Rehoboth Beach’s Knights of Columbus Star of the Sea Council may or may not install a crèche somewhere in time for Christmas this year, but a recent court ruling all but assures it won’t be on city-owned property.
In an opinion Dec. 11, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Leonard P. Stark denied a motion filed by the Knights requesting the court issue a preliminary injunction requiring the city to allow them to display a crèche on city-owned property.
The judge’s ruling is the latest in a dispute entering its third Christmas season. Two years ago, the Knights placed a nativity scene by the Bandstand; it was removed days later. Last year, the city continued to deny the church placement of the nativity scene near the Bandstand.