Dear Friend,

It only seems right to start my last message of the year with a loud and heartfelt, THANK YOU. This has been an incredible year, and you have been there through it all. Thank you for your repeated and generous support. Thank you for following our cases—at least two of which will be heard at the Supreme Court in 2020. Thank you for being our allies in defending religious freedom for all. As far as I’m concerned, you are all at the top of the “Nice List.”

Dunwoody City Council, on the other hand, most certainly tops the “other” list.

That’s why Becket has decided to award the Dunwoody City Council with our lowest (dis)honor, the Ebenezer Award, which recognizes the most ridiculous affront to the Christmas and Hanukkah season. Dunwoody City Council voted to ban all religious symbols or displays from city-owned buildings. That means the Christmas tree and menorah, which in past years graced the lobby of Dunwoody City Hall, will be nowhere in sight this year. In an absurd move, the original rule even included a list of items that were prohibited—nativities, the Star of David, menorahs, crosses—and others that were allowed—like, inexplicably, Santa Claus. (Where do they think the tradition of Santa Claus came from?)

This Scrooge-like behavior is sadly rampant at this time of year. But some Scrooges, just like Dickens’ character, are redeemed—and that’s why we also like to give an Eggnog Toast! This year’s toast is to Amy Goodwin, mayor of Charleston, West Virginia. For a cold 72 hours, the mayor changed the name of the town’s “Christmas Parade” to “Winter Parade.” After backlash from the city—and a tweet from state Attorney General Patrick Morrissey—Goodwin reversed course. Cheers to Amy Goodwin! The “Christmas Parade” will go on!

I wish you, our friends and supporters, a merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a happy new year! And what a year it will be!