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.]