-Caveat Lector-
from: AMERICAN ATHEISTS
subject: AANEWS for September 16, 1999
A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
#639 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9/16/99
http://www.atheists.org
ftp.atheists.org/pub/atheists/
http://www.americanatheist.org
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A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS
"Leading The Way For Atheist Civil Rights
And The Separation Of State and Church"
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In This Issue...
* Istook brings back Religious Freedom Amendment
* Update: shootings in Texas
* Related: See You At The Pole -- Gov. endorses prayer activity
* Michigan Atheists to party on Sunday!
* Union County, N.J. Atheists organizing
* Resources
* About this list...
DOUBLE JEOPARDY FOR SEPARATION: ISTOOK REINTRODUCES
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AMENDMENT
A constitutional amendment which would permit religious activities in
public school classroom and other government venues has been
reintroduced by Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Okla.). The Religious Freedom
Amendment (H.J. Res. 66) is identical to earlier proposals promoted
by Istook. It reads:
"To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the
dictates of conscience: Neither the United States nor any State shall
establish any official religion, but the people's right to pray and to
recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, or traditions on public
property, including schools, shall not be infringed. Neither the
United States nor any State shall require any person to join in prayer
or other religious activity, prescribe school prayers, discriminate
against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of
religion."
"Here we go again!" said Ellen Johnson, President of American
Atheists. "Istook and friends go to considerable length in the
wording of this bill to pay lip service to the separation of church
and state, then demolish the protections of the establishment clause."
Istook's proposal appears today as an untitled amendment on the Thomas
website which tracks legislative proposals. As a constitutional
amendment, the measure would require approval by a two-thirds vote in
the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, followed by
ratification of three-fourths of state legislatures within a seven
year period.
An identical version of Istook's legislation under the title of the
Religious Freedom Amendment was turned down by the House on June 4,
1998. There were 203 NO votes, with 224 representatives voting YES.
While short of the two-thirds margin required for passage, the vote
was nevertheless a victory for school prayer boosters; no similar
measure had made it that far through the legislative process since the
early 1960s.
Istook's amendment was formally unveiled yesterday at a prayer rally
at the U.S. capitol which included religious leaders, political aides
and evangelist William J. Murray, the son of missing Atheist Madalyn
Murray O'Hair. O'Hair and her son were plaintiffs in the historic
U.S. Supreme Court case MURRAY v. CURLETT which challenged
orchestrated prayer and Bible verse recitation in the public schools.
Along with a series of other case such as ENGEL v. VITALE and
ABINGTON TOWNSHIP v. SCHEMPP, it helped to remove coercive religious
ritual from the public classroom environment.
None of these cases, though, denied youngsters or anyone else the
right to pray in schools, as long as they did so on their own time and
in a non-coercive way. The Clinton administration issued guidelines
on religious activity in public schools in 1995, noting: "The
Establishment Clause of the First Amendment does not prohibit purely
private religious speech by students."
The Religious Freedom Amendment goes beyond the notion of "private"
religious speech and contemplation. The measure could allow
orchestrated prayer in classrooms, and at athletic events or other
official school activities when ostensibly led or initiated by
students. Critics warn that it would also permit the display of
sectarian religious symbols such as the Ten Commandments in schools,
courtrooms, lobbies and offices of government buildings and other
public venues. The "benefits" section of RFA is seen by some as a
possible justification for public funding of faith-based outreaches
and social programs.
Why This? Why Now?
Istook's move to reintroduce the RFA comes at a peculiar time; the
political complexion of the House of Representatives has not changed
since June, 1998, and there is little evidence that the measure, as
written, would succeed in Congress. Behind the scenes, though, the
RFA remains a hot-button issue with many fundamentalists and
evangelicals in the Republican party's right wing. Lately, there have
been fears within this group that GOP leadership is putting the
culture war agenda on the back burner.
Indeed, Republican leadership is scrambling to configure a strategy
for the year 2000 races, which includes the contest for the White
House. Today's edition of the Washington Post noted ("With Eyes on
2000, Congress Creates Issues but Not Laws") that for Republicans
facing the next elections, their proposed $792 billion tax cut may be
a centerpiece strategy.
