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“The Christmas season is a spirit of giving and love and peace on earth – not a time for turmoil.”

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
Jennifer Learn-Andes on Facebook   |   @TLJenLearnAndes on Twitter

A Nativity and menorah will be returned to the Luzerne County Courthouse lawn – likely by Monday – as part of a holiday display featuring other secular objects, county Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said Friday.

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Connie Pastula holds up a plastic baby Jesus as passers-by honk their horn at a group of citizens protesting the removal of the courthouse holiday display.

Aimee Dilger/The Times Leader

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A tiny Nativity is placed on the Luzerne County Courthouse lawn in protest of the removal of the Nativity and Menorah.

AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER

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The display will be possible because the Wilkes-Barre law firm Rosenn Jenkins & Greenwald has agreed to represent the county at no cost if a lawsuit is filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Petrilla said.

Some county officials decided to remove the Nativity and menorah Wednesday night after the litigation threat, saying they didn’t have the time and money to invest in a suit.

County officials say they were inundated with complaints about the removal. About 20 citizens also gathered at the site where the Nativity once stood on Friday morning carrying statues and a flag of the Nativity scene.

“It’s just clearly very important to the people of Luzerne County, and we hear their plea,” Petrilla said. “I’m grateful to them for displaying their emotions regarding the matter.”

Though a suit may result, the county and Rosenn firm will attempt to work with both organizations to reach an agreement on a display that does not violate the constitutional separation of church and state, said county Solicitor Vito DeLuca.

Minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban said he didn’t support the removal and learned about it from a news article. He said he spoke with other organizations that are willing to help the county in its defense, including the Alliance Defense Fund and the Pa Family Institute.

The Rosenn firm has also donated $1,000 to purchase secular holiday items that will be needed for the display, Petrilla said.

A lawyer from the Americans United for Separation of Church and State has said that seasonal displays on public property cannot show preference to any religion. Luzerne County’s Nativity stood by itself and was highlighted with a spotlight. The menorah was off to the side, and the only secular object was a snowman.

The protesters gathered in the frigid temperatures, generating frequent supportive honks and thumbs-up from passing motorists.

“Let’s bring Christmas back,” shouted one man in a truck.

“There’s still no room in the inn for Jesus,” said protester Joan Danishanko, of Wilkes-Barre, who came with her husband, Albert.

Debbie Lansberry, of Lehman Township, came as a shepherd wearing a bathrobe and towel secured by a headband.

“The Christmas season is a spirit of giving and love and peace on earth – not a time for turmoil,” she said.

Cathy Mack, of Pittston, said money says “In God we trust,” and county officials put their hands on a Bible when they take the oath of office. The government considers Christmas a holiday.

“So what’s this that you can’t have church and state together? It was never separated,” Mack said.

One elderly man put his tiny Nativity statute on the courthouse lawn during the protest, daring anyone to remove it.

At one point the crowd sang “Oh Come All Ye Faithful.”

Community activist Gene Stilp had planned to hold a live Nativity several evenings next week. If the display is restored, he still encourages people to gather at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, though they won’t have to appear in costume as originally planned.

“We should still celebrate the fact that people acting has made a difference,” Stilp said.

Stilp has received around 100 calls from people who wanted to volunteer, and one church was willing to donate costumes, he said. Stilp may be reached at 717-829-5600 .

Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.