No additional holiday displays in Wash. Capitol

The state is halting further holiday displays in the Capitol following uproar over an anti-religion sign that inspired a flood of requests for competing displays.

Notice of the moratorium was sent at the close of business Friday. The ban applies to any pending requests, including one for a Festivus pole - an homage to the made-up holiday featured in the comedy series "Seinfeld."

The ban will remain in effect until the Department of General Administration can review its policy for private holiday and religious displays in the Capitol. Everything that's in place now will stay up, along with a previously approved menorah to mark Hanukkah, scheduled to be installed Dec. 21.

Officials said the agency got far more applications than it was prepared to handle, and they worried the displays couldn't be accommodated in the space set aside.

"The atheist display really charged up a lot of people," General Administration spokesman Steve Valandra said. "We've gotten a lot more requests then we ever anticipated."

The atheist sign, sponsored by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, was installed for the first time this year. Reading in part that "religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds," the placard sits near a Christian Nativity scene and a Christmas tree.

The anti-religion sign has been prominently mentioned by conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly, who has called the display offensive and criticized Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire for allowing it in the Capitol.

State switchboards were jammed with calls of protest after O'Reilly featured the sign on his Fox News Channel TV show. The sign was stolen and recovered, several competing displays were installed, and a protest rally drew hundreds to Olympia last weekend.

Gregoire and Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna have defended the atheists' right to display their sign in the Capitol, saying the state couldn't discriminate against differing points of view.

Requests for further displays have continued in recent days. The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., noted for its slur-laden military funeral protests that criticize tolerance toward gays, recently joined the mix.

The church wanted to display a placard featuring a demonic-looking Santa Claus along with the lyrics of a spoof song called "Santa Claus will Take You to Hell," which included a reference to Santa raping children.

About a half-dozen other requests also will be affected by the moratorium. Valandra said the review likely will examine several aspects of the state's holiday display policy, from where to physically put exhibits to any standards for what is allowed and what isn't.

The state began granting broader access to religious displays a few years ago after a Jewish group added a menorah to the long-standing display of a massive Christmas tree sponsored by the Association of Washington Business.

A local real estate agent sued after his subsequent request for a Nativity scene was denied, but the case was settled and the creche installed.

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On the Net:

General Administration: http://www.ga.wa.gov