In a historic move that many are hailing at a major milestone for religious freedom and the First Amendment in our modern era, a Nativity scene was set up on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building on Tuesday. How amazing is that? A display that showcases the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, God in human flesh entering human history to save humanity, a summary of the gospel message, on the steps of a building that houses some of the most corrupt individuals in our nation. We’re really seeing a shifting back toward the right in our culture.
The organizers who put the display together coupled it with prayer, the singing of Christmas carols, and a reading of the birth of Christ. All of this was made possible thanks to a landmark federal court decision that gave Rev. Patrick Mahoney and those who supported his efforts the right to celebrate the Christmas season on Capitol grounds as long as they remained peaceful. Seeing as how this was put together by Christians and the whole thing is focused on sharing Jesus with the masses, I doubt there would be any acts of violence.
Check out the details from The Christian Post:
Held on the southeastern steps of the Capitol, the display was the culmination of a legal battle that began over a decade ago when Mahoney, director of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian Defense Coalition, faced repeated threats of arrest for his attempts to read the Christmas story from the Bible and hold a Nativity display at the Capitol Christmas tree. On Wednesday, Mahoney shared his gratitude for the chance to share the message of Christmas in such a politically significant location. Sue Dorfman, a photographer for ZUMA Press, captured the moment with an image of the Nativity scene at the Capitol.
7 months ago, we would've been arrested for having this Nativity Display on the steps of the US Capitol. However, we won an historic federal lawsuit through the incredible work of the Center for American Liberty which allowed us on the steps! @Liberty_Ctr @pnjaban… pic.twitter.com/0yObLMhCvw
— Rev. Patrick Mahoney (@revmahoney) December 11, 2024
Mahoney then got on social media platform X and said, “7 months ago, we would’ve been arrested for having this Nativity Display on the steps of the US Capitol. However, we won an historic federal lawsuit through the incredible work of the Center for American Liberty which allowed us on the steps!” Mahoney tagged civil rights advocate Center for American Liberty Executive Director Mark Trammell and Harmeet Dhillon, who is a civil rights lawyer working out of California in his post.
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In a statement following the Nativity display, Mahoney said, “We are so very thankful for the opportunity to share the joyful and powerful message of Christmas at the steps of the U.S. Capitol. In a hurting and wounded world, there is no more redemptive and healing message than the Christmas story.”
“The road to this historic moment was paved by Mahoney’s 2022 federal lawsuit, which challenged the Capitol’s restrictions on public demonstrations. Despite the federal government’s resistance, Mahoney argued that the U.S. Capitol — a place symbolic of democracy and freedom — should be a space where all Americans can exercise their First Amendment rights, including the freedom to express religious beliefs,” the report continued.
Mahoney stated in the lawsuit, “The ‘People’s House,’ as the U.S. Capitol Building is so rightly called, must be a place where all Americans are afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment rights. Tragically, those rights and freedoms are being denied and prohibited.”
The reverend then said that all sorts of folks were allowed to go inside the Capitol building and make use of the grounds, but his request for a peaceful demonstration was rejected. He had previously sought to hold a Good Friday service, praying for peace, religious freedom, and the healing of nations.
In May 2024, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in Mahoney’s favor, declaring the Capitol steps to be a public forum where peaceful demonstrations could no longer be prohibited. This decision set a precedent that ensured the steps of the Capitol could be used for public expressions of religious faith, including the display of a Nativity scene.
“This is also a significant victory for religious freedom and the First Amendment,” Mahoney went on to point out in a statement. “This event has ended and won the war on Christmas in the public square. For if Christmas can be celebrated and displayed in the most powerful public square in America, it can be celebrated publicly everywhere.”