Atheists Seek OK for Banner for TX Christmas Display

By: The Associated Press Email

Posted: Fri 7:47 AM, Dec 09, 2011

ATHENS, Texas - A national atheist foundation says it will seek permission to hoist its own banner to join secular and religious Christmas displays on an East Texas courthouse square.

Attorney Stephanie Schmitt of the Freedom From Religion Foundation revealed the plan after Henderson County Attorney Clint Davis wrote a letter defending the legality of the displays on the Athens square.

She tells the Athens Daily Review (http://bit.ly/uHqkye ) that since the county allows a nonprofit civic group to erect the displays on the town square, they amount to a "public forum."

Henderson County officials received a letter from the foundation Monday, arguing that the seasonal display on courthouse grounds amount to an unconstitutional endorsement of the Christian faith.

County Judge Richard Sanders says the displays aren't only Christian in nature and therefore legal.

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