St. Catharines welcomes holiday displays of all faiths at city hall (CHCH)

https://www.chch.com/st-catharines-welcomes-holiday-displays-of-all-faiths-at-city-hall/ 

By

 Alex Last

 -

November 10, 2022, 8:22 pm

St. Catharines city council voted on Monday to welcome other faith groups to set up their own holiday displays at city hall. The change passed by just one vote and councillors had a wide variety of opinions.

Saleh Waziruddin, the chair of St. Catharines anti-racism advisory told council that religious displays of any kind don’t belong at city hall. He says while the gesture feels inclusive, it really isn’t.

“What about all the other faith communities who don’t actually have the people to respond? And then you’ve got the agnostics and the atheists, how are you going to represent them?” Waziruddin said.

“We need to include every faith, every cultural organization and if that means that we’re going to have a display on city hall on 365 days a year, then that’s what it’s going to mean,” Coun. Robin McPherson said.

Long-time city councillor Joe Kushner says he feels good about the decision, “by approving this, it would be a very positive signal to the community.”

Waziruddin adds that this isn’t a war against Christmas and that he doesn’t protest the presence of a Christmas tree or lights since they aren’t tied to religious symbols.

CHCH TV (Hamilton) Coverage and Interview on St. Catharines (Re-)Installing Nativity Scene

 

Coverage by CHCH TV (Hamilton) about why having a nativity scene at the St. Catharines City Hall is not inclusive even if you add other religious displays, including Interview with myself as the City's Anti-Racism Advisory Committee chair

City hall nativity display set to return to St. Catharines despite concerns over ‘inclusiveness’ (Global News)

https://globalnews.ca/news/9267898/city-hall-nativity-display-to-return-st-catharines/ 

By Don Mitchell  Global News

Posted November 10, 2022 5:09 pm

View image in full screen

Picture of a Nativity Scene that was set in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini).

A nativity display that’s been a staple at city hall in St. Catharines, Ont., during the Christmas season since 1965 is set to make a return, despite some opposition from some locals suggesting it’s not inclusive.

On Monday city council voted 6 to 5 to resurrect the scene on the lawn of city hall following a hiatus in 2020 and 2021 over concerns it was not respectful of all faiths.

The push for its return was spearheaded by an address from a spokesperson from the Catholic Women’s League who said the nativity display represents “a universal symbol of peace, love and hope.”

“A very large percentage of our citizens expect to see the nativity publicly displayed at city hall,” Monique Finora told councillors.

“The nativity is much more than a decoration, it’s a declaration to love and help each other.”

Finora went on to submit the scene, depicting the birth of Jesus in a manger, doesn’t compromise diversity, inclusivity and equality but suggests those “values are celebrated.”

St. Andrew’s councillor Joe Kushner echoed those sentiments, suggesting the setup is no different than when flags representing various groups are raised throughout the year at city hall.

“We’re inviting other groups to participate at city hall, and to me, that is very positive and it would send a signal to the community, let’s celebrate our differences in order to understand one another better,” Kushner explained.

But Saleh Waziruddin, chair of the city’s anti-racism advisory committee, told councillors that city property shouldn’t have religious displays and suggested the nativity scene is not universal to all faiths.

“It may appeal even to a majority, but it does not appeal to all of us in the same way,” Waziruddin said.

Waziruddin says he received affirmation of his position during a social sustainability committee meeting which voted in favour of recommending council not bring the nativity scene back.

Waziruddin says he received affirmation of his position during a social sustainability committee meeting which voted in favour of recommending council not bring the nativity scene back.

“I don’t think it belongs at city hall,” Porter told Global News.

“We have three churches within a stone’s throw of our city hall, and it would have been much more appropriate to gift that nativity set to one of those churches.”

Porter says she’s also “outraged” the motion passed with an amendment from St. Patrick’s councillor Robin McPherson, proposing a 2023 draft budget consideration to bring on a staff position to manage the display.

“We have an under-resourced city hall and I believe that money would be more appropriate, and probably more inclusive if we … invested in a planning position for affordable housing,” Porter said.

Monday’s decision did include a stipulation to offer the same courtesy to other religious groups wishing to submit ideas for a city hall display.

Waziruddin suggests that’s not feasible since many states don’t have a tradition of having a display or diorama, nor the time and resources to come up with one.

“And how are you going to do one representing agnostics or atheists?” Waziruddin said.

Diwali, Hanukkah and Eid have seen recognition in the form of signs on the lawn of city hall in recent years but have since been nixed due to the holidays falling on differing dates year over year.

Interview on Good Morning Hamilton (CHML 900AM) About St. Catharines (Re-)Installing Nativity Scene

Myself as City of St. Catharines Anti-Racism Advisory Committee Chair and City Councillor Karrie Porter interviewed by Rick Zamperin, host of Good Morning Hamilton on CHML 900AM, about how having a nativity scene at City Hall is actually NOT inclusive despite trying ot make it look like it is.

