It happened Monday: A blessing on the inclusion of religious faith in the state Capitol and a plea for separation of church and state.Ìý
Two groups with differing beliefs about the holiday season set up displays on the first floor of the Capitol for the week leading up to Christmas.
"Reason for the season" and "reason this season."Â
Atheist educational groups from Lincoln and Omaha and an Offutt Humanists group set up displays on two corners of the first floor rotunda, including an Ask an Atheist opportunity and tables of buttons, pamphlets and other educational messages.Ìý
The Thomas More Society brought in a manger scene for their corner, and the Rev. Doug Dietrich from St. Mary's Catholic Church across from the street came to speak and bless the creche.Ìý
"The public square should not be void of signs of her citizens' beliefs and values. Far from it," he said. "It should be a place where such things are displayed and celebrated and respected."
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When people are forced to keep their ideas and beliefs to themselves, then they don't know their neighbors, and their neighbors don't know them, he said. Then real unity becomes all but unachievable.Ìý
Martin Cannon of the Omaha Thomas More Society said there are nativity displays in about half a dozen state Capitols across the country and outside displays on other government properties. And, yes, it is legal, he said.Ìý
"This is a public space, just like a city park or a public sidewalk," he said.Ìý
He was asked this week if the organization is being provocative by placing a manger inside the Capitol.Ìý
"Private expressions of faith in public square have been somewhat frozen out of that square for long enough that people are unaccustomed to seeing it," he said. "So when we place something in a rotunda like this, it is not intended to be a confrontation."
If there's any message in it, other than the simple message of the season, it's a reminder that it is a public space, he said. It is where people conduct their business and express themselves on important things.
Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, who said he does not call himself an atheist or go by any other label, spoke during a news conference about what he called the important principle that is also one of the most misunderstood and misapplied: the notion of the separation of church and state.Ìý
"I believe it should not be a separation. It should be a wall. It should be a gulf. It should be a moat in which there are alligators, crocodiles, prehistoric creatures whose sight alone kept people at bay," he said.Ìý
Religious people don't have to impose themselves or intrude in every place, he said.Ìý
The two groups had to reserve the space six months in advance. The atheists' group tried to reserve all four corners but was told that others had applied.Ìý
Brian Aden, president of the Lincoln Atheists, said they were not trying to keep others out of the Capitol.
"That was never our intent, last year or this year. It's to get our message out," he said.Ìý
If they were ever crowded out of the space during the holiday week, he said, they would be willing to do it some other time of year.
Gov. Pete Ricketts said two divergent groups sharing the space reflects the diversity of opinions in the state. The Capitol is a public building and sharing the space is "perfectly appropriate," he said.