Repeat Offender Senior Community Bans Nativity Scenes and Angels – ACLJ Again Steps In

Just days before Christmas, residents of a senior living community in Omaha, Nebraska, were instructed to remove Nativity scenes and angels from the holiday decorations around the common-area Christmas tree. The management claimed it was “legally prohibited” from allowing religious decorations. That claim is flat wrong.

What makes this situation even more troubling is that this is not the first time they’ve gotten it wrong. The ACLJ previously intervened against this complex a few years ago for barring our client’s Bible study. Only after the ACLJ took action did the management reverse course and comply.

Now, history appears to be repeating itself. Take action with us and add your name to the petition: Defeat the War on Christians.

Residents of Millard Manor Senior Apartments say Christmas decorations, including Nativity scenes, have been displayed for decades without issue. But with a new manager in charge, those long-standing religious displays were abruptly removed. The manager initially blamed HUD, despite the fact that the complex has been HUD-supported for over 30 years without such restrictions.

After residents first objected, the displays were briefly restored – only to be removed again days later, just before Christmas, with management again insisting, wrongly, that the law required it.

Federal law is clear. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of religion. The FHA does not allow property owners to suppress residents’ private religious expression simply because housing is government-assisted. Residents do not shed their First Amendment rights at the door. Where secular decorations are allowed, religious ones must be treated equally. Singling out Nativity scenes for removal is not neutrality – it is discrimination.

This is not simply confusion on the legal requirements; it’s an enforcement of an unlawful policy, despite prior notice from the ACLJ that such conduct violates federal law.

The ACLJ is stepping in and sending a legal demand to the property’s owners and management, giving them 24 hours to reverse course. If they refuse, we will take further legal action.

No government-connected entity has the authority to erase religious expression – especially days before Christmas. The Constitution does not take the holidays off. And neither do we. Help us in the fight to protect the right to celebrate our faith at Christmas – sign our petition.