The Grinch That Almost Obliterated Christmas – Commentary by Dr. Paul E. Bellino

It has come to our attention that a seemingly widespread effort is being perpetrated on the American people and the world-at-large by attempting to obliterate the name of Christ as having any relationship to the 25th of December; or any identification therewith that might induce any mention or reference to Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Strange indeed, since His name is the "...Name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phillipians 2:9-11)

It may be noted that on the Grinch List website at www.GrinchList.com, we have an excellent information resource of those retailers who have an aversion to Christ during the Christmas season, in spite of the fact that they stand to amass billions of dollars from the American Christmas shopping public. Among these are entrepreneurs such as Bloomingdale's, Bombay Stores, Crate and Barrel, Discovery, Heckt's, Home Depot, KB Toys, K-mart, Lowe's, Macy's, MSN Website, Target, Victoria's Secret; and national organizations and local municipal entities such as the ACLU, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, the City of Eugene, Oregon, the Indiania University Law School, and the City of Kensington, Maryland, as well as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, just to mention a few.

However, there is a faint gray light on the horizon as noted in the Federal court ruling that the City of York, Pennsylvania's attempt to squelch a Christmas display was unconstitutional. This finding was set forth in their opinion issued Friday, December 19th, 2003, by Federal Judge Yvette Kane in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The ruling held that the City of York's attempt to squelch a sign that says, "Peachy News: Jesus is Alive" is unconstitutional. Judge Yvette Kane ruled that several sections of the York City sign ordinance were unconstitutional and the City of York was wrong for fining Sybil Peachlum for displaying such a sign in her yard. Ms. Peachlum is represented by Matthew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel and Erik W. Stanley, Litigation Counsel for Liberty Counsel. Interestingly enough it has taken ten (10) years from 1993-2003 to obtain a favorable judicial finding. To obtain the full story one should check the Liberty Counsel website at www.lc.org. The Liberty Counsel mission is, as their motto suggests: "Restoring the culture one case at a time by advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and the traditional family".

This concept certainly fits well with the good purposes of the Georgia Heritage Council, and I'm sure that our patriotic Southern forefathers----such as President Jefferson Davis, and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson----would warmly approve as well. After all, they risked everything, including their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in defense of the freedoms and principles articulated in our United States Constitution. Certainly we are beholden to them at this time of the year, and all through the years to come, as long as the Lord enables, for there is no power that can ultimatley obliterate the blessed name of Jesus Christ, the world's only Savior and Lord God Almighty. Praise God! Have a blessed time this year remembering the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!

By His grace,
Dr. Paul E. Bellino

Dr. Bellino is the Chaplain for the Activism Seminars held by the Georgia Heritage Council.