MOUNT VERNON — The Nativity scene will stay on the Mount Vernon Public Square, said Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis. However, the religious scene will be integrated with other holiday themes in order to stay in compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision on separation of church and state.
According to Mavis, area citizens voiced their concerns about the city’s display and whether or not it needed to follow the ruling.
Bill Smith, law director for the city, was asked to research the court’s decision and other decisions relating to this issue. Smith indicated to Mavis that the concerns were correct. The display of a Nativity scene by itself on the square was in violation of the Supreme Court decision.
“We do have other lighted [decorations], lightings and that sort of thing. The Nativity scene was in the northwest part of the quadrant. Historically, we always tried to have something in each quadrant of the square and last year we had the issue of desecrating the Civil War monument and we have changed that. Last year was our first year away from that,” Mavis said.
“The Nativity scene continued to be pretty much where it had been for many years; no one knows how many years, but we can say for many years the Nativity scene has been on display,” said Mavis.
“It was never an issue of whether we would display it,” Mavis said. This issue, was the location.
After much research, Mavis studied similar cases of religious displays on public property. His findings looked at Delaware, Ohio, which several years ago had issues with a Nativity scene being on the county court lawn. Also in Lancaster, the city had an issue with the display being on their public square.
“What we are looking at now is in Delaware and Lancaster. They have a Nativity scene, but have been able to comply with the Supreme Court decision by integrating a Nativity scene with other Christmas-type displays such as lighted Christmas trees, Santa Claus and Santa Claus house,” he said.
“Basically, what everybody will have to avoid, is that it doesn’t look like government is endorsing a specific religion,” said Mavis. “... If we do use your Nativity scene it would need to be included with other secular displays that would be in the same area of your presentation, so we are actually looking at that.”
By Nov. 11, ranging sometime after Veterans Day but before the Christmas Walk and parade the city will construct a holiday display.
“We will be working with Jeff Oliver’s crew putting together what we believe will be a corrective measure with a display that would include a Nativity scene,” said Mavis.
Some members of the community feel indifferent toward the situation, some believe it should be a choice for the community to decide and some are adamant the scene should stay.
“They should have the right if they want it,” said Carl Miller of Mount Vernon. He explained that it should be a consensus of what the majority wants to do.
“I think we should have it,” said Mount Vernon resident Wilma Loy.
“I believe it should be there. I think that is the reason for the season,” said Cheryl Lloyd.
“[I am] definitely against not having it on the square,” said Richard Mierzejewski, owner of the Gospel Supply Shop.
