The president has promised to increase religion's influence on policymaking. He should honor the late Ann Dunham by strengthening the wall between church and state instead.
By Frances Kissling
May. 10, 2009
I have a wish for Mother's Day: I'd like our president to listen to his mother and adopt a modicum of skepticism regarding the role of religion in government. Barack Obama's own religious background, as he noted at the annual National Prayer Breakfast in early February, includes a father who was a Muslim and became an atheist, "grandparents who were non-practicing Methodists and Baptists, and a mother who was skeptical of religion." But I've watched with some alarm as the president engages in a full-court press to prove that Democrats can use religion just as inappropriately as Republicans. He seems hellbent on establishing in the West Wing of the White House a religious intrusion into public policy that would make Karl Rove proud.
Yes, it was a Democrat, Bill Clinton, who started it all. In his welfare reform bill, Clinton included an expanded opportunity for religious groups to win federal funds for social services without meeting standards for not discriminating in employment and not proselytizing the people they served. A Republican, the second President Bush, opened the gate wider. He established the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives. It was controversial, and it was, transparently, an effort to steer money toward the GOP's religious base, but it had only one task, which it pursued aggressively. It guided religious groups through the federal funding process and ensured that they got a share of federal and state monies.
complete at: http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/05/10/faith_based/index.html?source=newsletter
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Ten Commandments Bill passes OK House
Now might be a good time to bone up on persuasive arguments which Governor Henry might find moving enough to compel a veto of this bill. I'd recommend starting with this podcast.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Oklahoma Interfaith Day of Prayer and Reflection 2009
This year's Interfaith Day of Prayer and Reflection at the State Capitol was not overly crowded with hordes of interreligious ecumenicists, or really crowded in any sense at all. It was, however, filled with hope and permeated with the aroma of an ideological melting pot, bubbling over with a distinctly Americanized mélange. Where else in the world can you take in the wisdom of a Reverend, a Rabbi, an Imam, and a Priest, followed by a Sikh blessing, all in one sitting? This is a rhetorical question, of course, but it merits some reflection. Even today, few countries can boast such a degree of religious diversity, civil liberty, and socio-cultural toleration to pull this sort of thing off, and it is all to the credit of the Interfaith Alliance that they did so.
I was even more impressed than in previous years with the degree to which the interfaith ceremony explicitly endorsed our common commitment to religious liberty and freedom of conscience. This stands in sharp contrast to the ceremony held within the Capitol, at which religious and political leaders affirmed their dedication to One Nation Under God and took pains to exclude anyone unwilling to sign up to their creed.
Altogether, it was a very positive experience and certainly worth giving up lunch. See you guys again next year!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Greetings!
Partisan Politicking By Anti-Gay D.C. Clergy Could Result In Loss Of Tax Exemption, Says Americans United
Partisan Politicking By Anti-Gay D.C. Clergy Could Result In Loss Of Tax Exemption, Says Americans United
Church-State Watchdog Group Reminds Religious Leaders That Federal Tax Law Prohibits Election Intervention By Churches
May 6, 2009
A small band of clergy in Washington, D.C., yesterday threatened to mobilize politically and remove several members of the city council from office, prompting Americans United for Separation of Church and State to issue a reminder that church-based partisan politicking is illegal.
Anti-gay clergy are angry over a 12-1 vote by the District of Columbia Council recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states. The Washington Post reported that after the vote, a group of ministers “vowed that they will work to oust the members who supported the bill” and became so disruptive that police had to remove them.
“Religious leaders have the right to speak out for or against same-sex marriage, but they cannot use the resources of their churches to elect or defeat candidates,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Uniting houses of worship with partisan politics makes for a bad marriage and an unlawful one to boot.”
Lynn said Americans United will monitor the situation and will not hesitate to report churches to the Internal Revenue Service if they use their tax-exempt resources to intervene in any election by endorsing or opposing candidates.
Federal tax law says 501(c)(3) non-profit groups, including houses of worship, may not “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.”
Yet some ministers who attended the council meeting have vowed retaliation at the ballot box. The Washington Times reported that the Rev. Anthony Evans, an associate minister at Mount Zion Baptist Church, said of the 12 council members who supported the move, “Bottom line, they just kissed themselves goodbye.”
One minister reportedly even singled out a council member by name. “Catania first,” the Rev. Charlie Smith said of at-large Councilmember David Catania. “No matter what ward you’re in, you can vote Catania out.”