NATIVITY SCENE WILL RETURN TO LAWN AT ST. CATHARINES CITY HALL (Newstalk 610CKTB)

https://www.iheartradio.ca/610cktb/news/nativity-scene-will-return-to-lawn-at-st-catharines-city-hall-1.18764512

The nativity scene is returning to St. Catharines City Hall.

City council narrowly approved a plan to put the display back on the lawn once again.

Councillor Joe Kushner, "It would be a very positive signal to the community, positive because we are saying we are inclusive, we are including the nativity scene, we are inviting other  groups to participate at city hall.'

Council passed the motion last night that will bring the display back and extend the same offer to other religious groups.

Chair of the city’s anti-racism advisory committee Saleh Waziruddin, "The point is not all faith communities have the same resources as the majority or even the same tradition of dioramas and displays let alone agnostics and atheists. So, despite wording to accomplish inclusiveness we can't ignore the reality we live in where not all faith communities have equal privileges."
 
The nativity display had been removed from the city hall decorations for the past two years.

Nativity scene returning to St. Catharines city hall but not everyone sees it as ‘good tidings’ (St. Catharines Standard)

https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/council/2022/11/07/nativity-scene-returning-to-st-catharines-city-hall-but-not-everyone-sees-it-as-good-tidings.html

Council narrowly passes motion to display manger scene in 6-5 vote

By Karena WalterStandard Reporter

Tue., Nov. 8, 2022timer5 min. read

St. Catharines will make room at city hall for Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph after an hour-long council debate about the Christmas display.

In a tight 6-5 vote, council voted for the nativity scene to be set up on the lawn of city hall and to extend the same courtesy to other religious groups.

The nativity scene was first displayed at city hall in 1965, but was not put up in 2020 and 2021 at the discretion of senior city staff in an attempt to be “respectful of all faiths.”

Monique Finora of the the Catholic Women’s League told council Monday night the nativity scene at city hall is an “integral part” of the city’s heritage.

“It’s our cultural tradition. The creche is a universal symbol of peace, love and hope,” she said.

“A very large percentage of our citizens expect to see the nativity publicly displayed at city hall.”

Finora said there are approximately 53,000 Roman Catholics in St. Catharines and many other Christian religions. Many run charity programs that the city depends on to help the less fortunate, such as the Out of the Cold program.

She said the nativity scene, which depicts the birth of Jesus in a manager with hay, is much more than a decoration. When citizens see it, they see a struggling family in need of shelter without basic necessities and many can relate, she said.

“Viewing the creche gives mothers, fathers and children hope for better days to come. It gives them encouragement and strength needed to get through these tough economic times,” she said.

“By publicly displaying the nativity, you, our representatives, are sending each one of them a much needed message of good tidings during this very special universal time.”

But Saleh Waziruddin, chair of the city’s anti-racism advisory committee, said the city shouldn’t have religious displays on public property, which he said is different from decorations like lights.

“The nativity scene is, in fact, not universal to all faiths. It may appeal even to a majority, but it does not appeal to all of us in the same way,” he said.

Although the motion before council said the same courtesy would be extended to other religious groups, Waziruddin said that will mean nothing and the result will be the same as before.

He said that line is “in reality a fig leaf which might make us feel like we’re being inclusive when actually we are not.”

“Only a few of the many faith communities in St. Catharines even have the institutions, organizations, resources and people to organize a public display. People in many communities have to even travel outside of our city for their basic religious services,” he said.

As well, Waziruddin said not all faith communities have a tradition of having displays and dioramas. “It would be, at best, an attempt to piggyback on the tradition of the majority faith community.”

He said there’s also no way to give residents who are agnostic or atheist equal access.

St. Andrew’s Coun. Joe Kushner, who made the motion, said city hall is an appropriate location for the same reason flag raisings for various groups are held there — it’s the political and symbolic centre of the city.

He said approving the motion would send a positive message because the city is saying it’s inclusive.

“We’re including the nativity scene. We’re inviting other groups to participate at city hall. And to me, that is very positive and it would send a signal to the community, let’s celebrate our differences in order to understand one another better.”

St. Geroge’s Coun. Sal Sorrento agreed.

“It’s been a tradition. I respect all other religions. I respect all people. So I am definitely in favour of this and I will definitely be supporting it.”

But St. Patrick’s Coun. Karrie Porter questioned if Jesus would be impressed with all the letters council received on the nativity topic, some from people who haven’t written to council about any other issue in four years.

“Jesus wouldn’t care about this issue. Jesus would care that Ontario works rates are $733 a month. Jesus would care and would probably want Christians to write letters about that.”

Merritton Coun. Greg Miller said it’s not a realistic expectation for the city to celebrate every religious holiday that currently exists and those that are yet to come — and not one city taxpayers should be backing.

And he said council has to remember that not everyone celebrates the nativity scene or believes in Jesus Christ.

