WASHINGTON - It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but one group is already setting up a nativity scene. Volunteers put it up outside the Supreme Court Thursday to draw attention to what they say is a growing problem.

It was billed as the first live nativity scene ever held at the U.S. Supreme Court.

"It is 'Operation Nativity,'" said Peggy Nienaber with Faith and Action. "We are asking folks to put nativity scenes out and it's also a way for us to express our First Amendment rights."

The Supreme Court has ruled that a "government-sponsored" stand-alone nativity scene violates church-state separation.

"The City Hall isn't really where you go to see a nativity scene, or another type of religious display. You go to a church for that," said Rob Boston with Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Nativity scenes mixed with other religions and secular elements are ok and so are private groups paying for their own public displays.

But it still gets complicated and emotional about public school children who can't sing carols, store employees who can't say "Merry Christmas" and, at times, there's debate about Christmas trees.

Thursday, workers decorated the national Christmas tree on the Ellipse and the smaller trees around it. But do you remember a few years ago, the tree in front of the Capitol briefly renamed the "Holiday Tree"? Political correctness run amok, critics fired back, and soon it was "Christmas tree" once again.

Some hope there'll room at the inn for everyone this Christmas, but some people told us legal battles are brewing at the local level.

 Email To Friend