I recently heard Bill Donohue of the Catholic League talk about the issue of the display of religious symbols in public spaces. I have never heard anyone make a more compelling argument ... for the opposing side in the debate.
Mr. Donohue, perennial spokesman for the Catholic League appeared recently on the WABC Program Religion on the Line. He discussed the issue of Christian-themed Holiday decorations in public spaces like parks.
Particularly, Mr. Donohue addressed a public park in New Jersey where a manger or creche was placed next to a sign featuring an avowedly atheist holiday greeting, apparently due to the fact that a judge had ruled that you could display religious symbols so long as you allowed all belief (and apparently disbelief or skepticism) systems to be represented.
Mr. Donohue complained that the atheist sentiment "detracted from the message" of the creche or manger. He apparently believed this was a compelling argument for the presence of the creche or manger.
However, nothing could more clearly demonstrate that the "Wall of Separation" that Jefferson talked about in his 1806 letter to the Danbury Baptists is the only effective way to meet the requirement under the Bill of Rights that Governments neither "establish" a religion or "prohibit free exercise" of a religion.
If the Government decides to side with Mr. Donohue and remove the sign and keep the creche or manger, they establish religion. If they remove the creche or manger,but keep the sign, they establish disbelief. Neither is Constitutionally acceptable. But even more, how does government appear not to favor one over the other if the parties see their symbols as mutually exclusive?
Additionally, many Americans from Christian faiths whose traditions do not include creches or mangers feel ill-used by the Government when the Government does not allow such displays. Doesn't this pervasive view indicate that we have thus "established" the Catholic, Orthodox Christian and Episcopalian custom of displaying creches or mangers among other Christian believers whose ancestors would have disdained such displays as "Popish" or "Idolatry?"
In short, in a nation with more Muslims than Methodists, we should heed the words of He whose birth Christians celebrate: "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and render unto G-d that which is G-d's."
By the way, Merry Chistmas to my co-religionist Mr. Donohue and Season's Greetings and a Happy New Year to all.