Rita Warren wanted to set it up a nativity scene on public property in Fairfax, Virginia but was told she couldn’t because of separation of church and state.

These words are no where in the U.S. Constitution. What is does say is that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Rita understood the promises of our constitution, and fought and won the decision not to allow her to display a nativity scene. She wasn’t a right wing religious fanatic. She just remembered the day more than 50 years ago when Mussolini’s police stormed into her school and ripped the crucifix off the wall, replacing it with photos of Mussolini and Hitler.

Instead of reciting the Lords prayer, the children were forced to salute the two dictators. Rita says that If we Italians had put up a fight years ago, we may have avoided that horrible war.

Wise words for a nation struggling with the definition of freedom of religion.