The Church of England owes Charles Darwin an apology for misunderstanding his theory of evolution and making errors over its reaction to it, a senior clergyman said today.In a bid to recognize its faults in the run up to next year’s 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth, the church has launched a series of articles on its website.An essay by the Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, the church’s head of public affairs, called Good Religion Needs Good Science directly addresses Darwin. It concludes: “We try to practice the old virtues of ‘faith seeking understanding’ and hope that makes some amends. But the struggle for your reputation is not over yet, and the problem is not just your religious opponents but those who falsely claim you in support of their own interests.”Good religion needs to work constructively with good science ? and I dare to suggest that the opposite may be true as well.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/15/anglicanism.evolutionHe had me until that last part — good science needs to ignore religion completely.

Just to let y’all know the blog and the web site will be changing in the next couple of months. Even if you only browse by every now and then, you will shortly see vast improvements in the NGB, the Atheists.org and magazine web sites. More functionality, better user interface, more information. It’s all coming. Please stand by…

In April I was named the South Florida Regional Director for AA and I am President of a rather new, but rapidly growing local group called FLorida Atheists and Secular Humanists (FLASH) with 4 locations around South Fla.We are trying a fund raising raffle to fund our public science education events (Darwin Day and Carl Sagan Day). It would be a great help if it could be mentioned on the “what’s new” section of AA’s website and even in the magazine. We are only selling 250 tickets at $50 each. The trip include RT air to Ecuador, hotel, transfers, Galapagos park fees and 5 days on a large yacht. details and tickets are available at http://www.freethoughtflorida.com/cruise.htmlThank you for your time,Ken Loukinen, South Florida Regional Director, American AtheistsPresident, FLorida Atheists and Secular Humanists

URBANA, Ill. (AP) ? A Catholic priest on the University of Illinois campus has been charged with selling cocaine from his church office and rectory.The Reverend Christopher Layden pleaded not guilty Thursday to two counts of delivery of less than 1 gram of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church and one count of possession with intent to deliver 1 to 15 grams of cocaine near a church.The 33-year-old was arrested Wednesday at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center after investigators found 3 grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia while searching his home and office. His bond was set at $50,000.The Catholic Diocese of Peoria says it has suspended Layden.His attorney, Mark D. Lipton, did not immediately respond to an after hours message seeking comment.

What happens when you bend over to toot your coke from your priest? It’s just too easy.Those silly Catholics, with their rape and drugs and deviant sexual behavior. If only they had a moral compass like us Atheists. If only they knew that saying “I’m sorry” to an invisible man in the sky was NOT the same as actually refraining from doing it again. And again. And again.BUT those crimes (selling in/near a church) are bogus to begin with. Why is selling near a church considered worse than selling in an office building — like selling near a school? A crime is a crime, church or no church.But now, Father snorts-a-lot will pay for the crime anyway. At least his god forgives him.

Ladies and gentlemen,As the National Spokesperson for American Atheists, I am proud to introduce our new President, Dr. Ed Buckner.Many of you who are active in the movement will know of Dr. Buckner’s accomplishments, originating in the Atlanta Chapter of the Society of Separationists (then an American Atheists affiliated corporation), helping to grow the Atlanta Freethought Society through its formative years, and then most recently serving as the Executive Director of the Counsel for Secular Humanism.A hardcore Atheist, Dr. Buckner has written, spoken, debated, and appeared often in the media, both locally and nationally. He has been on MSNBC, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, Fox News, the Michael Medved Show, CNN, the national CBS Radio News, NPR, and on nearly every local media outlet (radio or television) in the Atlanta and Buffalo areas, most repeatedly. He’s been quoted, sometimes at length, in newspapers all over the nation and, occasionally, elsewhere in the world, been a featured guest on many Internet broadcast shows, and given the keynote address for Atheists Alliance International. Dr Buckner has debated or spoken in Alabama, California, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and a few times outside the U.S. He earned a doctorate (1983) and M.Ed. (1975) from Georgia State University; B.A., English, Rice University, 1967.We had a FANTASTIC response from world-class atheist leaders for this position, and on behalf of the Board of Directors I thank every applicant.Please help me welcome Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists!Ed’s first official statement follows:

Dear American Atheists Members, Volunteers, and Supporters,I?m deeply honored to have been named as President of American Atheists by the Board. I?m determined to show all of you, in due course, that the Board, which had an important but difficult decision, was wise to choose me. I don?t know all the details of who else applied, but I know enough to know that the list of applicants included many Atheists of the first order, men and women of great promise, intelligence, creativity, and accomplishment, including leaders from within American Atheists and from beyond. While this makes me even prouder of being chosen, it also puts great pressure on me to work hard.I promise?1. I will put American Atheists and her members first.2. The many other leaders and supporters of the group who make themselves available to help, with advice or work or financial contributions, will be welcomed and encouraged.3. Communication will be a top priority, especially with Atheists wise and strong enough to be card-carrying members. The excellent blog that David Silverman edits will be a major part of that?I will read and take seriously what all of you choose to say there. I will at least occasionally contribute to the comments, always openly and under my own name. The American Atheist web-site will, with the help of many, be kept up to date.4. American Atheists will remain true to its proud heritage as the vanguard of American atheism and religious liberty; we have always been the most forthright, unabashed, unapologetic, confident people in this nation who have no religion, and that will continue.5. American Atheists will openly cooperate with and support other groups, local, national, or international, to the extent that doing so will serve the interests of our philosophy and our members. The only exceptions to this promise will come where there are conflicts with # 4, above. 6. If a local group of American Atheists anywhere in this nation wants me or some other official representative of the organization to visit, to speak or to debate against some bombastic preacher or condescending media personality, we will do everything we can to fulfill that want.7. If a newspaper, radio program, TV program, or Internet show anywhere in this nation invites me or some other official representative of the organization to speak or to debate against some religious leader, we will do everything we can to fulfill that invitation.8. The Center in Cranford New Jersey, including our fine library, will be protected and enhanced to improve its usefulness to members and to future Atheists.I?m not Frank Zindler or Ellen Johnson or Jon Murray or Madalyn Murray O?Hair, and I won?t pretend to be?but I hope to demonstrate that the best days of American Atheists are ahead, not historical. I?m grateful, and I think all of us should be profoundly grateful, to our previous leaders, who have stood strongly and proudly for us, helping us protect our rights, our reputations, and our freedom. All of them have demonstrated wonderful creativity, wit and humor, extraordinary intelligence, and profound courage on our behalf.Anyone who wants to know more about me can send me an e-mail message and I?ll send you a copy of what I submitted to the board when I applied.I invite you to hold me accountable.Sincerely,Ed BucknerPresident,American Atheists, Inc.ebuckner@atheists.org

Ed on the tube last fall: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/water-battle-of-biblical-proportions/808360178