Mayor Mike Compton explained that city leaders had concerns over religious expression on public property.
By Catholics for Catholics
In Pataskala, Ohio, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And this year, Susan Conley believes the Christmas spirit will be felt more than ever.
Why? Well, Conley wanted to place a Nativity set at the winter Farmers Market. She had been hosting live scenes for years during the holiday season on private property.
But the Farmer’s Market is set to take place at Veteran’s Green, a City park that is owned by Pataskala, according to 10WBNS.
Hosting Nativity scenes is nothing new for Conley. She has worked with the City for almost a decade to set up a live Nativities as a part of Pataskala’s annual Mainstreet Christmas event. In previous years, the display was placed on private property.
But this year Conley thought it would be best to put the Nativity in a more accessible place. She requested the use of the Veterans Green or one of the public streets where other organizations and businesses have booths and displays.
At first, the mayor, Mike Compton, refused, saying that since the Nativity scene would be set in City property, it would not be possible due to it being a religious display.
But when gubernatorial candidate and political figure Vivek Ramaswamy posted on X in support of Conley, the Nativity garnered the state’s attention.
Ramaswamy wrote, “Denying permits for religious displays on public property because of their content is a First Amendment violation & has a chilling effect on all religious faiths.”
On Thursday, Mayor Compton and city leaders re-evaluated policies, concluding that religious expression on public property would be acceptable, so long as it is clear that it is not sponsored by the city.
First Liberty Institute said about Conley’s victory:
“The City has approved Susan’s request to host the live nativity scene on the Veterans Green alongside the December 12th Christmas-themed farmers market. Susan is thrilled that she can now bring the community together around a beloved, time-honored, and quintessentially Christmas symbol. However, we await written assurance from the City that it will be consistent with the Constitution and no longer enforce its policy prohibiting private displays of religious iconography on City property.”
The winter market will start Dec. 12.
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