Kansas City, Missouri City Manager Mario Vasquez censored Christmas by forbidding the display of a nativity scene in City Hall. Bill Donohue set him straight when he distorted the issue. Here is the text of his December 12 letter.
You will not be working on Christmas Day. You have the day off. That is because Kansas City is celebrating the birth of Jesus. There is no other reason for closing shop on December 25. Yet you pretend that shutting down the government has nothing to do with Jesus.
You say that your decision to ban the display of a nativity scene (and the display of a menorah to celebrate Hanukkah) in City Hall is being done to “respect the wide range of religious and non-religious beliefs held by our employees, visitors, and residents.” You also say your decision is being done “to honor the separation of church and state.”
You are twice wrong.
If you truly respected religious beliefs, you would not censor Christmas and cancel Hanukkah. So, please, just tell us how you really feel about Christian and Jewish traditions. It is also dishonest to say that your decision is being done “to honor the separation of church and state.” Your grasp of constitutional law is abysmal.
The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that religious symbols in public forums, e.g. city parks, are not only permissible, it is illegal to ban them. This explains why the Catholic League currently has a life-size manger scene in Central Park.
Regarding public property that is not a public forum, such as city halls, religious symbols are also permitted, though they must be accompanied by secular symbols (this avoids the appearance of government endorsement of religion).
In other words, you can display a nativity scene and a menorah (we support both), as long as they are accompanied by secular symbols such as a Christmas tree. So don’t invoke fidelity to the Constitution to buttress your bigotry.
I could not help but notice that you are boasting about the display of “decorated trees,” and the like, in City Hall. That you couldn’t even mention “Christmas trees”—you must tremble at the site and sound of the dreaded “C-word”—tells me all I need to know about you.
Cuba also bans Christmas. Why not go there for Christmas? Make sure you get a one-way ticket.
