Nativity scene moved from library to church in Emmaus after debate

EMMAUS, Pa. (FOX 29) - For the first time in years, the Emmaus Christmas nativity scene has a new home at Moravian Church. It's just a few blocks down from its old location at the Emmaus Public Library; however, the relocation itself has taken away a bit of holiday cheer for many here.

"If it was there it should stay there you know?" Alyssa Gribben lives near the church hosting the nativity scene now and feels a complaint made to the Emmaus Borough about a religious symbol on government land was misplaced.

"It's Christmas. You know? It's the holidays. You should be happy that you drive by that way and can say, 'Wow that's a manger of God and Mary,'" she said. "When you move things from a certain area people go wait a minute I just went by there, why is it moved?"

It was the Washington DC based group, Americans United for Separation of Church and State that fired off a letter to Emmaus Borough officials last year after a resident complained about the manger. The letter demanded the scene recreating the birth of Jesus Christ be moved off of government property citing a violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Moravian Church agreed to take on the display instead a decision the church and state group now welcomes.

"We're happy to see it. That's the proper reaction. The government's not supposed to put up religious displays on its own property," Staff Attorney Ian Smith said.

FOX 29 went to Borough Hall for reaction,, but the borough manager would only say "no comment."

"This is the separation of church and state. This is the church. This is where religious things belong," Fred Boening said.

Many like Fred Boenig say they are glad the right decision was made, especially if other religious symbols were not placed on the public library property.

"If they had felt a little bit more inclusive it probably would never have even been moved," he said.