on Friday, December 15:
A
city employee in Riverside California. While Olympic figure skater Sasha
Cohen was skating at a local rink, a high-school
choir started singing ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman,’ immediately sending a city employee into orbit. The city employee summoned a cop and got
him to institute a gag rule: he ordered the choir to stop singing. Baldwin
maintained that because Cohen was Jewish, she would be upset by the carol.
But the city employee never bothered to ask the skater if she objected. As
it turns out, Cohen couldn’t have cared less. As usual, those who say we
must be careful not to offend non-Christians at Christmastime are the ones
who object to Christmas—not those whom they falsely claim to represent.
****************
The entry below was
named Supreme Grinch of the Week on Friday, December 8:
American Atheists, Inc. of
Connecticut, for petitioning officials in the borough of Griswold to end
a practice by which the government plays music from speakers connected to
the top of a local church.
10 years ago, the borough government
bought the sound system and worked out an agreement with the church, whereby
the church allowed the government to install the system in the steeple.
Throughout the years, the music of bells is emitted from the speakers.
During the Christmas season, secular songs as well as religious songs like
“Away in a Manger” are on rotation.
American Atheists have taken offense to the music, and are
demanding that the local government sell the speakers to the church, and
then proceed to monitor the volume of the music. As one man complained,
“It’s against the Constitution…It needs to be silenced.”
****************
The entry below was
named Supreme Grinch of the Week on Friday, December 1:
A curmudgeon in Warwick, New York,
for kicking up a fuss about a “Breakfast with Santa” fundraiser held each
year by the PTA of Sanfordville Elementary School. One parent claimed that
the popular fundraiser, which is held on a Saturday and is completely
optional, is offensive to non-Christians because it includes a visit from
Santa Claus.
In an attempt to accommodate the
parent’s concerns, the PTA agreed to change the name of the event to “Winter
Wonderland Breakfast” and incorporate Hanukkah traditions among the
activities. This, however, did not satisfy the parent who still took issue
with the fundraiser, saying “This shouldn’t be just for one person or two
person’s religions…I wanted to represent all, not just a few.”
The superintendent
of Warwick schools had amiably offered to don a Frosty the Snowman suit in
an attempt to add more winter-themed characters to the breakfast. His
generosity, though, was not rewarded. He received a letter from a local
attorney charging that “The District should, at a minimum, modify the events
to avoid potential litigation.” The superintendent later indicated that he
should have seen the problem with a “Breakfast with Santa” earlier on.
****************
The entry below was
named Supreme Grinch of the Week on Wednesday, November 22:
The
Berkley, Michigan city council, for
voting to remove a nativity scene that had stood in front of city hall for
65 years. The council acted after the ACLU threatened a lawsuit.
As explained in the Catholic League
news release on the subject, “There is a lot of blame to go around.
First, there is the ACLU, an organization that is so terrified of religion
that it has actually expressed anger over a 9-foot statue of Jesus that is
located on the ocean floor off the coast of Key Largo. Second, there are the
spineless residents and clergymen in the area who liked the idea of giving
the nativity scene to the Berkley Clergy Association for display on church
property (it was one of three options on the table); in doing so, they
handed a victory to the ACLU. Third, there is the bogus argument made by the
mayor, Marilyn Stephan, who said, ‘It’s a risk to the safety of the crèche.
We want Santa to come and do the Christmas tree lighting and for the safety
of all who come, you can’t have all that stuff around.’ The stuff—baby
Jesus, Mary and Joseph—has been in the same spot for 65 years, without
incident. Fourth, there was the concern, expressed by some city officials,
that the cost of litigation might prove prohibitive: six organizations,
including the Thomas More Law Center, agreed to accept the case pro bono
(the only reasonable concern was that if the town lost, it would have to pay
the ACLU’s legal fees).”
Related
Christmas news
"Wal-Mart wishes you a merry Christmas"
11-8-06, USA Today
It's troubling how some people are so afraid of offending anyone that they are
willing to do away with religious decorations entirely. Recently, a man
contacted us to say that a storefront in Long Island is decorated with
menorahs and Stars of David. The store used to have a crèche, but the
man said a clerk had told them they were ordered to take it down.
Curious as to who would make such an order, and why, a Catholic League
employee called the store to ask. The manager explained that they did
have a creche in past years, but it was owned and erected by a former
employee. When she recently changed jobs, the creche went with her.
Similarly, the Stars of David and the menorah are owned and were displayed by
a Jewish employee. The manager said she merely decorated the office with
Christmas presents and stockings, but that employees were permitted to add
decorations of their own if they wish.
We were satisfied with the manager's answer, and understood that the store was
not displaying any animus toward Christmas. We were concerned by one
thing though. Immediately upon hearing us ask about the crèche, the
manager offered to take down the Stars of David and the menorah. We
assured her that we do not want her to do so, and that we have absolutely no
problem with symbols of faith. It is unfortunate the manager was even
willing to make such an offer.
****************
In early November, a shopper in a Macy's store in Queens,
New York sought to purchase a Christmas gift card, she was dismayed to learn
that none were available. While she could buy a card reading "Happy
Hanukkah," there was nothing to represent this major Christian holiday.
We quickly discovered that Christmas gift cards were not
only missing from the New York store, they were absent from the Macy's web
catalogue as well. We contacted Macy’s and were told by a director of
publicity that due to a manufacturing error, the Christmas cards were delayed
in production and would eventually be available. The next day, Christmas gift
cards were indeed being offered.
It is to Macy's
credit that they reversed the production error so quickly.
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