Activists To Press for School Nativity Scene Displays

With Christmas less than two weeks away, activists are racing to reverse a city policy that bans nativity scene displays from public school classrooms.

The Department of Education allows holiday decorations as long as they are "secular." In that category it includes menorahs, Christmas trees, and the Islamic Star and Crescent — but not the nativity scene, or crèche.

At a press conference in front of City Hall today, a group led by the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights and City Council Member Tony Avella will argue the crèche should be allowed, too.

The activists will cite a recent court decision they say leaves a door open to adding the crèche to the city's approved decorations list.

The Catholic League's communications director, Kiera McCaffrey, said activists would also argue that eliminating nativity scenes is discriminatory.

"A menorah is certainly a religious symbol, as is the Star and Crescent, as is the crèche," Ms. McCaffrey said. "If other religions get religious symbols, Christianity should as well."

Mr. Avella said the Christmas tree is not sufficient, calling it pagan in origin.

City policy also requires that all holiday displays be temporary, and that they be posted in groups, with each symbol representing one belief being matched by another representing a different one.

"The primary purpose of all displays should be to promote the goal of fostering understanding and respect for the rights of all individuals regarding their beliefs, values and customs," it says.