[Note text below is not from the city website, but presents an opinion on
the flag.]
The city of Belen in New Mexico just adopted a new flag with a
very blatant “Star of Bethlehem” on it. One city councilman didn’t even hide the
fact that this was a promotion of religion. The city councilor who helped design
the flag says the star of Bethlehem is featured in the middle of the Zia symbol.
It was approved as the city’s official flag this week.
“I love that
because it just establishes our faith and a representation of hope,” said George
Balderrama after seeing a sketch of the city’s new flag. “This is again a
representation, I think, by this city to just make a statement that they choose
to let God be the God of their city.”
When you’re breaking the law, you
really shouldn’t brag about your motivation… The Freedom From Religion
Foundation, which had a skirmish with this city in 2015 over a Nativity scene on
public property, is already raising concern over this flag’s design: “Federal
courts have ruled that religious symbols on official city logos or
representations violate the Establishment Clause,” FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line
writes to the city’s legal counsel. “The city of Belen flag design is akin to
numerous other unconstitutional municipal representations.”
And any
claims of historical or cultural significance to the “Star of Bethlehem” on the
city flag because of the connection to “Bethlehem” (Belen is a Spanish
translation of Bethlehem) do not relieve the city of its constitutional
obligations, FFRF underscores. …
“The city of Belen is not only thumbing
its nose at the Constitution,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor, “it
is also expressing disdain at the way this country’s demographics are rapidly
changing for the better.”
The Nativity scene is still in place today and
odds are the flag isn’t going to change either. It would take someone who lives
in the city willing to fight a legal battle with FFRF’s help before a lawsuit
could be filed successfully. But the pieces seem like they’re all in place. FFRF
has warned the city about the constitutional problems multiple times, only to
see their concerns ignored. That means the city is only a plaintiff away from
losing a hell of a lot of money. located by Paul Bassinson, 9 May
2019
The flag of Belen was adopted by Resolution Number 2018-09 on May 7, 2018.
Councilor Frank Ortega also helped with the design of the flag. Today, the city
continues to use the flag in its city hall, and it appears no lawsuit has been
filed against its use. Daniel Rentería, 23 July 2024
Previous Flag
image by Jens Pattke, 12 May 2001
The flag was designed by Ronnie Torres, the Mayor of Belen with the help of Bruce Prater of Graphics Art Station, a local business in Belen. Mr. Torres wanted the flag to signify Belen as the City different. The train is to represent the long time relationship of Belen with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad "BNSF" and the Harvey Museum associated with the railroad. The Star is representative of the star of Bethlehem, the meaning of Belen, being Bethlehem."
Information provided by Anita Romero, Administrative Assistant, City of Belen, New Mexico. Valentin Poposki, 9 April 2009
![[Flag of Belen, New Mexico]](../images/u/us-nmbln2.gif)
image by Masao Okazaki, 25 June 2019![[Flag of Belen, New Mexico]](../images/u/us-nmbln.gif)
image by Jens Pattke, 12 May 2001![[Municipal seal]](../images/u/us-nmbln).gif)
image located by Paul Bassinson, 13 October 2019
