[news] Western Pa. city considering lottery to solve controversy over nativity opposed by atheists

source:

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/ff7fdefb84cf446abd724c2b932082db/PA--Nativity-Display-Atheist-Banner 

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. — A western Pennsylvania borough is considering a lottery system to solve objections from an atheists' group over a Nativity scene that has been erected annually on borough property for decades.

The Beaver County Times (http://bit.ly/KQHdyl ) reports Tuesday that Ellwood City's borough council has given preliminary approval to a lottery that would let anyone enter a contest to erect a holiday display. The winner would then put up any kind of holiday display they wished which, borough officials believe, would prevent the Madison, Wis.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation from objecting that the borough had "endorsed" a particular religion.

Critics of the idea say the borough had better be prepared if someone wins the contest who doesn't wish to erect a Nativity.

The borough about 35 miles northwest of Pittsburgh added secular symbols after the Wisconsin group complained last year.