(Associated Press, Nov. 29, 2006) -- Chicago city officials say they recommended that a German Christmas festival turn down sponsorship by the film studio behind The Nativity Story because New Line Cinema was, quote, "aggressively marketing a movie and trying to sell tickets." The Mayor's Office of Special Events notes that for a $12,000 sponsorship, the studio planned to continuously show trailers for the film, which opens in theaters this Friday. In a statement, city officials added that promoting The Nativity Story at the traditional Christmas festival on city property could offend non-Christians. The German American Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the festival, took the city's advice. An official with New Line Cinema says the film is being promoted nationwide, and the Chicago festival is the only rejection she believes the studio has had.

By Dr. Marc T. Newman
November 29, 2006

(AgapePress) - The official Chicago City website invites guests to: "Experience a traditional German Christmas at Christkindlmarket, inspired by the famous Nuremburg Christmas market dating back to 1545. Just as it has for the past 11 years on Daley Plaza, this outdoor market offers exquisite handmade gifts, unique ornaments, rare European fabrics and textiles and the opportunity to devour German delicacies like brats, goulash, potato pancakes, cookies and Gluhwein (a warm spiced wine)." But it appears that the last thing Chicago wants their visitors to experience is an ad for a film about the birth of the Christ Child (which, by the way, is the direct translation of Christkind).

According to news stories from Associated Press, Fox News, and a host of other media outlets, the City of Chicago allegedly put pressure on the Christkindlmarket (I'm surprised they didn't make them change the name to "kindlemarket") to dump ads for The Nativity Story, a film opening on Friday, December 1. Now that news reports are beginning to circulate, the city is trying to spin this. Jim Law, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events said that the motivation for withdrawing the ads was that they did not want to offend non-Christians attending the event.

Let me get this straight.

Does the city actually believe that people attending a "traditional German Christmas" event, called Christkindlmarket, "inspired by the famous Nuremburg Christmas market" just might be, possibly could be, so significantly offended by the appearance of an advertisement for a film about the events leading up to the birth of Christ that the city must forcefully act as state censor and official government media nanny lest these poor undiscerning souls -- um, I mean, humans -- confuse the Daley administration with the Christian Church? That seems to be the "analysis" Cindy Gatziolis, a spokeswoman for the mayor's office, is providing.

Look, I've been to Chicago. I've met with Chicagoans. And based upon what I have seen while strolling through the city, I don't think that they support the mayor's office telling them what ads they should or shouldn't see.

To clarify for the unaware in Mayor Daley's office, New Line Cinema, the producer and distributor of The Nativity Story is a business, not a church. They have, in the past, created such "spiritually provocative" films as The Wedding Singer, the Austin Powers series, Freddy vs. Jason, and Dumb and Dumber. Their goal is not proselytizing, but profit. With The Nativity Story they have put together a film that tries to give viewers a fresh look at the birth of Jesus. One that strips away the gloss and shows what life must have been like for Mary and Joseph as they struggled in Nazareth under the iron fist of Roman occupation. One that demonstrates the difficulties associated with a pregnant woman and her betrothed making a 100-mile forced journey on the back of a donkey. One that explores the insecurities the couple must have felt as they contemplated how they might raise this remarkable Son. The movie is a love story. Oh, and to educate those people attending Christkindlmarket who might remain ignorant due to the protective spirit (can I say "spirit"?) of the Daley administration -- in the film, the child that Mary is carrying is Jesus. Shocking, I know.

I can only imagine how New Line might use the news of the city's strong-arm tactics to their own advantage. I mean, you can't buy publicity like this. Tabloid-style advertising headlines should read: "Banned in Chicago!" "The Ad Mayor Daley Doesn't Want You to See!" "Daley Takes the Christ out of Christkindlmarket!"

There is only one thing I know for sure about the fallout from this decision: Christkindlmarket is losing out on $12,000 in paid advertising -- and if this story gains traction, they could be losing an awful lot more in sales. That should get them screaming at the mayor's office. It would all be hysterically funny if the whole thing were not so unbelievably stupid.

This omitting of Christ from Christmas is nothing new. For years now, Chicagoans have had to put up with the lighting of the official "Holiday Tree" (somebody ought to tell Daley what the "holi" means). The Christkindlmarket Chicago official website explains, "The Christkindl, the Christmas Fairy, is a cherished highlight during the Holiday Tree Lighting." Almost everyone else but the Christkindlemarket seems to know that the original Christkind is not a "fairy" but "the Christ Child." The German Embassy's official website explains that the tradition was started by Martin Luther in the 16th century as an alternative to St. Nicholas. This redefining of history in order to protect people from understanding the "reason for the season" is unworthy and dishonest.

So Chicago, go to see The Nativity Story and get reacquainted with an image of Christmas a little closer to the real thing than the Nativity scene surrounded by candy canes, "persons of snow," and other Constitutionally-mandated "winter festival" padding needed to justify the otherwise-illegal religious display. (Anyone wanting to explore the themes in the film can come to MovieMinistry.com on Thursday (Nov. 30, 2006) and download our new study guide: "What Would You Do With A Gift from God?") And instead of patronizing Christkindlmarket this year, Chicagoans might just make their way to a local Wal-Mart or Macy's where they may finally hear someone wish them a "Merry Christmas."