[media-credit name=’PATRICK STATZ-BOYER/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]For 11 years now, a controversial sign that promotes the separation between church and state continues to shock some Capitol visitors while welcoming others.
The Madison-based Freedom from Religion Foundation has posted its "Winter Solstice" sign in the first-floor rotunda area because "the situation at the Capitol is the same," according to Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the FFRF.
"We started getting complaints about the Christmas lighting … during the Tommy Thompson administration," Gaylor said. "Some people were feeling unwelcome at the Capitol."
In response to some of the Capitol's Christmas-like decorations, the foundation decided to post its own decoration that declares, "At this season of the Winter Solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."
"We decided to put what freethinkers think," Gaylor said. "We have been told it's even a tourist attraction for some families."
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, 14.4 percent of Americans surveyed in 2004 said they prefer no religion to Protestant, Catholic, Jewish or other religious traditions. The FFRF sign, Gaylor said, welcomes these people to the Capitol.
Gaylor said the FFRF has followed the state's strict procedure to have the 30-by-40-inch sign displayed ever since its original banner was removed years ago by former Gov. Thompson's new decoration rules.
"We're still bitter about the banner," Gaylor said.
Along with criticism from state politicians, the sign has also been vandalized and stolen. The sign's backside has been altered to advise viewers, "Thou shalt not steal," as a taped-on caveat. It also reminds viewers of the foundation's message: "State/Church: Keep them Separate."
Perpetrators of past theft or vandalism have not been found, and according to Gaylor, the FFRF suspects "it was an inside job." There hasn't been any trouble for a while, Gaylor said, adding the separation of church and state has improved under Gov. Jim Doyle.
Some critics of the sign, like state Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, say the sign may stay as long as other religious messages are also allowed to remain on display.
"We have to allow expression of those signs," Suder said. "Either they all stay or they all go."
Suder said he has received several complaints from his constituents who find the sign offensive.
"Somebody should call the Grinch, because he forgot to take his sign," he added.
Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, however, said that while religious signs are inevitably going to offend some people, it is important to give everyone an equal opportunity.
Black added he has not seen an escalating trend to integrate church and state, but he cited the issue of separation as "something we have to be careful about and guard."
"It's possible to be overly sensitive," Black added. "But if there is a religious agenda, well, that's wrong."
The FFRF is a non-profit, tax-exempt educational group of freethinkers, including atheists and agnostics, that takes on lawsuits protecting the separation of church and state. Though based in Madison, it is a national organization with about 8,000 members.