- [John] Finally tonight,for some of America,

the separation of church and state

means keeping all things God

away from all things government.

- But this holiday season, agroup of Christian activists

is fighting to bring thestory of Jesus' birth

right to the center of theaction right here in Washington.

- Hi, baby.- Come on, beautiful ladies.

Do you think you can get out without help?

- All the way back.- What did he win?

- So why would a camel behanging out on Capitol Hill?

Well it's not just forthe fun of the tourists.

There's actually a bigpoint to be made here

about your religious liberty rights.

♪ Round yon virgin ♪

- [Paul[ Each year, Christian activists

fighting for those rights go between

the U.S Supreme Court and the U.S capital

to put on a live nativityscene, including baby Jesus,

and all the playersgathered around his manger

more than 2000 years ago.

- A lot of people forget it,between the hustle, the bustle,

all the stuff that goes, thepolitics on Capitol Hill.

There's a reason that we do this.

It's the reason for the season,

and it's the birth of Jesus Christ.

- [Paul] Some might complainthe specific location

of this nativity sceneviolates the separation

of church and state.

Lawyer, Mat Staver, ofthe Liberty Council,

says it really doesn't.

- There is no separationof church and state

that requires the government to sensor

religious view points and speech,

and this is clearly the essential message

of the Christmas season.

- Our first amendmentright gives us the right

to get permits and to holddifferent events on Capitol Hill,

and our event happens to be our outreach

which is the live nativity.

- Because he is the bread of life

heralded by the hosts of Heaven.

- Participants simply prayed, worshiped,

and read from the Bible, nothing else.

- We're not mixing politics in with this,

we're not pushing any type of legislation,

we're just letting youknow what the true reason

the true time of the year is.

- To share that with not only people here

in the nation's capital,but people around the world,

will be surprised asthey see a live nativity

in front of the UnitedStates Supreme Court.

♪ Night ♪

- Paul Strand, CBN News, Capitol Hill.