Americans United Urges Army Officials To Alter ‘Church Retreat’ Program At Missouri Base

Watchdog Group Says Further Changes Are Necessary To Avoid Religious Coercion At Fort Leonard Wood

December 18, 2009

U.S. military officials should make further changes at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri to ensure that soldiers are not subjected to unwanted religious proselytism, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

In July of 2008, Americans United wrote to Department of Defense officials to raise concerns about the “Tabernacle Baptist Church Retreat” (previously known as “Free Day Away”), a program sponsored by a church in Lebanon, Mo. Under the program, soldiers are taken to the church for food and recreational activities but are required to attend an evangelistic service while there.

Soldiers who chose not to attend were left behind at the base to continue with their military responsibilities. The fort is a training center for new recruits, and the “Church Retreat” program is the only day (other than the day before graduation) off base allotted to enlistees. Officials at the fort had been promoting the program for 36 years.

Shortly after AU sent its missive, Department of Defense officials issued guidelines stating that it should be made clear that attendance is voluntary and that soldiers who remain behind should be allotted free time and not made to work.

Read more here

First Amendment Does Not Protect Criminal Activities By Staff At Religious Organizations, Says Americans United

Church-State Watchdog Group Joins Legal Brief In Sex-Abuse Case Before Nevada Supreme Court

December 14, 2009

The First Amendment’s religious liberty provisions do not shield houses of worship from liability when their staff members or volunteers commit crimes, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has told the Nevada Supreme Court.

Americans United and several other organizations filed a friend-of-the-court brief Dec. 11 in Nevada’s top court asserting that point.

The case in question, Ramani v. Segelstein, deals with a woman who says she was sexually assaulted by a cantor at her synagogue after a service. When she reported the assault to the head rabbi, he allegedly ignored the complaint and proceeded to solicit her for sexual favors.

“The principle of religious liberty must not be sullied by making it a shield for criminal activity,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “The First Amendment was never intended to be interpreted that way.”

Read more here

Americans United Praises Senate Vote Against Nelson-Hatch Amendment

Health-Care Reform Package Should Not Reflect Religious Doctrine, Says Church-State Watchdog Group

December 8, 2009

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today commended the U.S. Senate for rejecting a religion-based amendment to the health-care reform bill that would have limited women’s access to abortion.

By a 54-45 vote, the Senate tabled the Nelson-Hatch amendment, which would have eliminated abortion coverage from insurance plans that receive federal funds, even if the coverage is paid for with private funds. The proposal, promoted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is similar to a controversial amendment added to the health-care bill in the House at the behest of the church hierarchy.

The Catholic bishops and allied Religious Right forces are lobbying aggressively to enshrine their doctrines about abortion in the health-care reform package.

Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “I am glad the Senate defeated this proposal. Health-care legislation should be based on the needs of the American people, not the doctrines of powerful religious interest groups.

Read more here

Supreme Court Should Reject Religious Discrimination At Public Universities, Says Americans United

Church-State Watchdog Group Calls On High Court To Affirm Lower Court Ruling In Calif. Law School Case

December 7, 2009

The U.S. Supreme Court today announced it will hear a dispute from California involving an evangelical Christian club at a public law school that wants recognition and funding as an official campus organization, even though it discriminates on religious grounds.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State urged the high court to use the case as a vehicle to make it clear that groups seeking public funding and official recognition on public college campuses must be open to all.

“This case is about fundamental fairness,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “If the student religious group wins, it will mean some students will be compelled to support clubs that won’t even admit them as members. That’s just not right.”

The dispute involves a branch of the Christian Legal Society at Hastings College of Law at the University of California in San Francisco. The group sought funding and official status from the school, even though it effectively bars gays and non-Christians from membership by requiring all officers and voting members to sign an evangelical Christian statement of faith.

Read more here

Americans United Urges Appeals Court To Give Prison-Chaplaincy Applicant His Day In Court

Wiccan Clergyman Should Have the Right To Challenge Government-Imposed Religious Discrimination, Says Watchdog Group

December 1, 2009

Religious minorities should have the right to go to court and challenge discriminatory hiring practices imposed by the government, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has told the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

In a friend-of-the-court brief in McCollum v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Americans United urged the appellate court to allow Patrick McCollum, a Wiccan clergyman, to challenge a state prison policy that limits paid chaplaincy positions to persons who are Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or Native American.