“When you have to walk past Him to pay a parking ticket, I don’t think that gives you the feeling of inclusivity and the feeling of secularism that we are beholden to uphold as an organ of the state in Canada,” he said, adding it behooves council not to risk any charter challenges with the motion.

Merritton Coun. Lori Littleton said she doesn’t support any religious holidays being celebrated at city hall.

She said some people might feel ‘Christianity is under attack’ but she said it’s simply about city hall having nothing to do with religion. “We don’t pray here. That’s just the way it is.”

In 2015, city council stopped reading an invocation at the start of its meetings after the Supreme Court ruled that prayers cannot be recited before municipal council meetings.

St. Catharines did recognize other religious holidays at city hall for several years after a community task force struck after Sept. 11, 2001 recommended it. Signs saying Happy Diwali, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Eid were displayed behind the nativity scene, but the practice was eventually abandoned as the holidays fell at various times through the year.

Karena Walter is a St. Catharines-based reporter, primarily covering City Hall for the Standard. Reach her via email: karena.walter@niagaradailies.com

HOW THEY VOTED

That the nativity scene be displayed on the lawn of city hall and that the same courtesy be extended to other religious groups.

Yes: Joe Kushner, Matt Harris, Bill Phillips, Dawn Dodge, Kevin Townsend, Sal Sorrento

No: Lori Littleton, Robin McPherson, Greg Miller, Karrie Porter, Walter Sendzik

Absent: Carlos Garcia, Bruce Williamson

The motion passed Monday also included an amendment from St. Patrick’s Coun. Robin McPherson asking that the city include the creation of a staff position in the draft 2023 budget for consideration. The position would manage the purchase of displays, the installation and storage of the displays and engage faith and cultural communities in the city to ensure all are included.

Speech to St. Catharines City Council Against (Re-)Installing Nativity Scene at City Hall ( as Chair of Anti-Racism Advisory Committee)

 Dear Deputy Mayor and Councillors, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight.

I am Saleh Waziruddin, chair of your anti-racism advisory committee.

Just to be clear from the get go, I am speaking tonight against having religious displays such as a nativity scene on public property, and not about marking significant dates which is a different item on your agenda and which the anti-racism advisory committee has contributed to.

When I was at university a long long time ago at my dorm there was a man who told me when I first met him: I don't care what religion anyone believes in because we all believe in Jesus Christ.

His Malaysian roommate and I had to sit down with him and explain some of the facts of life.

The Nativity Scene is in fact not universal to all faiths and it may appeal even to a majority but it does not appeal to all of us in the same way. But we can't extend religious displays to all faiths either! We DO have to be concerned not privileging one community over others.

Even though the proposal before you tonight has a line about extending the “same courtesy” to other religious groups, in reality this means nothing, and the result will be the same as before: privileging the majority faith community.

It's important to understand at least two reasons why that will be the result, making that one line in the motion in reality a fig leaf which might make us feel like we are being inclusive when actually we are not.

Only a few of the many faith communities in St. Catharines even have the institutions, organization, resources, and people to organize a public display. People of many faith communities have to even travel outside of our city for their basic religious services.

But another reason is that not all faith communities even have a tradition of having displays and dioramas. It would at best be an attempt to piggy back on a tradition of the majority faith community.

For these reasons the actual result, regardless of our seemingly inclusive wording, will be the same as the problem we had before: the majority faith community will get the privilege of being established on City properties.

Which brings up another important point that came up at the Social Sustainability Committee meeting last week: City properties are not the place for religious displays. They are present elsewhere in the City, the corporation's property is not the place they need to be.

Further, many residents are agnostic or atheist, and there is no way to give them equal access by the very definition of a religious display, and the majority of major faiths will be privileged over their beliefs.

Finally, there is another point that came up in the extensive discussion at the anti-racism advisory committee meeting: there are relatively novel or recent religions founded around contemporary political or legal issues, and one specific example that came up in our meeting is the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. This is a serious issue because it brings up how religions can be used to further completely secular political issues.

We saw with the Region's survey on discrimination that many people said they were discriminated against for not being vaccinated, which is not a protected category here where we live. What's to stop someone from founding a religion to use it as cover to push an anti-vaccination agenda? This is a real possibility. The City would then have to get involved with deciding what is and isn't a legitimate religion, something the corporation should stay wide away from.

But the most important point I would like you all to understand is that re-installing a nativity scene, something we correctly stopped doing, will still privilege only the majority faith community despite saying or inviting other faith communities to do the same, because the point is not all faith communities have the same resources as the majority, or even the same tradition of dioramas and displays.

Let alone agnostics and atheists.

Despite wording designed to accomplish inclusiveness, we can't ignore the reality we live in, where not all faith communities have equal privileges, and so the end result would be privileging the majority with the resources that belong to all of us.

Please vote against re-installing a nativity scene or religious displays on City properties.

Thank you.