OKLAHOMA CITY – In response to a nativity scene placed on the second-floor rotunda at the Oklahoma State Capitol, the ACLU of Oklahoma issued the following statement:
The following is attributable to Tamya Cox-Touré, ACLU of Oklahoma Executive Director:
“Religious liberty and the right to worship – or not to worship – belongs to every American. But when government officials endorse one set of religious beliefs over another, they alienate those who do not subscribe to that particular set of beliefs and undermine everyone’s religious freedom. Oklahoma politicians are once again exploiting their position of authority to promote their personal religious agenda by placing a nativity scene on the grounds of the State Capitol, despite the Oklahoma Supreme Court and over two centuries of our nation’s commitment to religious liberty making it abundantly clear that such display has no place on Capitol grounds. Our state’s leaders must ensure that people of all faiths and no religious faith are treated as equals by their government.”