“When government discriminates in hiring on religious grounds, those who are left out should have every right to sue,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. “Job candidates who face this type of religious discrimination should at the least have a chance to go to court and fight for their constitutional rights.”

McCollum is a qualified candidate for a chaplain position at the California Department of Corrections but cannot be considered for the job because of his religious beliefs. He brought a lawsuit against the prison, but a federal district court ruled that he lacked “standing” — the right to sue.

Read more here

Event head count, video & website updates

Our event last Friday ("150 Years On, What's All the Fuss About Evolution, Science Education and Church & State") was a great success. We expected 50 people, but a head count revealed that 93 people were in attendance! The event was also filmed for those who missed it.

Video files and website news:

Our video files of the event are uploaded to our website on our new Multimedia page; (see navigation menu to your left). There is also a link to it from our Events page.

We also have a YouTube account at http://www.youtube.com/user/GreaterKansasCityAU linked to from the top of the new
Multimedia page. However, the files we have are too big for YouTube, so I'm going to have to do something about that before we start posting there. I did, however, set up our preferences and color scheme.

Our brochure is now in pdf form and uploaded to the site. If you click "About Us" on the navigation bar, that's where it is.

Lastly, we now have a links page; (see navigation menu).

Local news: Underaged marriage; George Tiller murder case

Man arrested for underaged marriage. The marriage was arranged for religious reasons.
This is why laws must remain religously neutral - so that all children are protected.

Read more here

-----------------
Scott Roeder confesses to shooting George Tiller.

Read more here

Las Vegas Sun Reports: Ensign Leaves C Street

The Senator’s Scandal:
Ensign moves out of home on C Street
Town house shared with Christian colleagues had gained notoriety because of Nevadan’s affair

By Lisa Mascaro (contact)
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Washington — Sen. John Ensign has moved out of the C Street house, the Christian home he shared with other elected officials on Capitol Hill that came under scrutiny for its residents’ beliefs and practices and their role in trying to end the Nevada Republican’s affair with a campaign staff member.

The red brick town house emerged this summer as the subject of political intrigue — not only as a pivotal location in Ensign’s affair with Cynthia Hampton, but also that of South Carolina Republican Gov. Mark Sanford, who sought guidance there as he wrestled with his own affair.

As fallout from Ensign’s affair continues with a preliminary Senate Ethics Committee investigation and talk of a possible criminal inquiry by the Justice Department, Ensign decided to move out, not wanting to draw further attention to his longtime home...

Read more here

National Issues - and don't forget our local event Friday!

Religious Right Activists Use Wide Variety Of Tactics To Evangelize In The Classroom by Rob Boston

excerpt: "Religious Right leaders often heap abuse on public schools, calling them “godless” and recommending that fundamentalists put their kids in private academies or educate them at home. At the same time, the Religious Right lusts for influence over public schools, seeing them as a “mission field” for new recruits.

Most public school officials want to do the right thing and realize that pushing religion is not among their duties. But a few won’t accept that and insist on bringing proselytism into the classroom. At the same time, public schools are often assailed by outside forces – local Religious Right groups and right-wing state and local legislators – determined to use them to stoke the flames of the culture wars."
Read more here.


Election Results Suggest Religious Right Remains Force To Contend With, Says Americans United

"Election results in Virginia, New Jersey, New York and Maine serve as a reminder that the Religious Right remains an influential force in political life, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

'I wish I could say the Religious Right is dead, but this election shows that reports of its demise are inaccurate,' said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. “The pundits who announced the Religious Right’s demise in 2008 were simply wrong..."
Read more here.


Americans United Urges IRS To Take Necessary Steps To Limit Partisan Activity By Churches

"Partisan electioneering by tax-exempt churches is a significant national problem so the Internal Revenue Service must have clear and effective policies in place to respond, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has told the federal tax agency.

The IRS is soliciting comments for new rules governing the enforcement of provisions in federal tax law that bar churches and other tax-exempt religious organizations from endorsing or opposing candidates.

Earlier this year, a federal court issued a ruling about IRS procedure that has required the government agency to clarify its internal policies regarding investigations of houses of worship..."
Read more here.

DON'T FORGET our event with KCFS on Friday! See our Events page or our pdf flier for details. See you there!

