AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.http://www.atheists.orghttp://www.americanatheist.orgFor more information, please contact:Ed Buckner, President (404) 423-2114Dave Silverman, Communications Director (732) 648-9333ATHEISTS WELCOME, OPPOSE ELECTIONEERING SERMONS 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 competingreligious faiths. According to Ed Buckner, new President of American Atheists, “The U.S.Constitution cannot be subverted by a few greedy preachers determined towantonly undermine it, as many have sworn to do this Sunday–28September 2008 CE–during what they’re calling a ‘Pulpit Initiative.’ Their disdain for the rule of law and for the First Amendment isdisgusting. The principle of separation of church and state, set forthin the First Amendment and consistently supported by every reasonableinterpretation since Jefferson first put it into words as ‘a wall ofseparation’ in 1801, prohibits undue involvement of preachers in ourpolitical arena.”David Silverman, National Spokesperson for American Atheists, questionedthe tax exempt status. “Why aren’t they paying taxes in the firstplace?”, noted Silverman, “There are more churches in this country thanthere are pizza parlors, and none of them pay property taxes, even ifthey do nothing to help the community at large. In this era of economicuncertainty, the public has the right to pay the lowest and fairesttaxes possible, and I think we should start by taxing the churches.”Both Atheist representatives, though, pointed out a “pleasant upside” toSunday’s “Pulpit Initiative” that may prompt believers to questionreligious authorities.”What happens when different churches and preachers end up quoting theirholy books and citing ‘God’ as the basis of endorsing areligiously-correct political hopeful?” asked Mr. Silverman. “It seemsthat 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 forAtheists; works for the total separation of church and state; andaddresses issues of First Amendment public policy.American Atheists, Inc.PO BOX 158Cranford, NJ 07016Tel.: (908) 276-7300Fax: (908) 276-7402
Churches and other religious institutions ought to be taxed whether or not their clergy endorse political candidates.
MERICAN ATHEISTS?
Who are they? They seem to have the same urls as AMERICAN ATHEISTS. Weird.
/pedantry
When PZ put up a post about Focus on the Family’s Pastor’s Pledge to promise to speak to their congregations about the election, yada yada, and sign up their churches, I signed up as Sister Sarah. (From the Clint Eastwood movie). My Church was St. Mattress of the Springs in Tick Bite, NC.
Many other Pharyngulites signed up too, many of which have since been detected and purged. But St. Mattress is still there, among others.
The way I see it, this Pulpit Initiative opens the door to IRS investigations, so have at it, folks. You wanna push the door open,don’t get mad when it hits you swinging back the other way.
What I would like to find is a case where two different churches publicly support two opponents. Then AA really could hold their toes to the fire. Who has the ear of God? Which one is praying harder or has the most faith?
DD
Liking it!
Tax a church? Insist on a “wall of separation between church and state”?
OK…someone tell me how that would honor the separation? Clearly you’ve proven the myth with these statements.
The concept of the government providing for the safety of churches (Tabernacle) is clearly explained in the book of Exodus.
Your hypocrisy is astounding. It was clear that the Dems violated your precious myth during their convention. Where were your words then?
Obama and Clinton got millions in ear marks for churches…and yet AA is silent…???
As for the myth being upheld since 1802…
You really should do more research…
Reynolds vs. United States 1878
Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, 143 U.S. 457 (1892)
Ed..by the way. It was 1802, not 1801.
phreedm
the democratic party is not the gov’t.
churchs need to focus on improving the quality of clergy,weed out the perverts,crooks and uneducated.you should consider becoming an atheist for some peace of mind don’t you get tired of defending scoundrels.
It was 1802, not 1801. –Ed Buckner
After vowing never to return, I found my comments posted across the globe today when I googled myself. Comments I made here. I guess my message would be, take heart, people are watching and listening.
That was my reason for returning, but while I’m here, having watched the invocation of the McCain rally, that it’s a contest between Jehovah and Vishna, and Allah as to who is the supreme imaginary deity, the “maverik” has become (poetic license) “pathetik”.
I still don’t want to argue with kindergarteners, I just wanted to brag that NeoWolfe is now global.
NeoWolfe