LAST week, US District Judge Audrey B. Collins ruled against churches that tried to keep a 60-year Nativity tradition alive, “after atheists stole the show with anti-God messages.”
She rejected a motion from the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee, to allow the religious display this season while their lawsuit plays out against the city.
Kababayans and other Christians were dismayed that the city banned, rather than mediate for a religious dispute, which began three years ago when atheists first set up their anti-God message alongside the “belen.”
Collins explained the rationale of her decision: the city was within its constitutional right to eliminate the exemption that had allowed the Nativity scene to be displayed at the oceanfront Palisades Park, because the change affected all comers (from Christians, to Jews, to atheists) and provided other avenues for public religious speech.
Judge Collins pointed out that the decision was not meant to squash religious speech, but because “they were becoming a drain on city resources, destroying the turf and obstructing ocean views.”
We asked our viewers via our daily online poll Isyu Ngayon on Balitang America if they agree with the judges’ decision to ban this “belen” in Santa Monica. An overwhelming majority (95 percent of our respondents) disagreed on grounds of religious freedom and the need to respect each other’s religious beliefs and religious practices.
On the other hand, five percent argued on upholding the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which rules that there should be a separation between church and state.
While it can be debatable how the” Establishment Clause” contradicts the “freedom of religion” (which is also guaranteed by the Constitution) it is interpreted to rule that government should be neutral with regards to religion — that the government should remain neutral, neither favoring nor disfavoring any religion or even those who do not believe in, nor practice any religion.
Here are some of the comments of our readers on this issue:
“Everyone has individual religious belief and faith and they, the atheists should respect that. The atheists do not have the rights in all aspect to forbid the displaying of the nativity or any christmas display. It’s all about giving respect to the belief and faith of each religion.” – George Meehleib
“This political correctness is crazy. I was in Hong Kong one December and was floored by all of the beautiful Christmas decorations on the buildings. Much more so than you would see in the states — [considering that] Hong Kong is not a majority Christian nation like the US is.” – James Triguero
“Actually that makes sense. If one sect is allowed to practice and publicly display what they believe in, what’s stopping another group with a less publicly accepted belief to do the same? In a constitution that champions equality whatever or whoever you are, that makes perfect sense.” – Jed Pelicano Reston
“Atheists are believers too. Their belief is that they don’t believe in God. So if they wish, they can also show/put decors in public parks if they want to, in fairness to them as well [as they have done, but these displays were vandalized]. No restrictions. Religious freedom is a very basic human right.” – Teddy Bentulan
“Atheists are imposing their practice/non-practice on Christians. That should never happen.” – Ed Dee
“Sad news sa mga taga-Santa Monica, especially kung ilang years ng tradition ang paglalagay ng Belen sa parknila… Yung decision kasi siguro ng Judge ay dahil di na lahat ng taga– Sta Monica ay practicing Catholics. Kung ako ay isa sa mga Katoliko doon, sa sarili kong bakuran na lang ako maglalagay ng belen…di na siguro sila aalma kasi property ko na yung pinaglagyan ko.” – Mhean Mendros
“I am a Buddhist. And I am offended that my taxes are being used to promote Christian faith. Please separate Church and State. But with all due respect, hindi lang po atheists ang nagrereklamo. Pati rin kaming mgaBuddhists, Jews, Muslim at iba pang religion. Ang issue po ay publicly funded po kasi yan, to be fair sa lahat dapat walang pinapanigan ang gobyerno. Nasa batas po yan ng Pilipinas at America, ang separation of church and state. Hindi dapat ginagamit ang tax para magpromote ng isang religion.” – Jansen Durantes
“Traditions should not be above the law. Traditions should agree with the law not vice versa.” – Sun Chiu
“Katoliko ako pero marunong ako rumespeto sa ibang relihiyon. Ang Pasko ay para sa mga Kristiyano lamang,hindi dapat sino-shove sa bibig ng ibang tao. Sa bahay na lang maglagay ng Christmas decor.” – Charles Kirk Vargas
“I’m agnostic but I don’t mind if people put Christmas decors in public so long as other religions are allowed to do so as well, and as long as it doesn’t involve my own tax money.” – Jeff Gonzales
“If these atheists want respect, they first must respect others. Why are we allowing these people to run America? We as Christians and Catholics are allowed free speech. They already won by removing prayer in schools, why are we allowing them to remove God from the rest of America? I’m putting a life-size nativity scene in my front yard and those who don’t like it can keep moving” – Gerry Cordero
“Christmas is the happiest season for Filipino Catholics. Let there be peace. Minsan lang naman ang grand feastna ito sana pagbigyan na.” – Gino Garcia Madlangsacay
“Hindi naman po [banned] ang belen sa lahat ng lugar. Doon lang sa lugar na yun na ginagastusan ng gobyerno nila. Ayon lang po yun sa sinusunod nilang konstitusyon na nagsasabing walang iisang relihiyon na itataguyod o susuportahan ang estado. Wala namang debate doon sa establishment clause at freedom of religion. Tama ang sabi noong isang Buddhist, kung di ka naniniwala sa Kristiyanismo, papayag ka bang gamitin ang tax money mo sa isang display na malinaw na para lang sa mga Kristiyano? Doon sa nagsabing umalis ang mga Atheists sa Amerika, bakit di siya ang magpunta sa Vatican para mga Katoliko lang makahalubilo niya? [Ang kasong] ito ang patunay na nagtatagumpay ang batas at demokrasya sa US.” – Oliver Floralde
To be democratic about it, why doesn’t the city ask people to register their ‘belief’- be it Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist (even though this is against belief) or others; and on the basis of the survey, to allot space in the park [display area] in proportion to the size of the community that espouses that belief (or non-belief). – Carlo Butalid
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