CBN Warns of "Demonic" Halloween Candy

Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network Warns Americans Of ‘Demonic’ Halloween Candy : AU’s Lynn Says Religious Broadcaster Should Send ‘Trick Or Treat’ Goodies Over To His House

October 29, 2009

Put aside your fears of swine flu. TV preacher Pat Robertson’s Web site has just issued a bulletin warning Americans of the real threat we face this season: Demons may be lurking in our Halloween candy.

In a column on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s Web site, writer Kimberly Daniels asserts that “demons” sneak into bags of Halloween candy at grocery stores.

“[M]ost of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches,” Daniels wrote. “I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.”

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, urged Robertson and Daniels to lighten up.

Read the full press release at www.au.org

Kansas City Council Repeals Funeral Picket-Restricting Ordinance

An ordinance restricting picketing at funerals to protect the bereaved from the antics of Fred Phelps and other members of his Westboro Baptist Church (of GodHatesFags.com and GodHatesAmerica.com) was repealed in August.

The repeal cites an Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision ruling that restrictions against picketing funerals that are held outside of a private residence violate the First Amendment. However, the 8th Circuit's argument that, "the home is different, and, in our view, unique" offers a possible solution to families wishing to grieve in peace: hold a memorial service at home, or a friend's home.

Meanwhile, a recent Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (Synder v. Phelps) decision reversed, also on First Amendment grounds, a monetary award against Phelps for picking another funeral.

Read the repeal here: cached version

Read about the Fourth Circuit Court case in the Kansas City Star here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/1467508.html

Read the Fourth Circuit's opinion here (Scroll to last link): http://pacer.ca4.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/opinions.pl

Our Nov. Event gets co-sponsor: Kansas Citizens for Science

In recognition of the 150th Anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s "On the Origin of Species"

150 Years On, What’s All The Fuss About Evolution, Science Education and Church and State?

Date: Friday, November 6, 2009
Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: Johnson County Community College
12345 College Blvd.
Carlsen Center Rm. 234
Campus Map: http://tr.im/B8tg
Free and open to the public

Speakers:
• Josh Rosenau, “Thoughts From Kansas” blogger (http://scienceblogs.com/tfk), now on staff at the National Center for Science Education (www.ncseweb.org)
“Anti-Evolution Efforts Since the Dover Decision and the Defeat of ‘Intelligent Design’”
• Paul Decelles, Professor of Biology at Johnson County Community College
“Some Myths and Misconceptions About Evolution”
• David Burress, retired KU economics professor and a founding member of Kansas Citizens For Science
“Fighting About Darwin: Who and Why”

Moderator:
Harry McDonald, former Blue Valley biology teacher and President of Kansas Citizens For Science

Co-sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (www.aukc.org) and Kansas Citizens for Science (www.kcfs.org)

To download this flyer (PDF), go to http://www.aukc.org/Darwin.pdf

150 Years Since "On the Origin of Species": How did a scientific model (evolution) become a church-state issue?

The Greater Kansas City Chapter of Americans United presents:
150 Years Since "On the Origin of Species": How did a scientific model (evolution) become a church-state issue?

In recognition of the 150th Anniversary of the publication of "On the Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin, the Greater Kansas City Chapter of Americans United for separation of church and state will be presenting a panel discussion on evolution and it's importance to both science education and church-state separation. Afterwards, we will have a question and answer session. This event is open to public. All are welcome!

Date/Time: Friday, November 6, 2009 from 7:00-9:00pm.

Place: Johnson County Community College, Room CC 234 in the Carlsen Center building. Overland Park, KS.

For speakers and other information, please see our full flier, which is in a printer-friendly pdf format.

"Creation" - a film on Darwin to be shown in U.S.

Earlier we reported that a film about Darwin with distributors in other countries was refused by U.S. distributors as being "too controversial." As it turns out, "Creation" has finally found the U.S. distributor the producers were looking for.

See http://ncseweb.org/news/2009/09/creation-finds-distributor-005069

Update on Origin of Species hatchet job; new Wichita chapter

(From email) If anyone would like to read the full introduction that Ray Comfort is adding to "The Origin of Species" (and hence slandering science), it can be found here:

http://assets.livingwaters.com/pdf/OriginofSpecies.pdf

-----

Also, a new Americans United Chapter just formed in Wichita, KS.

