City of Chicago statement on Christkindlmarket and The Nativity Story film

The banning of previews and the apparent pulling of a sponsorship by the film "The Nativity Story" has been much discussed on the blogs, as well as an on-air topic on Hugh Hewitt's radio show.

From a City of Chicago Department of Special Events web site.

The City of Chicago has acknowledged the celebration and the birth of Christ with a nativity display on Daley Plaza for many years. Similarly, there has been an Islamic Crescent and a Menorah to celebrate the Jewish Chanukah.

This particular incident is about a movie studio aggressively marketing a movie and trying to sell tickets to that movie. New Line Cinema's marketing plan involved continuous play of the film's commercials within the confines of the Christkindlmarket, which sits in Daley Plaza.

The German American Chamber of Commerce expressly asked the city for guidance regarding this potential advertising sponsorship of the Christkindlmarket, which was seeking to overtly publicize one of their latest features, "The Nativity Story," reflecting the birth of Jesus Christ.

The City of Chicago did recommend that a very prominently placed advertisement may be insensitive to the many people of different faiths who come to enjoy the market, and it would be contrary to acceptable advertising standards suggested to the many festivals hosting events on Daley Plaza throughout the year. Our guidelines are to refuse or reduce any blatant commercial message.

At no time did the city threaten to pull support of this market.

Mayor Daley and the City of Chicago have not handled this situation well.