That’s a result of the hubbub over religious displays at the Capitol in recent years.
State officials rejected the informal request to display it indoors, citing a policy that no longer allows nongovernment displays inside Capitol Campus buildings.
“Private exhibits and displays, such as a Nativity scene, are permitted only outside on the campus grounds, provided they meet certain conditions regarding time, place and manner,” Department of General Administration director Joyce Turner said in a letter this week to the Catholic League For Religious and Civil Rights in New York City.
William Donohue, president of the league, sent a letter Oct. 27 to Gregoire announcing that he was sending a one-piece Nativity scene to her chief of staff.
Donohue could not be reached immediately to comment Tuesday; spokesman Jeff Field said his group received word from Virginia’s governor that he will display the Nativity inside that state’s executive mansion. Two other governors sent letters of thanks, Field said.
PAST FLARE-UPS
Holiday displays have had a rugged history at the Capitol in recent years.
Privately sponsored displays inside the Capitol long have included a holiday, or Christmas, tree, and in 2006 Gregoire also lit a Jewish menorah in the Rotunda. Thurston County realty agent Ron Wesselius then asked to display a Nativity set, but General Administration denied a permit, and Wesselius sued with help from the Alliance Defense Fund, a national advocacy group for religious freedom that has offices in Arizona. That led to a legal settlement in October 2007 and a new GA policy to set aside certain areas for holiday displays.
But that policy produced a cacophony of displays in 2008. There was a placard from atheists mocking religion as myth and superstition, placards from religious groups poking fun at atheists, a large electric-lighted menorah and requests to put up a “Festivus pole” in honor of the mock holiday popularized by the “Seinfeld” sitcom. The controversial anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas also sought a display that said Santa would take people to hell, and another group critical of creationism wanted to depict a “Flying Spaghetti Monster” as the creator of the world.
The flood of requests prompted General Administration to declare a midholiday moratorium on displays in 2008. A policy was approved in 2009 that restricted private displays to the outdoors. The only displays that went up last year were a lighted menorah and a placard from Seattle atheists, both put up near the Tivoli fountain on the Capitol lawn; a menorah also was displayed briefly at Sylvester Park.
“The policy that took effect last year has tempered the fervor we experienced in 2008,” GA’s Valandra said.
Brad Shannon: 360-753-1688 bshannon@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/politicsblog
Couple giving holiday tree
A pair of retired state employees are donating the “holiday tree” for the state Capitol this year, and preparations are under way to put the 25-foot grand fir in the Rotunda and light it Dec. 3.
The Association of Washington Business has sponsored a tree-lighting ceremony in the Capitol as part of its yearly “Holiday Kids’ Tree Project” for more than 20 years. The project raised more than $23,000 for needy families and children in rural areas last year, AWB spokesman Jason Hagey said.
This year, it is obtaining a tree donated by Tom and Dian Rolfs, who live in the Hawks Prairie area.
The tree is to be installed at the Capitol on Nov. 29. The AWB’s tree-lighting event is planned for 6 p.m. Dec. 3.
For more information about AWB’s fundraising event, go to www.awb.org and look for the “Kids Holiday Tree” link.