Darwin, Kirk Cameron and Bananas

Kirk Cameron's 'Origin of Species' Plan: Ex-Actor to Distribute 50,000
Altered Darwin Books
See: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/22/kirk-camerons-origin-of-s_n_294349.html

Kirk Cameron, along with Ray Comfort, had previously created a YouTube video called Atheists' Nightmare in which they claimed that the banana is proof of intelligent design. Ironically, the modern banana is actually a product of artificial selection by humans who happen to understand how natural selection works.
See this unintentionally hilarious video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sanplNTr6c

"A British film about Charles Darwin has failed to find a US distributor
because his theory of evolution is too controversial for American audiences, according to its producer."
See: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6173399/Charles-Darwin-film-too-controversial-for-religious-America.html

FBI's investigation of Tiller killing looks at Roeder's jail visitors

Kansas City Star
FBI's investigation of Tiller killing looks at Roeder's jail visitors

The list of those visiting and communicating with the man accused of killing Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller reads like a who’s who of anti-abortion militants.

Two convicted clinic bombers. The man behind the Army of God Web site. Several activists who once signed a declaration that defended the killing of abortion doctors.

And federal agents have now talked to many of them.

As Scott Roeder sits in the Sedgwick County Jail awaiting trial on murder charges, a federal investigation is under way to determine whether there was a conspiracy involved in Tiller’s death...

To read more, go to: http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1373179.html

The Coming End of the Culture Wars?

From www.fivethirtyeight.com:

RT: Yes, that new report is The Coming End of the Culture Wars. In the report, I argue that the culture wars as we have known them are likely coming to an end. Demographic change-- the rise of the Millennial generation, increasing religious and family diversity and the decline of the culturally conservative white working class--is undercutting both the level and salience of conservative cultural views, thereby reducing the effectiveness of such politics. That will not prevent conservative activists around particular culture wars issues from continuing to press their case. Indeed, reaction to their current desperate plight may lead them to intensify their efforts in some states, especially where demographic change has been slow or where local right wing culture war institutions retain strength. But there will be diminishing incentives for politicians to take up these causes for the very simple reason that they are losers.

To link directly to a pdf version of the report, click here.

Americans United Commends Appellate Court Decision Against Bible Distribution In Mo. Public School

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today praised a federal appeals court decision barring Bible distribution in a Missouri public school district.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the South Iron R-1 School District may not allow distribution of Bibles to children in elementary school.

Americans United, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, hailed the ruling.

"Parents, not school officials, should make decisions about their children's religious upbringing," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. "School officials are wrong to allow evangelism by outside groups.

"As a Christian minister, I don't have a problem with the Bible," Lynn continued. "But I do have a big problem with government officials who try to impose religion on school children. They have no right to do that."

Read more here: http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2009/07/au-commends-appellate-court.html

Ensign's "C Street House" Owned By Group Touting Plans For Christian World Control digg Share this on Facebook Huffpost - stumble reddit del.ico.us Sh

Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wilson/ensigns-c-street-house-ow_b_230015.html

Be sure to check out the video halfway down the page.

We're Now Officially a Chapter!

The chapter formation process is now complete, and we're now officially a chapter of Americans United for separation of church and state!

Star Dreck: Religious Right ‘Federation’ Clings On To Same Old Misguided Mission

From the national org:

...Several Religious Right organizations came together June 30 here in Washington to announce the formation of the “Freedom Federation” and to unveil a “Declaration of American Values,” a document reflecting the same obsessions that have animated the Religious Right for decades: opposition to abortion, opposition to gay rights, xenophobia, opposition to church-state separation, etc.

...

Groups joining this effort include the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Liberty University, the Family Research Council, Liberty Counsel, Vision America, Concerned Women for America, the American Family Association, Catholic Online, the Traditional Values Coalition and a host of lesser lights. The federation doesn’t plan to hire a staff or open and office, and it’s unclear what the next step will be. I have been unable to even find a Web site for this federation.

Washington Post reporter Dana Milbank, who specializes in a daily dose of snark, seemed under whelmed. Dredging up the inevitable “Star Trek” comparison, Milbank seemed suspicious of the Federation’s claims that it is politically neutral.

“While ‘we have no allegiance as a federation to either party,’ as Blackwell put it, federation politics are no secret,” wrote Milbank. “Among the many others signed on to the federation are Gary Bauer’s Campaign for Working Families, which is at the moment working on a campaign to ‘stop Obama’s socialism’; Lafferty’s Traditional Values Coalition, which is trying to stop ‘Obamunists’ from destroying private health care; Exodus International, which promises ‘freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ’; Morning Star Ministries, which recently hosted the Spiritual Warfare Conference; and the American Family Association, which is promoting a boycott of Pepsi for supporting ‘homosexual activists.’”

