Lynch v. Donnelly - Public Religious Displays

Seasonal religious displays on public property, such as a manger scene at Christmas, are often challenged in court on the grounds that they depict religious matter and therefore violate the concept of separation of church and state. Proponents say that the displays do not violate the First Amendment because they are not coercive in nature and do not pressure anyone to hold a specific religious belief. Those who oppose the displays counter that religious symbols do not have a place on public government property. When it comes to Supreme Court rulings on the issue, the Court has taken a middle ground. The Court has upheld religious symbols in a holiday display if the display includes symbols from other religions or nonreligious items.