Nativity scene displayed inside State House
For the first time in recent memory a Nativity scene was displayed inside the State House for several hours Thursday, CBS Boston reports.
Andover state Rep. James Lyons told the radio station the Thomas More Society helped him after he was unable to get the privately-funded Nativity scene set up on the lawn of the State House.
Lyons told The Boston Globe he was informed that religious displays were not allowed when he made his original request in November.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo’s office said in a statement that Lyons’s first request to the Superintendent of the State House to put the display on the lawn was referred to the speaker’s office.
“Because the Superintendent did not recall receiving such a request in the past, and recognizing the legal issues it could raise, the Superintendent sought guidance from the Speaker’s Office,” DeLeo’s office said in a statement. “The Speaker’s Office immediately referred the request to House Counsel for guidance as to whether the Bureau of the State House could approve it.”
Lyons filed a second request to have the creche in the Great Hall rather than on the lawn and it was approved in a few days by the Bureau of the State House, according to DeLeo’s office.
“We are excited,” Lyons told the Globe. “This is a symbol of Christmas as most Christians are aware. The Nativity scene is something that signifies the wealth and joy and symbolizes the message of Jesus Christ, which is love and joy. That’s something we hope people get out of today.”
Lyons CBS Boston he hopes to make the display an annual tradition.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com