In other words, despite the fancy name and all of the rhetoric, this really is your father’s Religious Right. Yawn. Nothing new here. ...


More at AU: http://blog.au.org/2009/07/06/star-dreck-religious-right-federation-clings-on-to-same-old-misguided-mission/

How I Contributed to Dr. Tiller's Murder

How I (and Other "Pro-Life" Leaders) Contributed to Dr. Tiller's Murder
By Frank Schaeffer

My late father and I share the blame (with many others) for the murder of Dr. George Tiller the abortion doctor gunned down on Sunday. Until I got out of the religious right (in the mid-1980s) and repented of my former hate-filled rhetoric I was both a leader of the so-called pro-life movement and a part of a Republican Party hate machine masquerading as the moral conscience of America...

Hyperbole from the pulpit from religious leaders, be it from my father or from President Obama's former pastor the Rev. Wright, is par for the course. But once in a while someone "does something" about it and then everyone says that they were only speaking metaphorically or "spiritually" when they called for violence or for the overthrow the state or when they said things like "God damn America!" or that "abortionists are murderers like Hitler!"

Angry speech has become the norm in American religion from both the right and the left. Words are spoken which -- when taken seriously -- lead directly to violence by the unhinged and/or the truly committed...

To read more go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/how-i-and-other-pro-life_b_209747.html

AU Deplores Murder of Dr. George Tiller

June 1, 2009

Killing Of Dr. George Tiller Is ‘Affront To Every Moral System Imaginable,’ Says AU’s Lynn

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today deplored the murder of a Kansas doctor nationally known for his work on behalf of women’s reproductive rights.

Dr. George Tiller was shot dead Sunday morning while serving as an usher at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kan.

“The murder of Dr. Tiller is an affront to every moral system imaginable,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. “He had worked relentlessly to preserve the guarantee that women could make their own medical and ethical decisions. Our deepest sympathies go to his family, friends and patients.”

Tiller, who provided abortions to women with problem pregnancies, has been the target of a vicious – and sometimes violent – campaign by extreme Religious Right activists who want to ban all abortions in keeping with their doctrinal mandates.

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Anti-abortion terrorism since 1993

Recent cases of abortion-related violence

By The Associated Press – 2 hours ago

A look at recent cases of abortion-related violence:

_ May 31, 2009: Prominent late-term abortion provider George Tiller is shot and killed in a Wichita church where he was serving as an usher. The gunman fled but a city official said a suspect is in custody.

_ April 25, 2007: Authorities say Paul Ross Evans placed a homemade bomb in the parking lot of the Austin Women's Health Center in Texas. A bomb squad disposes of the device, which contained two pounds of nails. There are no injuries.

_ Oct. 23, 1998: Dr. Barnett Slepian is fatally shot in his home in a suburb of Buffalo, N.Y. Militant abortion opponent James Kopp is convicted of the murder in 2003 and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Read more here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hsRcaLfmxox4cvkW6UmR36IILNlwD98HGJU8

Anti-abortion terrorism kills doctor in Wichita church

Wichita abortion provider George Tiller shot to death at Wichita church
BY STAN FINGER AND JOE RODRIGUEZ
The Wichita Eagle

President Obama said this afternoon that he was "shocked and outraged" by the killing of abortion doctor George Tiller, who was shot while attending church in east Wichita.

Wichita Deputy Police Chief Tom Stolz said at a news conference late this afternoon that a suspect in the shooting was in custody and on his way back to Wichita.

"However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence," the president said in a statement issued by the White House.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/703/story/1225769.html (Kansas City Star)
And at the Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-tiller1-2009jun01,0,7068875.story

Americans United Press Releases (national organization):

IRS Should Review Liberty University's Tax-Exempt Status for Partisan Politicking, Says Americans United

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today asked the Internal Revenue Service to review the tax-exempt status of Liberty University in the wake of the school’s decision to yank official recognition of a student-run Democratic club...

Read more here: http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2009/05/irs-should-review-liberty.html

Supreme Court Nominee Should Be Closely Questioned On Church-State Views, Says Americans United

The Senate Judiciary Committee should thoroughly question Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor to determine her views on church-state separation, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

President Barack Obama today announced the nomination of Sotomayor, currently a judge on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, to the high court. It appears that Sotomayor has not written widely on church-state issues, meaning the committee has an obligation to ascertain her views...

