Creche crusaders lose battle of Lexington Green. (Around The States).

A Massachusetts town may limit creches and other displays on public property, a federal appeals court has ruled.

The U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously Nov. 29 that Lexington's policy of barring any unattended displays on its historic Battle Green "inhibits some speech," but is legally permissible because the limits are applied evenly to everyone.

The lawsuit challenging the town's rules was brought by the Knights of Columbus, a Roman Catholic fraternal group that had been erecting a large Nativity scene on the green every December. Some residents had complained that the depiction of the birth of Christ on public property amounted to a government endorsement of religion.

In response, town officials decided to ban all freestanding displays. The Knights said the policy interfered with their religious freedom and filed suit.

A federal district court ruled in favor of the policy in December 2000. The appeals court ruling in Knights of Columbus v. Town of Lexington upholds this decision.

Selectman Peter Enrich told the Associated Press he hoped the ruling would finally bring the matter to a close.

"Our hope is that this will mark a conclusion to the controversy around the issue, and people can move on and enjoy the holiday," Enrich said.

That appears unlikely. Residents who favor the creche have created the Citizens for the Preservation of Constitutional Rights, which is helping fight the Lexington policy in court. Attorneys representing the group told reporters that they are preparing to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.