Falwell joins activists who fight 'grinches'

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 3, 2005

ROANOKE, Va. -- The Rev. Jerry Falwell is marshaling his forces to keep "Merry Christmas," "Silent Night" and other religious references from being banished this holiday season.

Joining other Christian activists, Falwell is backing the "Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign" of Liberty Counsel, based in Orlando, Fla. He e-mailed 500,000 followers in an effort to inform city officials, public schools and retailers that Christmas references and displays are legal.

"I asked about 100,000 pastors nationwide to join me in dealing with the grinches who are trying to steal Christmas," Falwell said in an Associated Press interview.

The "grinches" are organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State that, Falwell contends, spread misinformation by claiming public displays celebrating Christmas are unconstitutional.