Organization: Virginia Department of Health
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Sun, 20 Dec 1992 17:34:10 EST
From:         "Michael A. Kline" <MKLINE@VDH.BITNET>
Subject:      Capitol Christmas

    From Friday's 700 Club, something neat, something for the season..

    Ben Kinchlow: ...and there is one dedicated lady in Washington, DC,
who is determined to see that folks in the Nation's Capitol know what
Christmas really is all about. CBN News, Julia Zayre has this report.

    Julia: During most of the year the steps to the US Capitol building
are busy with lobbyists or tourists visiting the sear of Congressional
power. But for 2 weeks before Christmas, an unusual sight can be seen on
Capitol Hill. The baby Jesus lying in a manger. Near by, Joseph, Mary,
the Wise Men, and the shepherds look on. And so does Rita Warren.

    For 12 years, Mrs. Warren has brought this manger scene to the steps
of the capitol for the 2 weeks leading up to Christmas. But Christmas
cresses and Hanukkah menoras have been removed from city halls and
government buildings across the nation. So how can this manger scene
remain on the capitol steps.

    Rita: Well you see, under the First Amendment, we have got the
freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and freedom to assemble. So I
get a permit from the Capitol Police, demonstration permit, and I
demonstrated my faith, as a Christian, this is what I do.

    Julia: Even the American Civil Liberties Union, which has fought
against religious displays on property nation wide says Mrs. Warren's
Christmas scene is okay with them. ACLU Attorney Robert Peck says what
Mrs. Warren is doing is different from those cases.

    Robert: The difference between what she's doing and what
municipalities across the country have sometimes tried to do, and the
courts have forbidden them to do is that they have sponsored Nativity
scenes. This is the government itself speaking.

    Julia: However precautions are taken so no one mistakenly thinks the
Warren display is government endorsed. Mrs. Warren must stay with the
Nativity scene all day for this to be considered a legal demonstration.
She sets up the figures each morning, and takes them down at night. She's
added a "Happy Hanukkah" sign, but some Jews still complain that they're
offended by her display. But Mrs. Warren says, other than that, the
response to her Nativity scene has been overwhelming positive.

    Rita: The children love it. We had a group of school children
yesterday. They all know who He was. "Look, a baby Jesus." Perhaps, they
can't see Him in their school, but they can see Him here.

    Julia: Mrs. Warren says a number of Congressmen have given her their
full support, and for years to come, Rita Warren plans to make sure
Christ remains in Christmas on Capitol Hill. Reporting from the steps of
the Capitol, I'm Julia Zayre, CBN News.

    Ben: Well, good for her.

    Pat: She's a fabulous lady. Mrs. Warren, she's from Mass., and she's
giving them fits. I mean God bless her, standing out there in the cold to
talk about the Lord, she's terrific.

    Maks> Good story for this time of the year, eh? I liked it. The lady
has some type of accent, strong, maybe Italian. She seemed real sweet
from the interview. Would make a great grandma.

    Maks.
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