Green Bay Nativity Scene To Stay
No Other Religious Displays Until Rules Are Established
Associated Press..Katie DeLong
GREEN BAY - A nativity scene can remain in place at City Hall until Dec. 26 under a measure in which Mayor Jim Schmitt cast the deciding vote to break a 6-6 City Council tie.
But the measure adopted Tuesday night places a moratorium on any other religious display until the City Council and mayor can develop a set of guidelines.
The move came after 27 members of the public spoke, with some praising the putting up of the nativity scene and others condemning the exclusion of other faiths and nonbelievers.
"This is crazy," said Tim Entringer of Green Bay. "It's Christmas. I'm sad in my heart. There is only one God, and you've got to keep him up. The only way to get to God is through Jesus. It's the true religion. You have to do it."
But Mike Layden of Green Bay said: "If I were a Hindu -- and I'm not -- and I had to pay my water bill and walk under that overhang, I'd be terribly insulted. ... I'd say, 'Did I make a mistake in coming here? Does this country still respect the sanctity of the Constitution?"'
Sean Ryan of suburban Allouez, who asked last weekend to display a Festivus pole at City Hall patterned after one in an episode of the old "Seinfeld" television show, told the council he did it as a joke, meant to point out that religious displays don't belong at City Hall.
Ryan took exception to statements made by others that the nativity scene was historical, not merely religious.
"I'm a Christian -- don't tell me it's not my religion," Ryan said.
Gerald Frisque of Green Bay said neither the mayor nor council is qualified to determine which religions should be given display space, and he criticized both for dividing the city.
City Council president Chad Fradette last week took to the city's Advisory Committee, which he chairs, his plan to install the nativity scene on the roof of City Hall's northwest entrance. The committee approved the move 4-1.
A Wiccan display with a white five-pointed star encircled by a wreath was installed Friday, but someone took down it down early Monday and it was found in nearby shrubs.
The mayor declared a moratorium on additional displays and any replacement to the Wiccan display until the council can decide on a policy. Schmitt said several people were making a mockery of the display by suggesting pop culture symbols such as the Festivus pole.
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How long must this insanity continue? We read about this type of thing every year. What to do?..I wish I could remember the name of the town but it was someplace in the Midwest. They decided on an excellent compromise..they dedicated a piece of public land for "religious memorials". No more court house displays,everything had to be displayed in the religious memorial park.