-Caveat Lector-
from: AMERICAN ATHEISTS
subject: AANEWS for July 9, 1999
A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
#605 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7/9/99
http://www.atheists.org
ftp.atheists.org/pub/atheists/
http://www.americanatheist.org
---------------------------------------------
A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS
"Leading The Way For Atheist Civil Rights
And The Separation Of State and Church"
----------------------------------------------
In This Issue...
* "Guide" to separation, or sellout to religious groups?
* TheistWatch: July 4th -- everywhere but Utah
* Emendation: sex and "that woman"
* Resources
* About this list...
IS "GUIDE" ON RELIGION AND SCHOOLS AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL
FOR FAITH GROUPS?
A self described "First Amendment Guide" is being promoted as the
definitive word on interaction between public schools and
religion-based groups, but, say critics, ignores the problem of
harassment which Atheists and other nonconformist students face in the
nation's education system. The document was "launched" this past week
as a collaborative effort involving the First Amendment Center -- a
group generally identified with separation -- the American Jewish
Congress, and the Christian Legal Society. It is endorsed by a dozen
other organizations, including the National Association of Elementary
School principals, National Council of Churches, U.S. Catholic
Conference, Baptist Joint Committee and the Council on Islamic
Education.
An article promoting the guide on the First Amendment Centers web site
gushed that it "aids cooperation between schools, religious
communities." It argues that, "Violence in schools and not enough
resources to improve education" demonstrate that public schools needs
"community help." Another phrase in the article is "partnerships
between schools and religious institutions," reminiscent of proposals
being advanced by political leaders of all coloration, including Vice
President Al Gore.
Attempting to straddle the wall of separation between church and
state, U.S. Education Department official Wilson Goode told a press
conference announcing the guidelines, "America's schools and religious
communities have different and distinct missions, yet there are many
ways that they can join hands to help our children grow and learn
within a proper constitutional framework."
The sparsely worded, six-part guide begins by telling readers that
while public schools and religious groups "have different missions,"
they "share many of the same civic and moral values." It then
attempts to delineate ways the schools and church groups can work
"together in ways that are permissible under the First Amendment..."
Using a near-apologetic tone, the guide scolds religious intrusion in
its most blatant forms and says that "public schools must be neutral
concerning religion in all of their activities." It adds that
students "have the right to engage in, or decline to engage in,
religious activities at their own initiative." Fortunately, the
statement recommends that schools and churches refer to "Religion in
the Public Schools: A Joint Statement of Current Law," which details
the U.S. Department of Education guidelines on the subject.
But the guide then quickly turns in to what critics might well
describe as an "instruction manual" for religious groups and their
friends in the otherwise-secular school system, and dispenses
constitutionally suspect advice. It argues that, "In times of sudden
crisis," schools "may call on a wide range of qualified counselors,
including religious leaders, to assist school-employed counselors in
helping children cope with the crisis at hand." Although "a school
may not in any way compel or coerce a student to speak to
representatives of religious institutions," it is difficult to believe
that in the emotionally charged atmosphere of a "crisis" (death of
students or teachers is given as an example), adequate safeguards to
check and prevent zealous religious proselytizing will be in place.
There is no discussion of the illegality of schools paying for such
services, or facilitating such a faith-based counseling activity
indirectly by providing office space or other forms of assistance.
That younger students especially might feel pressure by the mere
presence of such "counselors" in a time of crisis is not discussed
either.
Another section, incredibly, inform us of "Mentoring programs," and
that "Public schools may cooperate with mentoring projects run by
religious institutions." While there are conditions to such
cooperation, including equal access for other community groups, there
is no mention made of indirect pressures that students may feel to
participate in such activities, or how these "mentoring programs" --
whatever their purpose -- would be funded. Nor does the guide mention
the potential for abuse in such programs, such as the case in Salt
Lake City where in response to complaints from American Atheists and
parents, a public school district required Mormon evangelist-mentors
to stop wearing religious name tags identifying their affiliation with
the LDS Church.
In the section labeled "Shelters," religious institutions are advised
that along with business and firehouses, they may become "temporary
shelters for students who seek to avoid danger or threatening
situations." Whether or not such school-designated "shelters" can
engage in religion-based activities, such as encouraging youngsters in
crisis to pray or participate in faith-based groups, is ignored.
The guide also discusses "School use of facilities owned by religious
institutions," and notes that the while schools may lease space from
faith-based groups, that space "is in effect a public-school
facility." It adds that "Religious symbols or messages may not be
displayed in the leased areas." But, these rules shift when schools
and churches enter in to a "cooperative program." First, "the law is
not violated if a cooperate program's use of a religious facility
coincidentally results in a student gaining an interest in attending
worship serviced." The guide then notes that while religious symbols
may not be posted in the public schools, regulations are "somewhat
different" for a "cooperative program."
"A room bedecked with scriptural injunctions about repentance and
salvation would not be appropriate for cooperative programs; a room
with religious symbols or icons might well be..."
Released-time -- long a point of objection for separations, but a
practice narrowly upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court -- is discussed
enthusiastically, though the guide notes that the religious
instruction given to students must take place off campus, and be run
entirely by the faith-based institution involved. Teachers and school
officials "may not encourage or discourage the participation of
students" in these released-time schemes.