Read more here: http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2009/05/supreme-court-nominee-should.html

Americans United Criticizes California Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Ban On Same-Sex Marriage To Stand

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today expressed disappointment with the California Supreme Court ruling upholding Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in the state.

“Marriage is a civil right and should not be subject to majority rule or a religious litmus test,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United...

Read more here: http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2009/05/au-criticizes-california.html

Americans United Joins Public Education Allies In Seeking End To D.C. School Voucher Plan

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has joined allies in the public education community to demand that Washington, D.C.’s federally funded private school voucher “experiment” not be extended.

Americans United says the program, which pays for tuition at religious and other private schools, was originally conceived as a five-year pilot program. The plan, pushed through by the Bush administration, has failed to boost student achievement, and AU insists it should be discontinued...

Read more here: http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2009/05/aujoins-public-education.html
Go here to take action:
http://www.au.org/homepage/features/archive/2009/05-vouchers/

Gov. Sebelius signs "In God We Trust" license plate bill

An April 14 news release from Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' office stated that the Governor had signed 10 bills, including the "Christian License Plate" bill:

‘In God We Trust’ license plates

HB 2704 provides that on and after January 1, 2009, any owner or lessee of one or more passenger vehicles, trucks of a gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less, or motorcycles or travel trailers, may apply for and be issued one In God We Trust distinctive license plate for such vehicles.

The news release didn't mention whether the Department of Transportation would indeed front the $10,000 fee required when new plates are created. The DOT had offered to do so initially. We'll keep an eye out for further news.

In related news, Florida has gone even further in issuing "Christian" license plates. As AU notes, this action may spark lawsuits for violation of First Amendment religious neutrality provisions.

Americans United Warns Legislature Not To Mandate Car Tags Featuring Cross And Crucified Head Of Jesus

Americans United - April 27, 2009

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has urged the Florida Senate to reject a bill creating two “Christian” license plates for state motorists and warned that a lawsuit may result if the measure becomes law.

SB 642 mandates issuance of a plate depicting the crucified head of Jesus complete with a crown of thorns. It also mandates a second plate featuring a large cross, a stained-glass church window and the words “I Believe.”

“These plates clearly violate the Constitution and basic fairness,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. “It’s wrong for the legislature to favor one faith over others. If this bill passes, it is almost certain to provoke a lawsuit.

Read the full press release at au.org

AU: HHS Should Revoke Bush "Conscience" Rules

Department Of Health And Human Services Should Revoke Bush-Era 'Conscience' Rules, Says Americans United

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Church-State Watchdog Group Says Bush Medical Regulations Are Unnecessary And Could Violate Patients' Rights

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to rescind a regulation put in place by former President George W. Bush dealing with religious objections to medical procedures, saying the rule could violate patients’ rights.

The sweeping regulation, implemented by Bush in December, essentially gives health-care workers a right to refuse to take part in any procedure that they say violates their religious beliefs.

“This regulation was a parting gift from President Bush to the Religious Right, and it ought to be returned to sender,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “The last thing this country needs is more Religious Right meddling in our health care.”

President Barack Obama has proposed rescinding the Bush regulation, and today is the deadline for public comment on the matter. [Read more.]

[NOTE: If you wish to send a comment to President Obama, go here. But do it before midnight tonight!]

Priest's Prayer Stirs Up Conflict in Kansas House of Representatives

Church & State Magazine
March 2009

A Roman Catholic priest angered some members of the Kansas House of Representatives in January by delivering a guest invocation that attacked reproductive rights.

The Rev. Brian Schieber, pastor of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Topeka, used his time at the podium to rail against legal abortion.

“We remember the over 53 million beautiful, innocent unborn children who have been legally exterminated in our land,” Schieber intoned. “By your grace, guide us to transform this culture of death into a culture of life and a civilization of love.”

The prayer was offered on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision upholding a woman’s right to abortion. Several legislators said they did not appreciate its political tone.

“Prayers ought to be more ecumenical,” Rep. Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat, told the Associated Press. “It’s supposed to be a prayer that all 125 people will feel comfortable praying.”

Added Rep. Mike Slattery, a Mission Democrat, “That prayer was a little more abrasive than necessary.”

But others praised the prayer.

