A non secular liberty advocacy group awarded a bunch of residents in a Texas city this week for pushing again towards a resident who tried to have a Nativity scene exterior their native courthouse eliminated.
The Becket Fund for Spiritual Liberty introduced Tuesday that the residents of Sweetwater had been the recipients of its inaugural “Tiny Tim Toast” award for exhibiting up in droves to precise their opposition to taking down the Nativity scene exterior the Nolan County Courthouse.
Sweetwater is a city of roughly 10,000 folks about 40 miles west of Abilene.
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Final week, there was standing room solely when the Nolan County Commissioners Court docket held a public discussion board relating to a name from Carolyn Anne Frawley to take down the Nativity, in keeping with CBS affiliate KTAB.
Frawley penned a letter to the editor of the native newspaper, the Sweetwater Reporter, expressing her opposition to the Nativity show on authorities property, citing the separation of church and state.
Faraway notably left “Christian” uncapitalized in her letter, regardless of capitalizing “Jewish,” “Muslim,” “atheist” and “freethinkers.”
“Not all residents of Nolan County are of one religion,” Faraway wrote partially. “There are people who are Jewish and maybe even Muslim and of course Atheist. Yes, we do exist even though many christians choose to ignore or use intimidation to keep Freethinkers whispering instead of speaking out.”
“The Obvious christian law display must be removed from our public property. The Nolan County Courthouse is a representative and place for government business for ALL Nolan County residents, not just christians,” she added.
Faraway additionally attended the assembly on Dec. 9, however was the one one who spoke out in opposition to the show, in keeping with CBS affiliate KTXS.
“The religious display should be removed from the Nolan County courthouse lawn,” Frawley mentioned. “It is a taxpayer-supported public building where county and city business is conducted. It is not a church and the display is an over-Christian display.”
KTXS famous that eight different folks spoke in help of the Nativity show, and that authorities took no motion on the problem, which allowed the show to stay exterior the courthouse.
Mark Rienzi, who serves as president and CEO of Becket, praised the solidarity of Sweetwater residents who confirmed up in help of their Nativity scene.
“When the humbug spirit tried to snuff out Sweetwater’s cherished Nativity scene, the locals stood their ground with unshakable resolve,” Rienzi mentioned in a press release supplied to The Christian Put up. “God bless them for the courage they showed in the face of adversity — it should be an inspiration to all those who wish to keep the Christmas and Hanukkah season sacred.”
The “Tiny Tim Toast” award — named after the boy in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol — took the place of Becket’s annual “Ebenezer Award,” which for 23 years highlighted “the most outrageous offenders of the holidays,” in keeping with its web site.
This yr, the group determined as a substitute to spotlight “an individual or group who inspires hope and perseverance in the face of adversity during the Christmas and Hanukkah season.”
“Every Christmas and Hanukkah season, there are some bureaucrats and activists who seek to shut out the lights on religious displays and expression,” Rienzi mentioned. “This year, Becket is happy to raise a hearty toast to all those who stood firm against these efforts, unwavering in defending faith’s rightful place in the public square. Here’s to you, the citizens of Sweetwater, Texas, for keeping the faith.”
Based on Becket’s 2024 Spiritual Freedom Index, 62% of Individuals consider that individuals of religion are essential to fixing the issues going through america.
Jon Brown is a reporter for The Christian Put up. Ship information tricks to [email protected]
“Well bless their hearts.”
