An Indiana senator is trying once again to enact legislation known as the "Merry Christmas bill" to protect Christmas celebrations in public schools.
Senator Jim Smith is expanding his proposition to include religious displays such as Nativity scenes on public properties, and plans to introduce the bill during the next legislative session, which begins January 5, 2015.
Smith proposed similar legislation during this year's session, but it did not pass in the House. The bill would allow schools and teachers to put up Christmas trees, "Merry Christmas" displays, and other celebrations of the Christian holiday, as long as another holiday– such as Hanukkah or Kwanzaa – were to be celebrated as well.
The newest proposition calls for Nativity scenes and other Christian holiday displays to be allowed, as long as secular or multi-faith displays are present as well. Senator Smith cited the controversy over Indiana's Franklin County Courthouse Nativity scene as an example of religious freedom being trampled upon.
"The Christmas season encompasses so many meaningful traditions, but many times these traditions and the people who participate in them are threatened," Smith said.
"Just this week, a town in Indiana is being sued by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the Freedom From Religion Foundation for a Nativity scene that has been on display for more than a half-century on its courthouse lawn. This bill is a step toward defending a sacred holiday that is otherwise being stolen from our children and our culture."
Brookville, Indiana has presented a Nativity scene for Christmas for the last 50 years, but the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) considers the display a violation of the separation of church and state.
The ACLU of Indiana filed a federal lawsuit over the Nativity scene, and the display will be taken down the day after Christmas. The county is represented by public interest law firm the Thomas More Society in the pending lawsuit.
