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Away in a Manger No Place for a Pro-Life Message

By Suzannah Showler

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Because they are frequently vandalized, higher-tech nativity scenes have been known to embed a GPS device in Baby Jesus in order to track where the figurine ends up should it get snatched. But what about tracking where little J.C. comes from?
Displayed on city property in front of Old City Hall sits a nativity scene donated to the people of Toronto by the Lay Catholic movement Gethsemane Ministries. While Gethsemane takes responsibility for erecting the crèche itself, the statues of Mary, Jesus, some barn animals, and what is either Joseph or a Wise Man (dude with staff swaddled in cloth—who can tell?) are “Donated by Campaign Life Catholic in honour of the efforts of Pro-life hero Fr. Ted Colleton.”


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The Campaign Life Coalition—Campaign Life Catholic’s umbrella organization—works at all levels of Canadian government to “restore the right to life.” The CLC defines itself as the political wing of Canada’s pro-life movement, acknowledging that this is but one part of a trinity that includes organizations performing educational and charitable functions. That is to say, the CLC supports other groups whose aim is to educate and provide charity, but their function is strictly political, and their scope includes municipal government.
The nativity scene in front of Old City Hall is not only displayed on city property, but also runs an extension cord into a City-owned building, powering the continuously lit display with taxpayers’ money. Whether the City simply neglected to trace the origin of the donation and was unaware of the pro-life message that the crèche came weighted with or whether they believe that the scene’s place on city property is justified remains unknown: no one that Torontoist spoke with from the City was able to comment. Sure, it’s the season of giving, but should our local government accept and display politically inspired gifts? What would Jesus do?
Photos by Michael Chrisman/Torontoist.
Thanks to reader Jason Behzadian for the tip.

Comments

  • http://undefined sniderscion

    I think that someone should pull the plug on this without delay. I’m kind of surprised that anything so blatantly Christian would be displayed in the first place considering our multicultural fabric.

  • http://undefined W. K. Lis

    I have no objective to the nativity scene.
    However, by putting the written words as well means that it becomes a billboard and so is now subject to the Toronto billboard tax. To avoid not paying the tax remove the words, and I will be happy.

  • http://undefined a3213024

    @sniderscion:
    Christmas is a Christian celebration. No way around that I’m afraid. I think that the display honors that faith, though to be fair the city should likewise honor other faiths represented in our multicultural fabric.
    @original poster:
    “What would Jesus do,” you ask? Well, Jesus was not one to shy away from political controversy. In fact, he actively engaged in it! I have a feeling that he would look beyond the lobbying efforts of the CLC to the deeper goal of restoring the right to life. And, yes, I do believe that he would support that goal. In fact he once put his reason for being as, “I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full”

  • http://undefined Green Sulfur

    I’m all for discussion but during Chanukah are we going to see a menorah at Old City Hall in dedication to Israeli settlers? Will there be a monument during Eid to thank those who worked for Jihad?
    This isn’t to say all Jews this or all Muslims that, it’s that there’s an appropriate place for people with all those beliefs, including pro-life, but it sure isn’t on the lawn of a courthouse.

  • http://undefined Two Cents

    Wow – blown away that this would happen in Toronto. I always (self righteously) believed these types of publicly forced religious acts only took place in the (deep) South. This may change the way I look at the City.
    Reminds me of a great interview with Christopher Hitchens:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXDX966pnRU

  • http://undefined torontothegreat

    I disagree with what you perceive Jesus would do.
    http://www.twopaths.com/faq_abortion.htm
    Surprisingly, abortion is never mentioned in the Bible, despite the fact that it has been practiced throughout recorded human history
    Several other verses are cited as evidence that a fetus is not a living being. Life is equated with breath throughout the Bible, and this passage seems to suggest that a person is not living until he or she takes a first breath after birth:
    The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (NIV, Genesis 2:7)
    This passage from Exodus seems to say that causing death to a fetus is not as serious a crime as causing death to a person:
    “And if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage, yet there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him; and he shall pay as the judges decide. “But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, (NAS, Exodus 21:22-24)

  • http://undefined rek

    Even the grass wants nothing to do with this mess.

  • http://undefined ked

    I think Green Sulfer put it really well. I am Totally happy with a nativity scene outside of city hall as I would be with a menorah or any other religous icon to mark a major religious holiday celebrated by a significant proportion of citizens/residents (which Christmas is.) The Pro-life message here seems confrontational suggesting that celebrating Christmas is only open to those who are pro-life which I don’t think is particularly welcoming or Christian, well at least not as I understand the religion.

  • TokyoTuds

    A nativity scene belongs on church property, not city property, with or without the pro-life stance. I am Catholic, but I think municipal decorations should stick to generic lights and other seasonal decorations.

  • http://undefined Usus

    The city put up a large merorah at Old City Hall last year.

  • http://undefined Green Sulfur

    Did it include a politically divisive message that implicitly threatened the charter and/or human rights of any group?

  • http://undefined McKingford

    Well, “Christmas” may be a christian celebration, but this time of year is a celebration for pagans/animists, Jews (Chanukah), and Kwanza, among others. If we are going to celebrate one I don’t see how we can deny others (all though this is really an argument for denying *all*).

  • http://www.torontoist.com David Topping

    Well, it was implicitly pro–oil conservation, which I imagine didn’t please plutocrats.

  • http://undefined yyz

    There’s nothing implicit about Campaign Life Coalition’s agenda – it’s right out in the open.
    They want school boards to fire catholic school teachers who fail to report homosexual activities by students. They want school nurses to teach that contraception is immoral. They believe in picketing clinics and repressing womens’ rights.
    It’s all on their website, http://www.campaignlifecoalition.com/.

