According to chief justice burger, why was the crèche display constitutional? the government has the right to promote religion under the first amendment. the first amendment only applies to federal government, not city governments. no one is forced to look at the crèche. the crèche depicts the origins of christmas but does not promote religion.

The crèche depicts the origins of Christmas but does not promote religion.

Chief Justice Warren Burger said about the case Lynch v. Donnelly (1984), which challenged the legality of Christmas decorations on town property:

"The narrow question is whether there is a secular purpose for Pawtucket's display of the crèche. The display is sponsored by the city to celebrate the Holiday and to depict the origins of that Holiday. These are legitimate secular purposes."

In these lines, Chief Justice Burger is arguing that the display is justified if the crèche attempts to promote something secular, and not to serve as a religious symbol. He argues that in this case, it is being used simply as a reference to a holiday, and as an explanation of the origins of the holiday, both of which are secular purposes. Therefore, it is constitutional.

where's the