The Catholic League is getting dragged online after putting up a billboard decrying atheists for celebrating Winter Solstice, a holiday that has been celebrated since before Christianity existed.
The billboard, attributed to the “Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights,” boldly declares:
"ATHEISTS STRIKE OUT AT CHRISTMAS"
"CELEBRATING WINTER SOLSTICE IS A CHILD'S GAME"
"THIS IS OUR SEASON—NOT YOURS"
"CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST"
"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
You can see it below.
Herman Mehta/Friendly Atheist
The group’s website confirms responsibility for the billboard and explains it as a direct response to annual signs displayed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) in Madison, where the FFRF is headquartered.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, told the Christian Post that the goal of the billboard is to “embolden Catholics, letting them know that we will not be bullied by our adversaries.”
But Donohue overlooks an important fact.
Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, has been celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere since prehistoric times, as evidenced by megalithic monuments like Newgrange and Stonehenge, which align with the sun’s position on this day. Historians suggest that Christmas, marking the birth of Jesus for Christians, likely evolved from these ancient Winter Solstice traditions.
According to independent journalist Hermant Mehta, writing for The Friendly Atheist:
"The Catholic League’s billboard is even more pathetic when you realize the group has assets of over $53 million (according to its 2023 tax form), more than twice as much as FFRF. (Donohue himself makes over $700,000 a year and has made even more in the past.)"
"And yet they won’t splurge on an extra few bucks to hire anyone with a background in graphic design… or copywriting… or to purchase replacement hearts for everyone in the organization."
The group was swiftly criticized.
The Catholic League's stunt is the latest example of conservatives lashing out over a perceived "War on Christmas."
Last year, Wisconsin Republican Representative Mike Gallagher expressed dismay about a Christmas event in Wisconsin that featured numerous uniquely adorned Christmas trees, one of which bore a Satan-themed decoration, stating his reluctance to take his children to the event due to the presence of what he referred to as "satanic trees."
The Satanic Temple’s Wisconsin chapter clarified that they don't believe in Satan as an actual entity to be worshipped. Their tree decoration was a nod to their own winter holiday, Sol Invictus, in the spirit of embracing religious diversity during the holiday season, aligning with other faiths celebrating around the same time.
In 2021, conservative commentator Meghan McCain jumped to the defense of "radical" Republicans after authorities arrested a man in connection with the burning of a Christmas tree outside the Fox News building.
No one was hurt in the blaze and firefighters were able to quickly extinguish it. However, the news of the blaze angered McCain, who seemed to suggest that the destruction of property is evidence that Democratic politicians are as "radical" as the Republicans they've criticized.
Similarly, Newsmax—which has absolutely bought into the claims that Democrats are waging a "war" against the holiday—has published lists of supposed occurrences across the country to support this notion, once criticizing producer Shonda Rhimes' Scandal for incorporating the holiday song "Silent Night" during a scene in which a main character gets an abortion.
