Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R.) is urging the city of Orange, Texas, to keep a Nativity scene displayed outside of its city hall after town leaders decided to remove it following calls by an atheist organization for the city hang a "Happy Holidays" banner next to the crèche.
Abbott called on the city and its residents to “stand up to the demands of a select few who wish to see God thrown out of the public square," the Dallas Morning News reported.
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott (AP)
Orange city manager Shawn Oubr previously told the Beaumont Enterprise newspaper that the nativity scene would be removed to avoid a possible lawsuit.
However, the atheist group said it never threatened to sue.
The governor then turned to social media, echoing his earlier call for the city to "stand up."
I urge the City of Orange to keep their nativity scene & not cave to atheist demands. #tcot #PJNET @TexasGOP https://t.co/3t2psUEq49— Greg Abbott (@Greg Abbott) 1450207090.0
"I urge the City of Orange to keep their nativity scene & not cave to atheist demands," Abbott tweeted.
“As the U.S. Supreme Court has continually held, public acknowledgement of our religious heritage is entirely consistent with the Constitution,” Abbott said in a statement. “The Constitution commands accommodation of religion rather than hostility towards it."
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