ATHEISTS WELCOME, OPPOSE ELECTIONEERING SERMONS
Newswire Services
September 27, 2008
An Atheist civil rights group announced today that while it opposed a "Pulpit Initiative" by churches to openly endorse political candidates, the effort may encourage people to question the veracity of competing religious faiths.
According to Ed Buckner, new President of American Atheists, "The U.S.
Constitution cannot be subverted by a few greedy preachers determined to wantonly undermine it, as many have sworn to do this Sunday--28 September 2008 CE--during what they're calling a 'Pulpit Initiative.'
Their disdain for the rule of law and for the First Amendment is disgusting. The principle of separation of church and state, set forth in the First Amendment and consistently supported by every reasonable interpretation since Jefferson first put it into words as 'a wall of separation' in 1801, prohibits undue involvement of preachers in our political arena."
David Silverman, National Spokesperson for American Atheists, questioned the tax exempt status. "Why aren't they paying taxes in the first place?", noted Silverman, "There are more churches in this country than there are pizza parlors, and none of them pay property taxes, even if they do nothing to help the community at large. In this era of economic uncertainty, the public has the right to pay the lowest and fairest taxes possible, and I think we should start by taxing the churches."
Both Atheist representatives, though, pointed out a "pleasant upside" to Sunday's "Pulpit Initiative" that may prompt believers to question religious authorities.
"What happens when different churches and preachers end up quoting their holy books and citing 'God' as the basis of endorsing a religiously-correct political hopeful?" asked Mr. Silverman. "It seems that when it comes to supporting candidates, 'God' is very confused -- or maybe His followers are!"
AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.
According to Ed Buckner, new President of American Atheists, "The U.S.
Constitution cannot be subverted by a few greedy preachers determined to wantonly undermine it, as many have sworn to do this Sunday--28 September 2008 CE--during what they're calling a 'Pulpit Initiative.'
Their disdain for the rule of law and for the First Amendment is disgusting. The principle of separation of church and state, set forth in the First Amendment and consistently supported by every reasonable interpretation since Jefferson first put it into words as 'a wall of separation' in 1801, prohibits undue involvement of preachers in our political arena."
David Silverman, National Spokesperson for American Atheists, questioned the tax exempt status. "Why aren't they paying taxes in the first place?", noted Silverman, "There are more churches in this country than there are pizza parlors, and none of them pay property taxes, even if they do nothing to help the community at large. In this era of economic uncertainty, the public has the right to pay the lowest and fairest taxes possible, and I think we should start by taxing the churches."
Both Atheist representatives, though, pointed out a "pleasant upside" to Sunday's "Pulpit Initiative" that may prompt believers to question religious authorities.
"What happens when different churches and preachers end up quoting their holy books and citing 'God' as the basis of endorsing a religiously-correct political hopeful?" asked Mr. Silverman. "It seems that when it comes to supporting candidates, 'God' is very confused -- or maybe His followers are!"
AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.
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