Va. AG: Local govt. holiday displays OK
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) writes in a new opinion that local governments do not have to ban holiday displays that include religious symbols, including those honoring Jesus Christ.
It is my opinion that a local governmental entity is never categorically compelled to prohibit holiday displays, including those incorporating recognizably religious symbols, because governments enjoy considerable discretion in accommodating the religious expression of their citizens and employees and in their own recognition of traditional seasonal holidays. It is further my opinion that displays depicting the birth of Jesus Christ are permissible provided the government ensures appropriate content and context.
Read the full opinion here.
And stay with the Virginia Politics blog for more details.
By
Washington Post editors
| August 24, 2010; 4:25 PM ET
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Posted by: Greent | August 24, 2010 4:52 PM | Report abuse
FINALLY we got an AG with a set of onions, keep up the good work Mr. C.
Posted by: rh843 | August 24, 2010 5:22 PM | Report abuse
FINALLY we got an AG with a set of onions, keep up the good work Mr. C.
Posted by: rh843 | August 24, 2010 5:22 PM | Report abuse
It will be interesting to see if this applies to ALL religious displays, and not just those "depicting the birth of Jesus Christ." Now, why did he single out that particular religious manifestation?
Posted by: loco71 | August 24, 2010 8:04 PM | Report abuse
Once again Kookinelli ignores the law of the land and argues for a far right position. He is going to get his ilegal head handed to him by the Roberts Supreme Court on this and many other issues. As an attorney I will take any case against hi outrageous positions pro bono.
Posted by: fredmlaw | August 24, 2010 8:18 PM | Report abuse
So how much more $$ does Virginia lose once the inevitable lawsuits roll in.
And how the hell did this nutjob get 70 percent of the vote!?
Posted by: Liebercreep | August 24, 2010 8:44 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
"Because secular symbols can insulate innately religious symbols
from constitutional attack, decoration of public buildings with such secular items as lights, candy canes,
wreaths, poinsettias, fIr trees, snowflakes, and red and green ribbons should raise no serious constitutional
objection."
Use secular symbols of a holiday to insulate the religious ones. Fascinating.
Calling all pastafarians to Loudon County.