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Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008

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Anti-gay church wants anti-Santa sign at state Capitol

By the Herald staff

OLYMPIA -- Westboro Baptist Church has jumped into the fray over the atheist sign at Washington's Capitol building by requesting its own sign announcing that "Santa Claus will take you to hell."

The Kansas-based church is infamous for its anti-gay agenda, including protesting at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq. Church leader Fred Phelps has claimed that soldiers' deaths are God's way to punish America for accepting gay rights.

In a letter faxed Wednesday to Gov. Chris Gregoire and state legislative officials, the church asked that its sign be placed next to the nativity display and the sign posted by atheist group Freedom From Religion.

The atheists' sign sparked a nationwide controversy, catching the attention of Fox News personality Bill O'Reilly, who encouraged viewers to flood Gregoire's office with calls demanding the sign's removal.

Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna issued a statement Dec. 3 saying the state's policy is to allow individuals or groups to sponsor displays regardless of their views.

"The Legislative Building belongs to all citizens of Washington state, and houses the state Legislature, as well as the offices of several state-elected executives, including the governor," according to the statement.

"The U.S. Supreme Court has been consistent and clear that, under the Constitution's First Amendment, once government admits one religious display or viewpoint onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays, including the viewpoints of non-believers."

The church said in its letter that its sign should be allowed because the building "is a forum that has been made available to other viewpoints about God and this current 'holiday' season and how it is observed."

Westboro's sign rewrites the lyrics to the popular holiday tune Santa Claus is Coming To Town to proclaim instead that belief in Santa Claus is responsible for the faltering economy and soldiers' deaths.



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