Nativity Scene To Be Permitted In Washington State Capitol This Year

The Alliance Defense Fund announced yesterday that a settlement agreement (full text) has been filed in Wesselius v. DeShaw, (WD WA, Oct. 16, 2007), a case challenging last year's refusal by Washington state officials to permit a private citizen to put up a Nativity Scene in the state Capitol building next to a menorah and holiday tree that were approved for display. Under the settlement agreement, officials will allow plaintiff to display a Nativity Scene in the commons area of the Capitol Rotunda this December. The Capitol Campus Facilities Policy will be amended to provide that public use of Capitol facilities will be made available on a non-discriminatory basis, without regard to the religious or political content or viewpoint of the person seeking access. (See prior related posting.) Yesterday's Olympian also reported on the settlement.