ATLANTA, Dec. 14, 2015 /
Christian Newswire/ -- This Christmas season, the Georgia Nativity Scene Committee will display a nativity scene in the Georgia capitol building in honor of the birth of Christ. On December 15, 2015, at 1 p.m., the Georgia Nativity Scene Committee will host a celebration to unveil the Christmas display depicting the newborn Christ child, lying in the manger. The nativity scene will be in the south wing of the Georgia State Capitol building, located at 206 Washington St. SW in Atlanta.
"The nativity scene in the rotunda represents constitutionally protected free speech and expression of religious faith by private citizens in a traditional public forum," said Tom Brejcha, Thomas More Society President and Chief Counsel. "The government is neither censor nor endorser of such religious speech. In the capitol, where political rallies are routinely held during government sessions, the government is merely the gatekeeper upholding free speech."
The December 15 event is open to the public. Speakers include Auxiliary Bishop Luis Zarama of the Atlanta diocese and Catherine Davis, President of The Restoration Project. The Home School Co-op Carolers, directed by Judith Grieco, will perform.
The nativity scene is privately funded and sponsored, bereft of any government aid or endorsement, and therefore, the nativity display is clothed and armored with the full protection of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Thomas More Society provides legal counsel for the Georgia Nativity Scene Committee and the American Nativity Scene Committee, placing nativity scenes in public places in twenty-one different States. Thomas More Society has co-sponsored private nativity displays in the State Capitol buildings of Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and Texas, and in front of the Oklahoma Governor's Mansion.
"We are very pleased to be exercising our First Amendment rights by expressing our religious faith in public," said Ann Witt, chairman of the Georgia Nativity Scene Committee. "It is an honor to celebrate Christmas with a nativity scene in the Georgia State Capitol. A joyous Christmas to all!"
To schedule an interview with Tom Brejcha of the Thomas More Society, contact Tom Ciesielka at 312.422.1333,
tc@tcpr.net.
To speak with Ann E. Witt of the Georgia Nativity Scene Committee, call 678.596.7701.
About the Thomas More Society
Thomas More Society is a not-for-profit, national public interest law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and religious liberty. Based in Chicago, the Thomas More Society defends and fosters support for these causes by providing high quality pro bono legal services from local trial courts all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Visit www.thomasmoresociety.org.
About the American Nativity Scene Committee
The American Nativity Scene Committee is dedicated to the display of nativity scenes in every state capitol in America during the Christmas season. The committee ships nativity scenes, which have been donated by an anonymous benefactor, to citizens throughout the United States who wish to give witness to the true meaning of Christmas by setting up a privately funded crèche in a public forum. Visit www.americannativityscene.com.
