A homeowners association has disapproved a resident's lavish Christmas display, saying it will be a nuisance to the quiet neighbourhood and may offend non-Christians.
Each year at around Christmas time, Jeremy Morris of Hayden, Idaho, decorates his house with thousands of lights, a Living Nativity, a 22-voice choir and a camel named Dolly, according to Fox News.
It has become an attraction to visitors. However, the West Hayden Estates First Addition Homeowners Association does not approve of the display.
Morris bought a house in the neighbourhood last year. It takes him month to install the entire display.
In its letter, the association told Morris that the display may offend non-Christians in the neighbourhood.
"I am somewhat hesitant in bringing up the fact that some of our residents are non-Christians or of another faith and I don't even want to think of the problems that could bring up," said the letter.
Lawyer Scott Poorman, in a letter last month, told Morris and wife to take down the display or face a lawsuit.
Poorman said the display "will be offensive to the senses and will interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of your neighbours' private property rights."
He said the Christmas lights, loud music, choir and animals would disrupt the neighbourhood.
"Your planned event will be a nuisance to the entire neighbourhood," he said. "Simply put, the quiet residential neighbourhood of West Hayden Estates First Addition is not an appropriate location for such activities."
The association said the camel "is not an ordinary household pet and is not allowed to be kept on your property for any period of time."
However, Morris believes that the association's action is an attack on Christians.
"Their real agenda is to attack Christians," he said. "This is about hostility towards people of faith. I have certain religious beliefs that I hold dear to my heart. We wanted to help people in the community and promote Christmas as the Christian holiday it's always been."
He said the Christmas display is a fund-raising event for families with cancer patients and organisations that help homeless children.
Morris said he has every right to put up the display.
"I live in the United States. I live in the state of Idaho – where we are supposed to still have some religious freedom. And if I want to witness to people on my driveway or on my lawn, that's my right," he said.
