A Nativity Scene that has been displayed in front of the fire department in Toledo, Iowa for the last 15 years has been moved after the city received an official complaint from a non-resident and received a letter from the Freedom From Religion claiming the Nativity Scene should be removed out of respect for the First Amendment.
Mayor Brian Sokol said the display was put up in November and the complaint was received early last week from an individual who doesn’t even reside in the county.
The complaint was made by a person called Justice Scott who the city believes is from Waterloo, but isn’t sure. Once the follow-up letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation was received, the volunteer fire department decided to move the display out of caution.
“It was not ordered to be removed by the city,” Sokol said. “My goal is to get it back where it was at the fire station. We just have to make sure we comply and add whatever it takes to get it back.”
According to the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the Establishment Clause prohibits the government from showing “favoritism towards religion.”
“The Supreme Court has said time and again that the ‘First Amendment mandates government neutrality between religion and religion, and between religion and nonreligion,’” the letter states. “By prominently displaying this Nativity Scene on public property, the city abridges its duty to remain neutral towards religion.”
The group said Nativity Scenes on public property are “unnecessary, inappropriate and divisive.”
“It is irrefutable that the nativity is a religious, Christian symbol,” the letter said. “The best solution is to remove this Nativity Scene and discontinue hosting religious displays on public property altogether.”
It went so far as to suggest the city should ensure its fire department doesn’t host displays that “alienate” community members who don’t share a particular faith – or any faith – because the fire department interacts with citizens during some of the “most frightening and vulnerable moments of their lives.”
Sokol said the city has talked with its city attorney and is exploring options. He reiterated that no complaint has been filed by an actual resident of Toledo.
“In the 14 years I’ve been in city government, that was the largest-attended city council meetings,” he said. “And it was 100 percent in support of putting it back. It’s never been an issue the last 15 years. It goes up every year and comes down every year.”
[…] Nativity Scene moved in Toledo after complaint, letter from Freedom From Religion Foundation A Nativity Scene that has been displayed in front of the fire department in Toledo, Iowa for the last 15 years has been moved after the city received an official complaint from a non-resident and received a letter from the Freedom From Religion claiming the Nativity Scene should be removed out of respect for the First Amendment. […]
!st amendment is exactly why it SHOULD be left there.
Wow way to go in standing your ground, Jesus would be so proud of your fortitude in standing up for the birth of the Savior, you should all feel proud.
When, oh when, are the ignoramuses of this century going to learn to read? The First Amendment says NOTHING about freedom FROM religion. It is, rather, enshrining the rights of Americans to worship as they please. I’m confounded about how legal mind will allow the First Amendment to be used both ways. When the Satanic bunch want to display the baphomet, they cite the amendment. When FFR wants its way, they cite the same amendment. What ever happened to, “You can’t have it both ways.”
My husband and I have recently moved into Iowa, and we just want to sound our support for keeping the beloved Nativity Scene in its traditional spot. In these recent years, there are so many calls to do away with all things that remind us of our heritage, and it is so sad to see the loss of traditions and symbols and monuments… and the freedom to display them. We mustn’t let this happen in Iowa. Be courageous and stand for our freedom. To force a people to remove the evidences of their heritage is actually a type of oppression, and the more it is allowed to happen, the bolder the oppression will become.
Everyone in that town should put up giant Nativity scenes and crosses on their front lawn. Leave them up all year too. Make sure everyone who drives through that town will see the love for Jesus! Then find out where that trash lives and send letters to his city demanding they remove their blm and tranny flags and signs because it violates your religious beliefs and freedom from discrimination and that you feel threatened by them supporting racist and terrorist organizations.
This should not even be up for contention. Because of the first amendment. The lack of knowledge and principles in this country is sickening. Sickening. I am so ashamed of weak Americans.
Why do they bow to the woke community?
If the Lord is on your side nothing can stand against you!