Last week, the catholic Thomas More society installed a nativity scene in the capitol rotunda at the statehouse. Saturday, that display was joined by a “Bill of Rights Nativity.” Siouxland Public Media’s Mary Hartnett has more.
Bill of Rights Nativity at the Iowa State House. Photo from iowaatheists.org
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The Freedom from Religion Foundation put up the display which features the founding fathers looking fondly at the Bill of Rights that is laid in a cradle. Patrick Elliot is the Staff Attorney for the foundation. Elliot says this isn’t the first Bill of Rights display that the group has put up.
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“We’ve had one in the Wisconsin state capitol, the Florida state capitol, Rhode Island and Florida off the top of my head.”
Elliot says the foundation gets hate mail from religious groups that feel slighted by the displays, but he feels that they are reaching out the non-religious people that are often left out.
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“You know there are religious minorities that have no faith, and they’re in everyone’s community and we are pointing out that we are a part of that community.”
The display also mentions the winter solstice, which happens on Wednesday, December 21st. For Siouxland Public Media, I’m Mary Hartnett.
