Charleston Fire Department Forced To Remove Nativity Display

***10:45 a.m. Update December 22***

Charleston, SC -- Firefighters are forced to pull the plug on a Christmas Nativity scene, one that they’ve displayed for years, after a local man files a complaint citing the display violated the First Amendment.

Charleston Fire Department Station 12 had to remove a Nativity display from the lawn, after a local man filed a complaint with the Wisconsin based Freedom From Religion Foundation. The group sent a letter to the fire department Friday, December 18th. The complaint states the display shows Charleston’s endorsement of Christianity, which is prohibited under the Constitution, and asked that it be removed.

The firefighters removed the manger scene after the matter was referred to the fire department’s legal department. The fire department was not allowed to speak on camera, but released a statement. “The Supreme Court has said that the United States Constitution prohibits government from taking any action that appears to promote one religion over another. The Crech is the universal symbol of Christianity, and therefore based on the law, it was removed from the fire station. The city and the fire department fully support everyone’s right to practice his or her religion in our city.“
The fire department has received dozens of complaints about removing the nativity.

Sister Jane Livingston and her sisters from the Community of Catholic Sister Daughters of St. Paul wanted to do something nice for firefighters in Station 12. So they baked them a special cake. Sister Livingston says, “I’m delivering a Christmas cake to the people at Fire Station number 12. I figured if they can’t have a nativity on the outside, we would bring them a nativity they can have on the inside from us. There’s a clear prejudice it seems against Christianity. I was really kind of in sorrow in one sense, because Christmas is a joyful time, and it’s meant to be a time that brings people together, rather than divides them.“

Joanne Roberts lives in the area. She says, “I think it’s crazy. This is America. I’m a citizen of the United States of America and if you cannot have a manger scene in a front yard of a fire department what are we going to do. I think it’s crazy. It does upset me that they are not there. I just think we should fuss and fight and put it back up.“

The complaint also mentions a cross that remains on the fire station’s property. A number of Charleston fire stations have Christmas decorations, but those include santa claus and holiday lights.

Fire officials say they’ve had complaints from the man before, and the Nativity scene was not actually on fire station property, but on the land next to it. However they could not provide verification of that immediately to the Freedom From Religion Foundation. WCBD News 2 also tried to contact the man who filed the complaint, but so far no response.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - A fire department in South Carolina has removed a nativity display from a station after getting a complaint.

'The Post and Courier of Charleston' reported Monday that the nativity scene was removed from Charleston's Fire Station 12 after the complaint that the display supports Christianity.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter dated Dec. 17 to Mayor Joe Riley and Fire Chief Thomas Carr asking that the display be removed. The letter says a local resident complained.

The complaint was referred to the city's legal department, which recommended the scene be removed, citing U.S. Supreme Court rulings against promoting one religion over another.

A number of Charleston fire stations have Christmas decorations, but those include Santa Claus and holiday lights.