CHAMBERSBURG, FRANKLIN COUNTY -
Dozens rallied in the borough's square Saturday afternoon to support a traditional nativity scene that has been placed there for years, but this season is conspicuously missing.
The local garden club usually sets up the nativity near the fountain at the intersection of Main Street and Lincoln Way, but the borough council recently put a stop to all displays in the square.
"I think it's a terrible sign of our times when we cannot have a nativity scene in our public square," Tim Stanton, a rally participant, said.
The borough decided to bar all displays from the square after an atheist, agnostic and secular humanist organization called Pennsylvania Nonbelievers (PAN) asked to set up a 3 ft. by 4 ft. sign reading "Celebrating Solstice -- Honoring Atheist War Veterans" in the square.
Steven Neubauer, President of PAN, said atheist veterans often feel out of place. "They tell us veterans' celebrations all too often turn into religous ceremonies or religous celebrations of some sort, and they feel left out," he said.
Rather than allow the sign to sit near the nativity, Chambersburg's leaders prohibited all displays. That was Lisa Blackstock's call to action. A Chambersburg native and resident of nearby Mercersburg, Blackstock organized Saturday's rally. She said Christian symbols are under fire nationwide.
"It's going on all across the country and, unfortunately, who will be at fault is the Christians, cause they just let them," Blackstock said.
Borough leaders were not at Saturday's rally.
Rally participant Randy Pensinger said he thinks Chambersburg should have a public area for displays from local groups.
"If a church wants to put up a creche, or the Jewish synagogue around the corner wants to put up a menorah, then let them," Pensinger said.
The nativity is now on display in front of the Central Presbyterian Church on one of the square's corners. The solution is not what rallyers or the nonbelievers wanted.
"Removing everything is an equitable solution," PAN President Steven Neubauer said, adding he wanted to see the nativity and atheist sign allowed to be displayed together. "We would have preferred to have our display up at least for one season."
Neubauer said PAN chose Chambersburg because the borough has allowed other displays in the square in the past.
Meanwhile, rally participants are planning a series of similar events for every Saturday in December.
The local garden club usually sets up the nativity near the fountain at the intersection of Main Street and Lincoln Way, but the borough council recently put a stop to all displays in the square.
"I think it's a terrible sign of our times when we cannot have a nativity scene in our public square," Tim Stanton, a rally participant, said.
The borough decided to bar all displays from the square after an atheist, agnostic and secular humanist organization called Pennsylvania Nonbelievers (PAN) asked to set up a 3 ft. by 4 ft. sign reading "Celebrating Solstice -- Honoring Atheist War Veterans" in the square.
Steven Neubauer, President of PAN, said atheist veterans often feel out of place. "They tell us veterans' celebrations all too often turn into religous ceremonies or religous celebrations of some sort, and they feel left out," he said.
Rather than allow the sign to sit near the nativity, Chambersburg's leaders prohibited all displays. That was Lisa Blackstock's call to action. A Chambersburg native and resident of nearby Mercersburg, Blackstock organized Saturday's rally. She said Christian symbols are under fire nationwide.
"It's going on all across the country and, unfortunately, who will be at fault is the Christians, cause they just let them," Blackstock said.
Borough leaders were not at Saturday's rally.
Rally participant Randy Pensinger said he thinks Chambersburg should have a public area for displays from local groups.
"If a church wants to put up a creche, or the Jewish synagogue around the corner wants to put up a menorah, then let them," Pensinger said.
The nativity is now on display in front of the Central Presbyterian Church on one of the square's corners. The solution is not what rallyers or the nonbelievers wanted.
"Removing everything is an equitable solution," PAN President Steven Neubauer said, adding he wanted to see the nativity and atheist sign allowed to be displayed together. "We would have preferred to have our display up at least for one season."
Neubauer said PAN chose Chambersburg because the borough has allowed other displays in the square in the past.
Meanwhile, rally participants are planning a series of similar events for every Saturday in December.
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