Americans United maintains a special effort called Project Fair Play, designed to educate clergy and the general public about the requirements of tax law. Since 1996, AU has reported 95 houses of worship and religious non-profits for violating the law.
In addition, the IRS has announced new efforts to make sure the no-politicking rule is followed. In 2008, the IRS issued a press release reminding churches that they may not intervene in partisan politics.
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
Church-State Watchdog Group Reminds Religious Leaders That Federal Tax Law Prohibits Election Intervention By Churches
May 6, 2009
A small band of clergy in Washington, D.C., yesterday threatened to mobilize politically and remove several members of the city council from office, prompting Americans United for Separation of Church and State to issue a reminder that church-based partisan politicking is illegal.
Anti-gay clergy are angry over a 12-1 vote by the District of Columbia Council recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states. The Washington Post reported that after the vote, a group of ministers “vowed that they will work to oust the members who supported the bill” and became so disruptive that police had to remove them.
“Religious leaders have the right to speak out for or against same-sex marriage, but they cannot use the resources of their churches to elect or defeat candidates,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Uniting houses of worship with partisan politics makes for a bad marriage and an unlawful one to boot.”
Lynn said Americans United will monitor the situation and will not hesitate to report churches to the Internal Revenue Service if they use their tax-exempt resources to intervene in any election by endorsing or opposing candidates.
Federal tax law says 501(c)(3) non-profit groups, including houses of worship, may not “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.”
Yet some ministers who attended the council meeting have vowed retaliation at the ballot box. The Washington Times reported that the Rev. Anthony Evans, an associate minister at Mount Zion Baptist Church, said of the 12 council members who supported the move, “Bottom line, they just kissed themselves goodbye.”
One minister reportedly even singled out a council member by name. “Catania first,” the Rev. Charlie Smith said of at-large Councilmember David Catania. “No matter what ward you’re in, you can vote Catania out.”
Americans United maintains a special effort called Project Fair Play, designed to educate clergy and the general public about the requirements of tax law. Since 1996, AU has reported 95 houses of worship and religious non-profits for violating the law.
In addition, the IRS has announced new efforts to make sure the no-politicking rule is followed. In 2008, the IRS issued a press release reminding churches that they may not intervene in partisan politics.
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
HR 397 (federal)
New action alert from www.secular.org on H.R. 397 now moving through the House in D.C.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Americans United Commends Obama For Discontinuing Religious Right-Focused Prayer Event At White House
President Will Sign Proclamation, But Won’t Hold White House Event
May 5, 2009
Americans United for Separation of Church and State today commended President Barack Obama for discontinuing an annual Religious Right-focused prayer service held during the previous eight years at the White House.
Obama has indicated that he will sign a proclamation recognizing the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, but that no special White House prayer service will be held.
This stands in contrast to the George W. Bush administration that invited James and Shirley Dobson and other Religious Right leaders to the White House for an annual government-sponsored prayer service. The relationship appeared to give governmental endorsement to the Dobsons’ National Day of Prayer Task Force, a private fundamentalist group that sponsors Christians-only prayer meetings around the country.
Read the full press release at au.org
Read more on why Americans do not need the National Day of Prayer
For more information, visit the AU Press Center.
Call (202) 466-3234—or email americansunited@au.org.
May 5, 2009
Americans United for Separation of Church and State today commended President Barack Obama for discontinuing an annual Religious Right-focused prayer service held during the previous eight years at the White House.
Obama has indicated that he will sign a proclamation recognizing the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, but that no special White House prayer service will be held.
This stands in contrast to the George W. Bush administration that invited James and Shirley Dobson and other Religious Right leaders to the White House for an annual government-sponsored prayer service. The relationship appeared to give governmental endorsement to the Dobsons’ National Day of Prayer Task Force, a private fundamentalist group that sponsors Christians-only prayer meetings around the country.
Read the full press release at au.org
Read more on why Americans do not need the National Day of Prayer
For more information, visit the AU Press Center.
Call (202) 466-3234—or email americansunited@au.org.
Monday, May 4, 2009
US soldiers acting as Christian missionaries
US soldiers told to act as Christian missionaries in Afghanistan --'Witness for Jesus' in Afghanistan
04 May 2009
US soldiers have been encouraged to spread the message of their Christian faith among Afghanistan's predominantly Muslim population, video footage obtained by Al Jazeera appears to show. Military chaplains stationed in the US air base at Bagram were also filmed with bibles printed in the country's main Pashto and Dari languages. In one recorded sermon, Lieutenant-Colonel Gary Hensley, the chief of the US military chaplains in Afghanistan, is seen telling soldiers that as followers of Jesus Christ, they all have a responsibility "to be witnesses for him". "The special forces guys - they hunt men basically. We do the same things as Christians, we hunt people for Jesus. We do, we hunt them down," he says. "Get the hound of heaven after them, so we get them into the kingdom. That's what we do, that's our business."
