Indiana school thumbs nose at judge's ban on 'live Nativity scene' by using mannequins instead

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is accusing an Indiana school district of using dirty tricks to keep religion in public schools for the Christmas holiday.

According to WSJV, a judge ruled last month that Concord Community Schools must remove the live Nativity scene from its annual Christmas Spectacular program.

WSJV reported that the school district refused to allow TV cameras in to record the program over the weekend, but cell phone photos and video showed images of a manger with mannequins instead of live actors.

FFRF spokesperson Annie Laurie Gaylor called the Nativity scene a "contemptuous move" and a "callous manipulation."

"I think they have just dug a deeper hole, that's going to get a rebuke from the judge," Gaylor predicted.

Gaylor said that loud cheering that could be heard on cell phone video when the manger was revealed showed that "the majority was made to feel by the school district that they're favored and that they're the insiders."

But Scott Spradling, director of performing arts at Concord High, argued that the school had "no interest in being crazy or breaking the law or violating anything."

“We were trying to create the right kind of inclusive environment and, at the same time, obey the injunction," Spradling said.

Attorneys for the ACLU are reportedly working with the FFRF to take further actions against the district. A hearing is scheduled for January 7.

Watch the video below from WSVJ, broadcast Dec. 14, 2015.

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