Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will welcome the first Nativity Scene in the state’s Capitol Rotunda on Monday morning at 10:00 Central Time, in a privately-funded event to kick off Christmas celebrations.

According to a press release issued by the law group Thomas More Society and the American Nativity Scene Committee, the Catholic governor will be joined by Des Moines Catholic Bishop Richard Pates, who will address those at the gathering. The Des Moines Register reports that the two groups have partnered to place nativity scenes in more than 10 state Capitol buildings around the nation.

Such events have often drawn criticism. A spokesperson for Iowa’s ACLU affiliate said her group would not oppose the Nativity Scene as long as other groups are allowed to do the same.

“It violates the First Amendment for the government to favor one religion over another or over no religion,” [Rita] Bettis wrote in an email to the Register on Friday evening. “We understand that an outside group is being allowed to display the nativity scene and has entered into a contract with (the Department of Administrative Services) to be able to do so; it’s important that the state of Iowa allow any other religion as well as non-religious groups to be able to access the same space on the same terms. That means now that the door has been opened, that Jewish, Muslim, and any other religious as well as non-religious holiday displays must be given the same preferential treatment, and no less, in establishing their own displays.”

The on-scene organizer, Thomas More Society lawyer Martin Cannon, told the Register, “We’re not trying to create a ruckus.”

It’s not like we’re on some crusade to get in people’s faces and say, ‘This is a Christian nation and you all shall bow down.’”

“The nativity scene in the Rotunda represents constitutionally-protected free speech and expression of religious faith by private citizens in a traditional public forum,” said Tom Brejcha, Thomas More Society President and Chief Counsel, in a press statement. “The Government is neither censor nor endorser of such religious speech. In the Capitol Rotunda, where political rallies are routinely held during Government sessions, the Government is merely the gatekeeper upholding free speech.”

The Nativity Scene will measure about five feet by nine feet, according to the Register.

Editor’s Note (12/14/2016): This article originally reported that Nativity scenes have been placed in 12 state Capitols. The actual number is 11, with a 12th planned for this weekend in California. The Stream regrets the error.