WASHINGTON, D.C. (WordNews.org) Dec. 21, 2011 — A pastor with a national profile is planning to read the Christmas story and sing carols at the Capitol Tree at the West Lawn of the United States Capitol Building on Thursday at noon.
The Rev. Patrick Mahoney told the Capitol police about his plans, which also include praying for peace, justice and religious freedom.
He will also be holding a small, 5-inch tall Nativity display.
Police officials told him some of his activities may be prohibited or constitute an illegal demonstration, Mahoney said.
Mahoney said he contacted his attorney, Jim Henderson, senior counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, who in turn called the Office of General Counsel for the Capitol Police.
After talking with the Assistant General Counsel for the Capitol Police, Henderson sent Mahoney the following email:
“Your use of the Bible or the ornament (Nativity Scene) would convert your activity, in the view of the Capitol Police, into a prohibited demonstration. If you failed to discontinue that activity on police direction you would be risking ticketing or arrest..”
Mahoney told Capitol Police officials he would still read the Christmas Story and hold the Nativity Display on Thursday even if it meant arrest or citation.
Mahoney noted that this threat of arrest for reading from the Bible comes in the wake of national news stories reporting that the Capitol Christmas Tree has no ornaments depicting the Christmas Story, The Nativity or Jesus.
“It is hard to imagine that a minister, or any American, would face possible arrest or citation for reading the Christmas Story from the Bible or holding a Nativity Display in the palm of their hand in front of the Capitol Christmas Tree on the lawn of the United States Capitol Building,” he said. “Yet, this is what I am facing on Thursday at noon.”