Justin A. Hinkley

Lansing State Journal

LANSING – A temporary Nativity scene and a counter-display from secularists could join the official state Christmas tree on the Capitol lawn this holiday season.

The State Capitol Commission, the body tasked with running the statehouse grounds and facilities, has asked the state Attorney General's office to weigh in on a request to place a depiction of Jesus' birth at the Capitol, John Truscott, a member of the commission, said today.

Demonstrations by varied religious groups are frequently held on the Capitol grounds, and Truscott said he expected the Attorney General's office would say the Nativity is OK in the same way. Like demonstrators, the Nativity would not be allowed on the grounds overnight and would have to be taken down every evening and resurrected each morning, he said. It also could not be placed directly in front of the Capitol.

He said he expected a decision would be made well before Christmas, but didn't know specifically when the Nativity might be cleared or rejected.

Truscott would not reveal the name of the person or persons who made the request and said he didn't know how many days the Nativity might be around if it were approved.

Meanwhile, the Madison, Wis.-based Freedom from Religion Foundation said today it would ask local members to place a counter display at the Capitol if the Nativity is cleared. Rebecca Markert, staff attorney at the organization, said they'd already been in touch with Lansing-area members who might erect and tear down the secular display daily.

"The holidays don't belong solely to Christians," she said.