04 May 2009
US soldiers have been encouraged to spread the message of their Christian faith among Afghanistan's predominantly Muslim population, video footage obtained by Al Jazeera appears to show. Military chaplains stationed in the US air base at Bagram were also filmed with bibles printed in the country's main Pashto and Dari languages. In one recorded sermon, Lieutenant-Colonel Gary Hensley, the chief of the US military chaplains in Afghanistan, is seen telling soldiers that as followers of Jesus Christ, they all have a responsibility "to be witnesses for him". "The special forces guys - they hunt men basically. We do the same things as Christians, we hunt people for Jesus. We do, we hunt them down," he says. "Get the hound of heaven after them, so we get them into the kingdom. That's what we do, that's our business."
Saturday, May 2, 2009
"Pomp & Circumstance" Gowns & Mortarboards Students & Prayer?
Get Local
May 1, 2009
"Pomp & Circumstance"
Gowns & Mortarboards
Students & Prayer?
Graduation ceremonies should welcome all.
All students should feel welcome at their graduation. It is a time to celebrate each student's accomplishments, regardless of their religious beliefs. Unfortunately, there are always some school districts that violate church-state separation in their graduation ceremonies.
Last year, the New York Times ran a story about a graduation ceremony in Delaware, where a minister told the students that Jesus was the only way to the truth.
And this year, Americans United has filed a suit to block a Wisconsin public school district from holding graduation ceremonies in the sanctuary of an evangelical church. If you have friends or family members who will be graduating from a public high school this spring, please take a moment to find out about the ceremony.
Report suspect religious/public school events here.
Remember to specify or include:
Date of graduation
School - name and location
Graduation venue (with specific details about any visible religious iconography)
Prayer giver's name, position, and place within the program schedule
Copies of graduation programs
Info about past history of prayer and/or venue
Plans to attend the graduation ceremony
Report suspect religious/public school events here.
Too often, students are forced to decide whether to a) attend their graduation and listen to religious message to which they do not agree or b) skip their graduation and miss this important moment in their lives and the lives of their friends. That is not a choice any student should have to make.
~AU Field Department
For more information on how to get involved, please contact our Field Department.
Call (202)466-3234 or email auactivist@au.org.
Support events like this. Make a donation.
© 2009 Americans United for Separation of Church and State
May 1, 2009
"Pomp & Circumstance"
Gowns & Mortarboards
Students & Prayer?
Graduation ceremonies should welcome all.
All students should feel welcome at their graduation. It is a time to celebrate each student's accomplishments, regardless of their religious beliefs. Unfortunately, there are always some school districts that violate church-state separation in their graduation ceremonies.
Last year, the New York Times ran a story about a graduation ceremony in Delaware, where a minister told the students that Jesus was the only way to the truth.
And this year, Americans United has filed a suit to block a Wisconsin public school district from holding graduation ceremonies in the sanctuary of an evangelical church. If you have friends or family members who will be graduating from a public high school this spring, please take a moment to find out about the ceremony.
Report suspect religious/public school events here.
Remember to specify or include:
Date of graduation
School - name and location
Graduation venue (with specific details about any visible religious iconography)
Prayer giver's name, position, and place within the program schedule
Copies of graduation programs
Info about past history of prayer and/or venue
Plans to attend the graduation ceremony
Report suspect religious/public school events here.
Too often, students are forced to decide whether to a) attend their graduation and listen to religious message to which they do not agree or b) skip their graduation and miss this important moment in their lives and the lives of their friends. That is not a choice any student should have to make.
~AU Field Department
For more information on how to get involved, please contact our Field Department.
Call (202)466-3234 or email auactivist@au.org.
Support events like this. Make a donation.
© 2009 Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Friday, May 1, 2009
What is wrong with the National Day of Prayer?
Americans United does not believe the American people need to be called to prayer or worship by the government. Decisions like this are personal and should be left to the individual's conscience. This year’s event is May 7, and AU has compiled a list of resources to help you respond to the question, "What's wrong with the National Day of Prayer?"
Click here for background
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