OPINION:
Sometimes no news is the best kind of news. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty each year scours the country for examples of the state, local or federal officials embodying the spirit of Charles Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge. These are the individuals spreading “Bah, humbug” throughout the Christmas season.
For the past quarter-century, the fund has reserved “its lowest honor” for those responsible for the most “egregious affront to the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays.” In a turn of good fortune, it came up empty-handed in 2024.
So, instead of condemning the actions of a miserly bureaucrat, the fund proposed to award the first-ever Tiny Tim Toast to Stillwater, Texas. The city deserves recognition for its perseverance in refusing to tear down a beautiful Nativity scene outside the Nolan County Courthouse.
Members of the community worked for over six months to plan everything that went into setting up the creche. Large, carved figures were donated and had to be shipped and delivered on an 18-wheeler. Firefighters volunteered to do the heavy lifting needed to put everything in its proper place. Others took responsibility for keeping the site tidy. It didn’t cost taxpayers a dime.
In contrast to the generosity of fellow residents, one busybody was offended by the existence of a traditional display. Instead of offering something positive that would build goodwill and cheer in Stillwater, she sought to demolish what others had taken great pains to create.
Such things happen thanks to the spread of misguided opinions fashionable among academics. They mistakenly think government can endorse only displays of crass consumerism and secularism because government must have nothing to do with religion.
The town of about 10,000 residents solemnly weighed this objection. Citizens debated the issue in a public meeting before elected representatives arrived at the realization that the right thing to do was nothing — the display would stay right where it is.
The city made the winning call.
“This year, Becket is happy to raise a hearty toast to all those who stood firm against these efforts, unwavering in defending faith’s rightful place in the public square. Here’s to you, the citizens of Sweetwater, Texas, for keeping the faith,” Becket Fund President Mark Rienzi said.
In another encouraging sign, a new YouGov poll found the number of Americans who see signs of a war on Christmas has declined from 39% in 2022 to 23% today. Perhaps the tide is finally turning, and more are recognizing that America has never been the creation of atheists — contrary to what the busybodies think.
Our nation formed as a haven for those fleeing religious persecution in Europe. The Founding Fathers’ success against what was then the world’s greatest military power was nothing short of miraculous. George Washington neatly summarized the import of their accomplishment in a 1783 letter to a prominent clergyman:
“The establishment of Civil and Religious Liberty, was the motive which induced me to the Field, the object is attained, and it now remains to be my earnest wish and prayer that the Citizens of the United States would make a wise and virtuous use of the blessings placed before them.”
Merry Christmas.
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