Religious Freedom Victory: US Capitol Tree Removes Ban on Ornaments Displaying 'Religious Symbols' from Being Displayed on the 2023 Tree

Rev Patrick Mahoney : Nov 30, 2023
Christian Defense Coalition

"The 'People's House,' as the US Capitol Building is so rightly called, must be a place where all Americans should be afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment Rights. That is why we are thankful the government has removed this troubling ban on religious symbols being displayed on the 2023 US Capitol Christmas Tree. The First Amendment promises freedom 'OF' religion not freedom 'FROM' religion..." -Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition

(Washington, DC) — [Christian Newswire] In past years, the guidelines for submitting ornaments to be displayed on the US Capitol Christmas Tree  included the phrase; "Decorations cannot include religious symbols." (Screengrab image: via US Capitol Christmas Tree website)

That meant ornaments which included; Nativity Displays, the Christ-Child or the Holy Family would be prohibited.

This year, the prohibition on religious symbols from being displayed on US Capitol Tree has been removed from the 2023 ornament guidelines: Click Here to view.

The Christian Defense Coalition has been publicly vocal about "religious symbols" being removed from the US Capitol Tree. Below are excerpts from a past email sent to the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board:

"The 'People's House,' as the US Capitol Building is so rightly called, must be a place where all Americans should be afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment Rights.

"That is why it was so troubling when I read the official guidelines for ornaments on the 2021 US Capitol Christmas included these words: 'Decorations cannot include religious symbols.'

"Since the definition of Christmas is, 'the annual festival celebrating Christ's birth,' it would be deeply concerning if ornaments celebrating His birth were prohibited and censored from being on the US Capitol Christmas Tree by the order of a government agency."

Sadly, the banning of ornaments with religious symbols still remained in the US Capitol Tree guidelines until 2023.

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, comments on this religious freedom victory concerning the 2023 US Capitol Christmas Tree:

"The 'People's House,' as the US Capitol Building is so rightly called, must be a place where all Americans should be afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment Rights.

"That is why we are thankful the government has removed this troubling ban on religious symbols being displayed on the 2023 US Capitol Christmas Tree. The First Amendment promises freedom 'OF' religion not freedom 'FROM' religion.

"As we celebrate the powerful message and hope of Christmas this year at the US Capitol, let us also celebrate the powerful message of religious freedom and the First Amendment." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here