Festival of Trees tree sponsored by the Satanic Temple of Wisconsin. PC: Fox 11 Online

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The popular Festival of Trees hosted annually by the National Railroad Museum will be different this year after receiving strong reactions compared to last year’s event.

In the past, the event was open to everyone: local businesses and organizations, as well as civic and religious groups. All that was needed was a donation of between $75 and $150 to allow groups to decorate a tree and display it at the museum.

All proceeds from the event go directly back into the museum’s educational programs.

But this year the rules have changed.

In an email, an unnamed museum employee said that the event was now “by invitation only.”

After an organization in the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay requested information about this year’s tree sponsorship, museum staff informed them that the diocese was not on the invitation-only list. The email can be viewed here.

Bishop David Ricken expressed concern when the museum allowed an exhibit from the Satanic Temple of Wisconsin at last year’s event.

The diocese condemned the display.

Father John Girotti of the Diocese of Green Bay called it offensive.

“The satanic religion, or whatever they call themselves, is diametrically opposed to Christianity. The symbols of the tree are often the opposite or the inversion of Christian symbols, which alone, not to mention the demonic, is very offensive to us as Catholics and Christians.”

The museum stated at the time that the event was inclusive and that the trees could be decorated in any way as long as they did not promote violence, sexual content, drugs or alcohol.

Officials also said at the time that they had no intention of removing the Satanic Temple tree and would welcome another proposal from the group in the future.

Jacqueline Frank, CEO of the National Railroad Museum, says the board changed the guidelines for the event back in January, but did not provide further details.

Frank also says the museum has not yet begun working with the community for this year’s event.