“It’s always like music when you hear the truth,” asserted Sen. Mary Pilcher Cook, a Shawnee Republican.

[Read more.]

Obama's New Faith Council to Meet Next Week

President Obama says there will be different rules for his new faith council, versus G. W. Bush's "Faith-Based Initiatives," which handed out money willy-nilly to any evangelical Christian organization that said it could provide "social work," "drug counseling," and other services the organizations were not qualified to provide. Still, it is unsettling to church-state separation supporters that Mr. Obama is even appointing a faith council. However, even before the proposed 25 members are in place, it seems the council has hit a snag with an invitation to former NFL coach Tony Dungy, whose ultra-conservative religious views could pose some political problems.

New Faith Council Expected to Meet Next Week

4/2/09 - Newsweek "God in Government"

We're hearing that the president's faith advisory council will hold its first meeting, an orientation session, next Monday evening in Washington.

The council, which will advise the White House Office on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships on policy, so far has 15 members, and the president is expected to name 10 more shortly.

It's been almost six weeks since the first 15 were named. One possible hold-up for announcing the remaining members is Tony Dungy, former NFL coach. Sources say he's been asked to join the council but hasn't decided yet.

Dungy could be a controversial member because of his remarks at a 2007 banquet at the Indiana Family Institute, which promoted an amendment to the state constitution banning same-sex marriage. Dungy endorsed the institute's position, saying, "I'm on God's side."

The Family Research Council came to Dungy's defense yesterday in a statement that said Dungy had used his celebrity "promote adoption, prison ministry, family values, outreach to the poor, and simple Christian decency."

Faith office director Joshua Dubois did not return calls and e-mails seeking comment.

"In God We Trust" license plates to Sebelius for approval

Having passed the Kansas House and Senate, Bill 2134 is now going to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for approval. The bill would exempt promoters of the "In God We Trust" license plate from putting up the usual $10,000 to get the plate manufactured. The Kansas Department of Transportation will give the promoters a pass on the $10K and wait for it to be repaid by purchasers of the license, which will cost $40.

The issue is not that a God-friendly license plate is being made available to Kansas drivers. It is the obvious favoritism toward religious believers in the KDOT's offer to pay the $10,000 upfront fee. To my knowledge, such a deal has not been offered to any other religious, agnostic or atheist group.

The First Amendment demands that the government, or any department of it, shall maintain neutrality in regard to religion, showing favor to no one religion. Something is wrong here, and it is hoped that Gov. Sebelius will see it and veto the bill.

If you are interested in preserving government neutrality in regard to religion, please contact Gov. Sebelius' office and express your concern about this seemingly faulty bill.

To e-mail the Governor, go to http://www.governor.ks.gov/comments/comment.htm

Local News Bites

Anti-evolution bill introduced in the Missouri House.
House Bill 656, introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives on February 10, 2009, and not yet referred to a committee, is the latest anti-evolution "academic freedom" bill.

See http://ncseweb.org/news/2009/02/antievolution-legislation-missouri-004615

The concept of academic freedom is abused when it is used in a way that results in children becoming less educated. Evolution is the cornerstone of modern biology. Students who don’t understand sound science, including evolution, may have a harder time entering college. Such students would not be able to pursue science careers . They could not compete academically and professionally with students in other countries.

There could also be economic consequences. The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, which attracts 2,000 scientists to its annual meetings, boycotted New Orleans for their 2011 conference after Gov. Bobby Jindal signed an anti-evolution bill into law. The Louisiana Coalition for Science said the boycott was, “negative for the state’s economy and national reputation.” (Church & State, April 2009, Vol. 62, No. 4, p. 3) Don't let that happen to Missouri!

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Supporters of “In God We Trust” license plates got a $10,000 fee break from the Kansas House on Friday.

House Bill 2134 would allow the “In God We Trust” license plate to be produced without the required upfront fee of $10,000 paid to the Division of Vehicles of the Kansas Department of Revenue. Americans United is not opposed to the license plate itself, but believes that all groups seeking religious message license plates should have to follow the same rules. In other words, there should be no favoritism.
This legislation singles out one particular license plate, and in doing so displays favoritism toward religious messages in general and one religious message in particular. This is unfair to other groups who are still required to pay the fee upfront.

It also violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment in that it helps spread one particular religious message without providing similar aid for promoters of competing views. It is also improper use of taxpayer money because Kansas citizens of all religions (or none) pay taxes.


