The American Nativity Scene and attorneys at the Thomas More Society are helping groups of private citizens across the nation to display biblical manger scenes on government property this Christmas, the Thomas More society shared. Ed O’Malley, President of the American Nativity Scene, said several new installations are planned this year. “The growth momentum we experienced in 2019 has continued, and COVID-19 is not slowing it down, making Christmas 2020 a banner year for Nativity Scenes on government property,” O’Malley said. Last year, Nativity scenes were featured in building or on statehouse grounds in 27 states: Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. This year, new manger displays are planned at the state capitols in Idaho, Oklahoma, Nevada, and West Virginia. The first Nativity Scene was made by St Francis of Assisi in 1223. According to St. Bonaventure, St. Francis’ biographer, Francis sought permission from Pope Honorious III to do something “for the kindling of devotion” to the birth of Christ. Cover photo: The Nativity Scene in the Rhode Island statehouse, 2015 (Credit: Rick Znizek ©The Rhode Island Catholic)