Americans United Urges Senate Armed Services Committee to Question McHugh On Religious Liberty Issues

Press Release

Nominee To Be Secretary Of The Army Has Poor Record On Church-State Issues, Says Watchdog Group

July 29, 2009


Americans United for Separation of Church and State today asked the Senate Armed Services Committee to question U.S. Rep. John M. McHugh about his views on religious liberty and the rights of religious minorities.

McHugh, who currently represents New York’s 23rd District in the House of Representatives, has been nominated by President Barack Obama to be the Secretary of the Army. His confirmation hearing is tomorrow.

Americans United says McHugh has a troubling record when it comes to separation of church and state.

Read the full press release at au.org

Americans United Commends Appellate Court Decision Against Bible Distribution In Mo. Public School

School-Sponsored Evangelism Is Wrong, Says AU’s Lynn
July 16, 2009

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today praised a federal appeals court decision barring Bible distribution in a Missouri public school district.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the South Iron R-1 School District may not allow distribution of Bibles to children in elementary school.

Americans United, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, hailed the ruling.

Read the full press release at au.org

No religious belief need be respected

Editor:

GOPer Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern's recent "morality proclamation" consists solely of religious divisiveness. The First Amendment requires our government--local, state and federal--to make no law respecting religion. ( http://tinyurl.com/lmhn5p )

No religious belief need be respected if it is advocating that certain citizens who have broken no law must be separated from their civil rights. Just because the religion has a dogmatic disagreement with other people who are NOT members of that religion is no reason gays/lesbians must be subjected to religious opprobrium and denial of the benefits and privileges that hetero people enjoy only because of the accident of their birth.

James Nimmo, Oklahoma City

Americans United Urges Senate Judiciary Committee to Ascertain Sotomayor's Views on Church-State Separation

Supreme Court Nominee’s Religious Liberty Decisions Are Few, Watchdog Group’s Report Says

July 9, 2009


Americans United for Separation of Church and State today reiterated its call for the Senate Judiciary Committee to question Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on issues relating to religious liberty and church-state separation.
The committee is scheduled to begin hearings on Sotomayor on Monday. In advance of that, Americans United has released a report listing Sotomayor’s rulings on church-state issues.


“Sotomayor’s church-state rulings are few in number,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “We need more information, and we’re relying on the Judiciary Committee to get it.”


Read the full press release at au.org

next meeting of our AU Chapter -- Wednesday, July 8th at 7 PM

Greetings fellow supporters of church/state separation.

I hope all is well with you and that you survived 4th of July festivities.

I wanted to remind you that the next meeting of our AU Chapter is set for this coming Wednesday, July 8th at 7 PM. We will meet in the same place and at the same time as our last meeting. Downtown Library, Will Rogers room at 7 PM.

The major goal of this meeting will be to confirm people who are willing to serve in elected positions in our Chapter. We came a long way on this at our last meeting, but we still need to firm things up in preparation for our annual meeting, which is fast approaching on 9-11-09. I spoke with Damion the other day and he said he would serve as treasurer. This is great news!

I have included the minutes of our last meeting for your review. Please look them over and bring questions or changes with you to the meeting.
I have also included the agenda for this upcoming meeting.
Hope to see you on the 8th.
Mike


AGENDA FOR MEETING ON JULY 8TH, 2009
Call to Order-Mike
Minutes for approval or correction-Mike
Brief report on checking account balance-Jim Huff
Review the organization chart: positions filled and vacancies-Mike
Preliminary plans for the annual meeting.-Mike
Next meeting date-Mike
Adjourn-Mike





MINUTES

CHAPTER BOARD MEETING Downtown Library Tuesday, June 9, 2009

7:00pm Will Rogers Room

Six participants in attendance.

Officers present : Mike Fuller, Jim Huff

Activists present : Jeanette Schreiber, James Nimmo, David Wrenn, Nick Singer,

►Call to order. Mike, President

Proposed agenda adopted with no additions.

►Financial Report. Jim H.

►Annual meeting update. Mike

Friday, September 11, 2009, “Ryan’s Buffet” 6500 SW 3rd OKC (off I-40 between Rockwell and Macarthur.

Agenda for the meeting will be developed including the election of four officers.

►The organizational chart of the Chapter was discussed. In addition to the 4 elected officers, there are 3 key committee chairs and approximately 8 network contacts needed. A total of approximately 15 persons are needed to fill organization charts key positions.

►Of the elected positions: *Janette has agreed to accept the role of president, *Mike has agreed to continue as vice president, secretary is vacant, *The nominees will be presented to the membership at the Annual Meeting for election to their offices.

►Jim Nimmo is willing to chair the Communications Committee.

David Wrenn has agreed to be the CONTACT PERSON for the Peace Festival and Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education.

Those willing to take a leadership role in the committees, projects, and networking structures will be nominated by the president and voted on by the elected officers.

►Jeanette and Nick will work on possible names for filling the various vacant positions and present the names at the July Chapter Board Meeting.



►Next meeting:

7:00p Wednesday, July 8th – Downtown Library.

8:00 Adjourned



Jim Huff

Secretary.