Religious right groups can be expected to use the RFA as a litmus test
along with other culture war issues -- abortion, pornography, gay
rights and vouchers -- for supporting candidates in the 2000 races.
The stakes are considerable; for the first time since the 1952 races,
control of the White House, U.S. Senate and the House of
Representatives are up for grabs. In addition, the next president
could select at least three of the justices to the U.S. Supreme
Court, and make dozens of other key judicial appointments. The Post
notes: "This phenomenon is especially intense in the House, where a
tiny five-vote majority has made it impossible for House Speaker J.
Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to push major legislation without fracturing
his ideologically diverse caucus and risking humiliating defeats..."
Separationists, though, cannot take defeat of the Religious Freedom
Amendment for granted. The outcry over tragic events like the
shooting at Columbine High School in April, or yesterday's killings in
a church in Texas, are fueling claims that "the nation needs prayer,"
and that more religion is necessary in public institutions. Congress
already has voted for outrageous measures allowing for public funding
of faith-based social programs and display of the Commandments.
Pushing prayer in the public school classrooms may be the next step.
**
TEXAS SHOOTING: MORE CALLS FOR PRAYER, RELIGIOUS 'HATE
CRIMES" STATUTE?
Latest Reports Say Gunman, Larry Ashbrook, Acted Alone
A 47-year old man walked into the offices of a Baptist church near Ft.
Worth, Texas last evening and began a shooting spree which killed
seven people. The gunman, identified in news reports as Larry Gene
Ashbrook, then reportedly turned the weapon on himself and committed
suicide.
It is the latest in a spree of violent crimes which are linked to
religious institutions, or have strong religious overtones. News
reports on CNN, MSNBC and other media link the Texas shooting to a
murder spree outside a California synagogue, and the April 20 slayings
at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.
According to CNN, authorities searching Ashbrook's home in nearby
Forest Hill -- about five miles from the Wedgwood Baptist Church where
the slayings took place -- say they found evidence of an "emotionally
disturbed individual," but did not suggest a motive for the shooting
spree. "I don't know that we will ever know why it happened," said
FBI Agent Bob Garrity. Other news reports suggested that Ashbook was
"troubled" and had difficulty keeping jobs.
Ashbrook walked into the offices of the Wedgwood Baptist Church last
evening after wrecking his house. "He virtually destroyed the
interior of his house," said Garrity. "This has the appearance of
being a very troubled man who, for whatever reason in his own mind,
sought to quiet whatever demons that bothered him." CNN reports that
Ashbrook first approached a secretary in the office, shot her, then
headed down a hallway where he confronted a shot a worker restocking a
vending machine. He then headed into the main area of the church
where approximately 150 young people had gathered for worship and
singing following a local "See You At The Pole Event." Ashbrook
reportedly yelled profanities against the Baptist religion, and opened
fire. After reloading several times, he stopped shooting and then
rolled what authorities describe as a pipe bomb down the church aisle.
Witnesses said that when the gun fire ended, Ashbrook sat in a rear
pew, placed a gun to his head and pulled the trigger.
Media fallout from the Texas shooting is already connecting the event
with the Columbine massacre in April. Misty Bernall, mother of
Columbine shooting victim Cassie Bernall whom many Christians now
embrace as a "martyr" for her defense of religious faith, appeared on
the CNN & Co. program earlier today. Bernall released a book about
her daughter this week published by a religious printing house owned
by the controversial "Bruderhof" community, a religious sect formed in
Germany during the 1920s.
In Washington, Attorney General Janet Reno held a morning press
conference where she said that Americans must examine the issues of
"how we handle guns, of how we deal with mental illness, of how we
deal with hate." She balked though, when asked by an unidentified
reporter if the Texas shooting was a "religious hate crime."
"In 1999 alone," Reno said, "we have watched as innocent people were
gunned down while attending school, while walking home from a church
or synagogue, while playing at summer camp, while working in their
offices, while delivering mail and now while worshipping in their
church."
Prominent defense attorney Alan Dershowitz appeared on another CNN
program and declared: "Americans had better get used to having metal
detectors in their churches, temples and synagogues."
