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