  • http://undefined jn

    The menorah is placed outside city hall again this year we christians also have the right to freedom of religion and are tired of having to defend ourselves in case we offend someone one. I think the message placed in the nativity scene should be taken away but the nativity scene should stay.
    If people don’t like it don’t look at it. MERRY CHRISTMAS

  • http://undefined Marc Lostracco

    It’s not that the nativity scene is there; it’s that it’s sponsored—and by whom. And the “freedom of/from religion” right that you quote is exactly the issue.

  • http://undefined Barb w

    I feel sorry to read this article.But I’m a human that is being victimized for having my tubes done.This being done by the CATHOLIC CHURCH.

  • http://undefined Biff

    I would have no complaint whatever with this scene were it not for this message. At the very least, people should get together and make a similar scene with a ‘generously donated by the Atheist Choice League, in honor of pro-choice hero Dr. Morgentaler’ and watch their heads spin.

  • http://undefined Barb w

    These nativity scenes and other statues are all created
    by R.C church.They are nothing more then idols they worship.

  • http://undefined Gloria

    Agreed. I’m really not offended, but I am surprised the city hasn’t phased this out.
    Christmas is of Christian origin and celebrated by Christians, but fact is it’s morphed into what just amounts to a legal paid day off for most.
    I’m not Christian, but I’m not paid to show up for work that day, even if I wanted to. Technically, December 25 could be any old holiday for me and for thousands if not millions of other people. Hell, call it “Annual Festive Winter Paid Day Off” if you want, because that’s all it is to me. It’s great if you keep celebrating Christmas your way, but the trade-off of making everyone else take the day off is that not all of us see it the same way.
    So, no, I don’t think religious accoutrements are appropriate on the lawn of City Hall. Employees can decide individually what they want in their own workspace, of course, but the city shouldn’t be allowing general displays like this.

  • http://www.torontoist.com David Topping
  • http://undefined Sheryl

    Unfortuantely, you can’t post images as comments, so a link will have to do.

  • http://undefined rich1299

    I have no problem at all with displays for any religious event or any other social event in the city, why not, they are citizens of this city just as much as anyone else, I’m an atheist and firmly believe that there should be absolutely no forcing of one’s religious beliefs onto others in society and that religion and state need to be kept separate at all times, but these displays are celebrating something important to many citizens of this city and as citizens I think Catholics or anyone else should be able to erect a display celebrating whatever on city property, well at places like old city hall anyways. I’d want the same for Pride Week and we do get the rainbow flag flown at city hall for that so I figure why not for religious celebrations but I do agree about removing the sign and restricting such displays to messages about the holiday or whatever with no other agenda and that don’t attack any other group in society.

  • http://undefined Thomas

    Based on historical facts, such opposition to a Nativity scene can be taken as a good sign for the people living in Toronto. Example: Saint Paul was travelling to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Europe but he faced tremendous opposition such as snake bite, ship wreck etc but the end result was fabulous – the Europeans were the people who eventually preserved the Good News to this generation. Those oppositions were not by human beings but from supernatural sources that wanted to with hold the knowledge of the life, death and ressurection of Jesus Christ to human beings.Therefore these oppositions are very similar and can expect God’s purposes to be fulfilled through his committed servants like that of gethsemane prayer warriors to bless our nation. Jesus Christ is Life & Ressurection. Jesus is the Life Giver. Jesus is the way, the truth and life.

  • http://undefined asjs08

    baby jesus donated by CLC?? BIG DEAL! get over yourself.. don’t you have bigger problems to worry about..? maybe not losing your job? or getting one to begin with? or maybe you people are just angry frustrated and scared pro-choice, or better said; “the easy way out” activists.

  • http://undefined Amy

    OMG! Are you crazy? Christ’s manger no place for pro-life? Give me a break! Abortion is murder! Christ is against murder. Anyone who doesn’t get that obviously has no clue what they’re talking about. Besides, the majority of people in the country are Christian, and therefore, if they really follow their religion, are pro-life. I don’t think that they would have much of a problem with it. However, it’s only because of threats of lawsuits from people like you that the government gives in to such murder.
    Besides, the Campaign Life Coalition was doing a favor to the city when they made that contribution which made the manger scene – which has been a tradition for YEARS – possible. Isn’t it right that their name be on it?

  • http://undefined torontothegreat

    Not according to your OWN bible. Can you please quote in the bible where it says abortion is murder? Oh right, you can’t, cause your just making stuff up, like make believe.
    “And if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage, yet there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him; and he shall pay as the judges decide. “But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, (NAS, Exodus 21:22-24)”
    I’m Jewish and I generally know more about Christianity than most Christians, including the idiots that swarmed this comments section. Scary indeed.

  • http://undefined asjs08

    it’s only fair for their name to be on it.. it’s about giving them the credit they deserve

  • http://undefined asjs08

    well said. however, campaign life coalition donated it they have to get credit for that.

  • http://undefined asjs08

    IT SIMPLY SAYS THAT IT WAS DONATED BY CLC… now, you can interpret that whatever way you want it.. geeze!! do people have to be so melodramatic?!?!!

  • http://undefined asjs08

    are you so stupid to buy into old writings instead of simple scientific facts?? it’s a wonder how you survive..

  • http://undefined Common Sense

    The title of this story is laughable: “Away in a manger no place for a Pro-life Message” Whether one is a Christian or not, obviously central to the Christian message is the sacredness of human life. People who are offended by a nativity scene or the words “pro-life” need to get over themselves and do something positive this season rather than whining about this. Poster Two Cents calls it a “publicly forced religious act”? Are you serious? Don’t look at it if it bothers you that much. BTW everyone: Merry Christmas (happy holidays to those who are easily offended.)