Zombie Jesus Nativity Scene Causes Uproar In Ohio

Zombie Jesus has risen again. 

An Ohio town appears to be backing down in a battle with a homeowner who had put up an undead Nativity scene in his front yard, complete with the baby Jesus depicted in zombie form: 

The creche was put together in Sycamore Township by Jasen Dixon and his family for the second year in a row, in part with pieces from a haunted house he runs at Halloween. 

"My family and I look forward to this time of the year," Dixon said via email. "We use this for our family craft time."

But for the second year in a row, Dixon found himself at odds with Sycamore Township over the display.

Dixon said last year he didn't apply for a permit for the manger he built around the display and got in trouble with the town. This year, he applied for the permit and was rejected -- and then was threatened with fines of $500 a day unless he takes it down. 

That battle may be over. Town administrator Greg Bickford told CNN the problem was not the zombies but the roof of the display , which violates zoning rules meant to regulate sheds and other structures:

Since Dixon took the roof down over the weekend, he's now compliant and Bickford said he's no longer facing fines.

But he's still facing criticism. On Sunday, someone left a note in front of the zombie baby Jesus. 

"GOD FROWNS UPON THIS MANGER SCENE ," the note read, which included an explanation of why Jesus is not a zombie .  

Dixon said his family isn't anti-Christian.

"My wife Amanda is a hardcore Catholic and we do have a son in Catholic school," he said. "We are not atheist, agnostic or devil worshippers."  

Dixon has launched a fundraising campaign  to help pay legal fees and other costs of the undead display as well as to a local nonprofit, with any leftover funds going to help create next year's scene.

That's right Sycamore... like any good zombie, they're coming back.

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