House leaders offer some relief for "persecuted" Christians

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House leaders offer some relief for 'persecuted' Christians

By Greg Bluestein, The Telegraph (Macon, Georgia), January 16, 2006

Atlanta - Leaders in the Georgia House lobbed a post-holiday salvo Wednesday in the so-called war against Christmas.

Ruling Republicans presented legislation that bans the state and local governments from banning public employees and students from "verbal expressions" celebrating any public or legal holiday.

"As a group, Christians are feeling more and more persecuted in our country," said state Rep. Sue Burmeister of Augusta, the bill's sponsor and secretary of the House Republican caucus.

"Whether we like it or not, this country was founded by Christian pilgrims," Burmeister said. "It seems like we're taking all of our beliefs out to be in favor of these people that have no religion."

The bill, which was also sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter, drew an immediate rebuke from Democrats.

"I thought the Republicans were supposed to favor less interfering with local governments. This is a solution without a problem," said Rep. Tom Bordeaux, D-Savannah. "The way for Christians to feel less persecuted is to start practicing our faith - not politics."

Communities and interest groups have long fielded protests against municipal displays of Nativity scenes. However, the debate seems to have grown recently to encompass carol singing, Christmas trees, and "Merry Christmas!" greetings, even in paid advertising.

In November, the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group based in Scottsdale, Ariz., announced that its 800 cooperating attorneys have volunteered to handle without fees any complaints about "improper attempts to censor the celebration of Christmas in schools and on public property."

In Georgia, two state lawmakers filed bills that would prohibit any government agency from stopping people who work for them from saying "Merry Christmas" instead of the generic "Happy Holidays." The same would go for schools, where students would also be allowed to call a holiday by its name - like Christmas or Hanukkah.

The state's official take on Christmas made national news when Gov. Sonny Perdue's office sent out a press release that announced plans for a "holiday tree" lighting ceremony at the governor's mansion. Exactly 30 minutes later, another press release was sent out that corrected the name of tree to a Christmas tree, blaming the neutral wording on "a politically correct staff brain-freeze."

Burmeister said the state's moves are a reflection of changing religious undercurrents.

"As a Christian, I feel more persecuted," she said. "Everybody should have the ability to celebrate - especially when it comes to Christmas and Easter. But we're not forcing that on anybody."

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