While yesterday's shooting is certain to fuel the political debate
over gun control, the fact that it occurred in a church, and involved
a group of youngsters celebrating the SYATP school prayer event could
put a religious coloration on the whole issue. In the wake of the
Columbine High tragedy, Congress passed a number of legislative
measures including bills calling for the display of the Ten
Commandments on public property, and a greater role for faith-based
organizations in the administration of social services.
RELATED: SYATP EVENTS
There is little news in the national media about yesterday's "See You
At The Pole" event, organized to encourage youngsters to gather at
their public school flagpole prior to classes for prayer and religious
devotion. SYATP began with a group of Texas teenagers in 1990.
Organizers now claim that as many as 3,000,000 students participate in
the annual event in all 50 states and 17 countries.
One reason for the lack of media interest, though, may be Hurricane
Floyd which threatened Florida and reached landfall last night in the
Carolinas. The national "See You At The Pole" organizing web site
urged students unable to celebrate yesterday's events due to bad
weather to instead rally 'round the pole next Wednesday, September 22
at 7:00 a.m. "We encourage students to pray for those affected by the
hurricane on the East Coast of the United States and the Caribbean
Islands," noted the advisory.
In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Ridge used his official office to encourage
students to observe the "See You At The Pole" activities.
"Students in Pennsylvania and across the country too often face
violence in their schools -- a place where they should feel safe and
secure," said Ridge in a statement released by his office on Monday.
"It is my hope that this moment of prayer will help to enable our kids
to join with their classmates to reject violence by embracing their
different faiths -- and their universal teachings of love and respect
for each other and themselves."
In other places, turnout for the event seemed minuscule. In San
Antonio, Texas, 80 students and seven teachers gathered around the
flagpole at a middle school. According to the San Antonio
Express-News, teachers joined in a prayer circle but remained silent.
"School district guidelines prohibit teachers from 'participating' in
the flagpole ceremony," noted the paper.
Critics charge that the annual SYATP event is designed to proselytize
students and intermingle public schools with religious activities.
But supporters, including evangelist Pat Robertson's American Center
for Law and Justice, defend the annual gathering and say that it is a
form of protected free speech which is initiated by students.
But is that really the case? American Atheists has charged that the
"See You At The Pole" event is really an extension of off-campus
religious activity organized by adults and adult religious groups.
SYATP is coordinated by the National Network of Youth Ministries, and
has the support of dozens of (adult) religious groups. They include
Assemblies of God, Brio Magazine (James Dobson), Campus Crusade for
Christ, Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network, Christian
Legal Society, Concerned Women for America, Focus on the Family, Moody
Broadcasting, National legal Foundation, Pentecostal Church of God,
the Presbyterian Church, Rutherford Institute (defended Paula Jones),
Salvation Army, Southern Baptist Convention, Trinity broadcasting
Network, Vision 2000, and United Methodist Renewal Ministries.
Despite the "adult connection," the SYATP event is constitutionally
permissible.
"It's a volatile situation, though," warns American Atheists President
Ellen Johnson. "These youngsters are being used by off-campus
religious groups to proselytize in the schools." Johnson added that
excited student "prayer warriors" could get carried away, and begin
harassing fellow students or insisting that they, too, participate in
religious activities. "There's also the threat that teachers or
school administrators could be perceived as supporting this type of
religious activity," Johnson added.
**
MICHIGAN ATHEISTS TO CELEBRATE EQUINOX ON SUNDAY...
The Autumn Equinox is as good an excuse as any to hold a good party
... so, gather this Sunday, September 19 in Westland, Michigan
(outside Detroit). The action will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00
p.m. at Henry Morgan's house. Hot dogs, beans, condiments, paper and
plastic utensils will be provided. Bring any other food or drink you
want for yourself or to share with others. Henry adds, come for good
food, company and the camaraderie of fellow atheists -- and bring a
lawn chair, too.
Call Henry at 1-734-326-5794 or e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for further
information and directions.
**
UNION COUNTY, N.J. ATHEISTS ORGANIZING
Atheists in the Newark, N.J. and Union County area are invited to
gatherings hosted by the new UNION COUNTY ATHEISTS group. Gather at
the new meeting place, University Diner which is right next to Kean
University at 580 Elmora Avenue, Elizabeth, N.J. , every Sunday at
11:00 a.m. Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit
http://www.angelfire.com/nj2/atheists for further information.
**
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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