Allen: An "Excuse" For Church Involvement
To veteran state-church separation activist Chris Allen of Salt Lake
City, Utah, the new guidelines are "A scary excuse for promoting more
religious activity in the public schools." A State Director for
American Atheists, Allen has had extensive experience in combating the
intrusive activities of the Mormon Church, particularly in respect to
the local public school system.
"I was struck by the fact that these 'guidelines' pay lip service to
the idea of separating church and state, and then list ways that
religious groups can form partnerships with schools." He underscored
an early paragraph in the guidelines which stated that "religious
institutions exist to propagate religious faith and encourage
religious practices."
"If that's true," said Mr. Allen, "then the churches have no
legitimate reason for being involved in anything to do with the
nation's public schools, and the public schools have no legitimate
reason for seeking out a "partnership" or "mentoring program" with
local churches. Their mission is clearly religious, and it's the job
of the schools to educate, no proselytize." Echoing fears that the
guide is an "instruction manual" which could be used by faith-based
groups, Allen added that "it's really a manual for strategies and
tactics to increase the intrusion of religious groups into the
classroom."
Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists, said that the statement
"clearly ignores other major problems having to do with the separation
of church and state in our schools," and specifically cited the
harassment of Atheist youngsters by energized Christian youth,
religious clubs, and even religious teachers. "We receive complaints
constantly from students and parents of the consequences of being an
Atheist youth in a middle school or high school."
Johnson also noted that the tone of the statement issued by the
civic-religious coalition was "obsequious and accommodating of a
religious agenda."
"We have this problem of religion in the public schools because the
'religious communities' so respectfully discussed in this document are
often behind egregious violations of the law, and the civil liberties
of students."
"There are 350,000 mosques, temples, churches and other 'houses of
worship' in the country," noted Johnson. "There are religious clubs,
publications, radio and television stations. And yet, the religious
community insists in trying to exploit the public schools for their
sectarian agenda."
**
THEISTWATCH SHORT SHOTS
You've probably recovered from last weekend's July 4th bash -- hot
dogs, cold brew, heat -- at least in most of the country -- and
fireworks. But while Americans in 49 states were celebrating
Independence Day, many in the predominantly Mormon state of Utah were
observing the theocratic Sabbath, and refrained from partying until
Monday, July 5. Noted Holly Mullen in last Saturday's Salt Lake
Tribune, this fact "is largely due to the curious co-mingling of
church and state, where for reasons no one seems able to explain,
celebrating Independence Day on Sunday is viewed as a violation of the
Sabbath." Even the ersatz July 4th celebration - delayed 24 hours so
as presumably to not anger the calendar-conscious deity -- pales in
comparison to a religious event known as "Pioneer Day."
In Salt Lake City, bastion and headquarters of the Mormon bureaucracy,
Councilman Bryce Jolley explained, "It's just the nature of Salt Lake
City that people would want to celebrate this kind of event
(Independence Day) on Monday, which is a legal holiday." Ditto that,
reports Mullen, for other predominantly Mormon communities including
Mesa, Arizona.
**
A curious spate of recent letters to the editor in select newspapers
praising the righteousness of Pope Pius XII may be an effort to
exculpate the World War II-era head of the Roman Catholic Church for
complicity and sanction of the "final solution" against the Jews.
According to Reuters news service, newly unearthed documents show that
the pontiff warned against the establishment of Palestine as a refuge
and homeland for the "Hebrew race," and was mysteriously silent about
the Nazi occupation of Rome.
One letter delivered to the Roosevelt administration by the Vatican's
Washington envoy, Archbishop A.G. Cicognani warned that despite the
Holy See's help in saving 4,000 Slovakian youth by transporting them
to Palestine, that action was not endorsement on behalf of a Jewish
homeland. "With an increase in the Jewish population there," warned a
Vatican letter, "grave, new international problems would arise.
Catholics the world over would be aroused. The Holy See would be
saddened and justly so, by such a move."
In another document, researchers found a memo penned by the Francis
D'Arcy Osborne, British ambassador to the Vatican, who recounted a
conversation with the pope just months before the Allied liberation of
Italy. Pius "had no complaints" about the German occupation, reported
Osborne, adding that the Third Reich thugs "behaved correctly" in
respecting the alleged neutrality of the church. A spokesman with the
World Jewish Congress told the Washington Post that the Osborne letter
"is troubling in its implications. It suggests a morally insensitive
Vatican."
**
EMENDATION: SEX AND "THAT WOMAN"
Okay, we admit it; we didn't quote William Jefferson Clinton
accurately in our last AANEWS article which discussed claims and fears
of rampant oral sex in America. As many perspicacious and media-savvy
readers pointed out, in his televised appearance Mr. Clinton declared,
"I did not have sexual relations with that woman..." Good taste
requires that we make no further printed or oral remarks on this
subject, thank you!
**
RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS...
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articles from the current or back issues, as well as special web-only
features. Visit us at http://www.americanatheist.org
* If you are a current member of American Atheists, sign up for our
e-mail discussion group, aachat. We have over 120 participants who
discuss topics such as Atheism, religion, First Amendment issues and
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