See http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/feb/20/backers-god-we-trust-license-plate-get-10000-break/?city_local
Summary of the bill:
http://www.kslegislature.org/supplemental/2010/SN2134.pdf
The full text of the bill can be found here:
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2010/2134.pdf

AU: Choice of Tony Dungy for Faith Council Disappointing

Americans United Issues Statement On Tony Dungy Appointment To Obama Faith Council
Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Church-State Watchdog Group Expresses Disappointment At Selection

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today expressed disappointment at the Obama administration’s decision to ask former football coach Tony Dungy to serve on the president’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

“God & Country,” the religion blog of U.S. News & World Report, said today that Dungy has been asked to serve on the council, but he has not yet decided whether to do so.

Dungy, former coach of the Indianapolis Colts football team, has well-known ties with intolerant Religious Right groups. In 2007, for example, he spoke at a fund-raising dinner for the Indiana Family Institute, a James Dobson-affiliated group that opposes gay rights, reproductive rights and separation of church and state.

Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United’s executive director, “I am surprised and disappointed that Dungy has been asked to serve on the council. His view that civil-marriage law should reflect religious doctrine is not in keeping with the Constitution.”

[Read more here.]

America is not a "Christian nation"

Manufactured Myth

Church & State Magazine - February 2009

America Isn't a "Christian Nation" As The Religions Right Claims, And The Constitutional Convention Proves It

By Mark Weldon Whitten

Religious Right advocates of “Christian America” make two claims, which they most often confuse.

First, they assert that the American people and their social and cultural institutions have been profoundly influenced by a Christian religious heritage – that the American people have been a “Christian nation” in an historical-cultural sense. Then, they assert that the Founding Fathers intended, and the Constitution instituted, a national government based directly and primarily upon Christianity – that America is a “Christian nation” in a legal-institutional sense.

They are substantially correct concerning the former assertion and radically wrong concerning the latter.

The proceedings of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 constitute the most powerful argument against the claim that the Founding Fathers intended to create a national government based upon the Christian religion. The following facts concerning the proceedings of the Convention are inconsistent with the claim that the United States of America is a Christian nation in any legal-institutional sense of “nation.”

The Convention made a deliberate decision not to begin its proceedings with official public prayers. Since meetings of the Continental Congress had done so, and as the First Congress would create a chaplaincy and implement opening prayers in meetings of Congress, the Convention’s decision is noteworthy. Is this fact consistent with the Religious Right description of the Founders as pious Christian ideologues meeting to create a Christian nation?

During the darkest days of the Convention, Benjamin Franklin offered an eloquent motion noting the omission of prayers and recommending that they be instituted.

Time and time again I have seen apologists for Christian America assume or deceitfully insinuate that Franklin’s motion was well received and that the initiation of prayers in the Convention was the moment of breakthrough, resulting in a miraculous, God-blessed Constitution. In fact, a debate broke out over Franklin’s motion and it was never voted upon.

Franklin wrote that the Convention “except for three or four persons, thought prayers unnecessary.” Is this fact consistent with Religious Right claims concerning “Christian America”?

[Read more here.]

Missouri must issue "Choose Life" license plates

Friday, March 27, 2009

Missouri must issue "Choose Life" license plates

It's official: "Choose Life" license plates will now be available to Missouri drivers. The court said the law regarding license plates is too vague to prohibit such a thing. Missouri joins Florida, Louisiana, Arizona and Mississippi in offering the license plate.

Court rules for "Choose Life" license plates
Posted: Thursday, 26 March 2009 1:09PM
KMOX - St. Louis, MO

Missouri must issue "Choose Life" license plates

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (AP) __ A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court's ruling that Missouri officials must issue license plates that read ``Choose Life.''

The Alliance Defense Fund sued in June 2006 on behalf of Choose Life of Missouri and the group's president.

The suit alleged lawmakers violated free speech, due process and equal protection rights by rejecting Choose Life's application for the specialty plate, while approving other proposals.

The plate was rejected after two abortion rights members of a state transportation committee objected.

U.S. District Judge Scott Wright last year ruled that the state law governing specialty plates was ``unconstitutionally vague and overbroad.''

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis on Thursday upheld Wright's decision.

Meeting Notice

Meeting: 2nd chapter formation meeting
Sat. March 21, 1-3pm
Westport Coffee House
4010 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO