The Archdiocese of Washington recently filed a lawsuit against the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority because it rejected their petition to endorse their ad titled, "Find the Perfect Gift." Catholics wish to place their Christmas ad on public buses and kiosks located around Washington D.C. but what they got was a big "No."
The advertisement exhibits stars, shepherds, and sheeps along with the words, "Find the Perfect Gift." However, it does not show a manger, an image of Jesus Christ nor the cross. The proposed ad was rejected based to WMATA's present advertising guidelines. According to Metro spokeswoman Sherri Ly, the guidelines that prohibit public notices containing religious descriptions have been in place since two years ago, as reported by CBN News.
Ly said that WMATA changed its advertising guidelines in 2015 to forbid issue-oriented posting. This includes advertising about politics, religions, and activism.
The Catholic church secretary for communications, Ed McFadden, argued, "The rejected ad conveys a simple message of hope, and an invitation to participate in the Christmas season. Yet citing its guidelines, WMATA's legal counsel said the ad 'depicts a religious scene and thus seeks to promote religion.'"
According to Washington Examiner, the Archdiocese wanted to put their ads at bus kiosks. Two Archdiocese of Washington lawyers said that its First Amendment rights were contested. According to the Archdiocese's chancellor and general counsel, Kim Fiorentino, they believe that the turning down of the ad is a definite transgression of integral free speech and a restraint on the practice of their faith.
Steptoe & Johnson, LLP, which represents the First Liberty Institute and the Ethics and Public Policy Center, filed a friend-of-the-court brief. Such was submitted on Friday, Dec. 8, at the federal court in support of the Archdiocese of Washington. However, the complaint was rejected by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in favor of the WMATA guidelines.
Based on the court's documentation, the church mentioned that the ad's goal is to inspire every individual to give to those who are less fortunate and hear Christmas mass.
