americanatheists

AMERICAN ATHEISTShttp://www.atheists.orgPope Demo Update 4/7/08 In this Update:* Texas demo details* Pope pickets in Washington, DC and NYC, NY. TEXAS DEMO TO SUPPORT PAPAL VISITPROTEST SLATED FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2008 Pope Benedict XVI isn’t coming to the Lone Star State as part of his U.S. tour, but American Atheists Texas State Director Joe Zamecki will be hosting a demonstration to speak out against the Vatican agenda. He’s posted a great video about this at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W5BIMsWm4w . Here’s the skinny from Joe on what’s slated for Austin, Texas: The Pope is coming to America for five days! We’ve got to take this rare opportunity to demonstrate against him and his church while he’s in America. As picket-worthy groups go, this is the big one, the most deserving one. We’re going to have a peaceful picket of a popular and very visible Catholic church here in Austin. The sidewalk is wide and unobstructed, the parking is free, this is in a very high visibility area that’s already been the site of a lot of picketing and other demonstrations over the years. I’ve already checked into the demonstration legalities of that location, and it’s simple. We don’t need a permit to picket peacefully on the sidewalk next to Guadalupe Street. That’s more than enough room. I will make sure that we give plenty of notice to the police, and get their blessing for the whole thing. They’re very demonstration-friendly police here. WHO: Joe Zamecki and other Texas Atheists WHAT: Pope Picket 2008, AustinWHERE: St. Austin’s Catholic Church, 2026 Guadalupe St., Austin TX 78705, on the Drag across the street from UT AustinWHY: To protest the huge number of harmful acts the Catholic Church is currently engaged in, in addition to the state/church violationsWHEN: Sunday, April 20, 2008 starting around 8:30am, and lasting as long as we can handle the bells which ring throughout the day. The objective is to be seen and heard by their congregants as they enter and leave that church. VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W5BIMsWm4w MORE INFO: We can meet up there, since it’s so easy to find, and parking meters in Austin are all free on Sundays. For more information about this Austin picket: jzamecki@atheists.org or visit http://www.atheists.org/tx .

The players: Dad. David Ryan, atheist. Plaintiff, represented by Ed Kagin of American Atheists. Mom. Susin Bisig, Catholic (That’s her in the photo, wrapping herself around the cross, it would appear.) Kid. Michael. The question: Where does Michael go to school, a Catholic School where both he and his mom want him to go, or to an academically equivalent public school, where his dad wants him to go?This is a case being decided in Kentucky and pertaining to state constitutional law regarding religion. The case was effectively decided several years ago when the same issue came up in grade school, and the judge sent the family away telling them to keep the kid in Catholic school and wait until high school to make this decision. Again, the usual gambit: The religion presumption, the religious fall back, the religious default.

The writer goes on to say this is why Atheists should not marry believers — a statement with which I wholeheartedly disagree. We can marry theists, but only the SANE ones, which I admit may not be the majority. The real issue is that when marrying theists, have a discussion about how you will raise your kids, and get nailed and firm, BEFORE you plan the wedding.