-Caveat Lector-
from: AMERICAN ATHEISTS
subject: AANEWS for June 13, 1999
A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
AANEWS
#588 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6/13/99
http://www.atheists.org
ftp.atheists.org/pub/atheists/
http://www.americanatheist.org
---------------------------------------------
A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS
"Leading The Way For Atheist Civil Rights
And The Separation Of State and Church"
----------------------------------------------
In This Issue...
* Christians want boycott of military over witchcraft
* American Atheists to demonstrate in Detroit
* Move to remove "god" reference stirs controversy in Canada
* Resources
* About this list...
RELIGIOUS GROUPS URGING BOYCOTT OF ARMY OVER WICCANS
A coalition of religious conservative has called upon Christians to
boycott the U.S. Army until the Pentagon bans Wiccans and Satanists
from all installations. Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress Association
charged that tolerating meetings of witches at military bases was "a
direct assault on the Christian faith that generations of American
soldiers have fought and died for."
"Until the Army withdraws all official support and approval from
witchcraft, no Christian should enlist or reenlist in the Army, and
Christian parents should not allow their children to join the Army,"
Weyrich said. "An Army that sponsors satanic rituals is unworthy of
representing the United States of America."
Weyrich and others were reacting to news reports that witches, or
Wiccan groups, have been permitted to hold religious rituals at Fort
Hood, Texas, the nation's largest military base. A story last month
in the Austin American-Statesman included photographs of members of a
local congregation jumping through fire and calling upon the "Great
goddess Freya." There are reportedly more than 40 male and female
witches of the Ft. Hood Open Circle on active duty at the
installation; three years ago, base officials recognized Wicca as a
legitimate religion, and provided space for the pagan rituals.
Col. Jerome Haberek, head chaplain at Ft. Hood and a Roman Catholic
priest, told the paper that the base "worked hard to understand and
accommodate the Wiccans."
News about the Wiccan activities reached Rep. Bob Barr, a staunch
Christian conservative, who sent a letter to Ft. Hood commander Lt.
Gen. Leon LaPorte insisting that he "stop this nonsense now" and
close down the Open Circle. "What's next?" asked Barr. "Will
Rastafarians demand the inclusion of ritualistic marijuana cigarettes
in their rations?" The congressman added that the presence of witches
at a military base would affect national security and combat
readiness, and referred to unspecified "detrimental effects on our
society." Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Waco), a Christian who represents the
area of Ft. Hood, countered by saying that he had "serious
differences with the philosophy and practice of Wicca," but warned
that it would be a "terrible policy to require each installation
commander to define what is a religion and decide which religions can
be practiced by American citizens."
Christian Coalition, Others Balk At Boycott
Early reports identified 13 Christian conservative groups organizing
the boycott, including Christian Coalition, Traditional Values
Coalition, Christian Action Network, Religious Freedom Coalition, Home
School Legal Defense Association, American Association of Christian
Schools, I Love Jesus Worldwide Ministries, the Madison Project, 60
Plus, American Council for Immigration Reform, along with Tradition,
Family, Property, Inc. and the American Family Association. But on
Wednesday, as Mr. Weyrich and his group was encouraging support for
the move, some groups were having second thoughts, and even took issue
with the tactic of urging the Army to bar the Wiccans. Marc Levin of
the American Freedom Institute warned, "This brings back the specter
of the Salem witch trials. In addition to being wrongheaded,
conservative calls for a boycott of the military are politically
suicidal." He added that "Support for the military is a bedrock
conservative principle."
The American Family Association then withdrew its support for the
boycott. Pat Trueman of AFA told the Austin American-Stateman, "We
were totally blindsided by this." Other groups began lining up on the
issue. William S. Lind of the Center for Cultural Conservatism
opined that while his group opposes government intervention in
religious practices, "Some things should be discriminated against.
All religions are not equal. Satan should be discriminated
against..."
While Wiccans deny that they worship the devil, the U.S. military
chaplain's handbook includes details on memorial services for
personnel in the Church of Satan.
Yesterday, news reports announced that Christian Coalition would not
be urging its 2.1 million members to participate in the boycott.
Spokeswoman Molly Clatworthy told the Statesman that the group
"doesn't tell its members what to do on personal issues of faith," but
added that, "As individuals, Christian Coalition members may support
this boycott." Paul Weyrich responded to the defections by saying,
"We held a coalition meeting, laid out our game plan and asked people
to sign on. A couple of these groups either misunderstood what was
being advocated or got cold feet."
The "Problem" And The RLPA Solution?
John Machate of the Military Pagan Network told the Dallas Morning
News that the boycott was "a direct attack on the Constitution of the
United States," and violated freedom of religion. Ironically, many of
the organizations involved in the boycott -- or others which may be
sympathetic toward it -- have advocated so-called "religious liberty"
legislation, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)
and the federal Religious Liberty Protection Act (RLPA). Those
measures would require that governments adhere to a "compelling
interest/least restrictive means" test when dealing with faith-based
practices or organizations; critics charge, though, that RLPA and
similar laws give preferential treatment to organized religion.
One problem RLPA supporters, including Christian conservatives like
Rep. Barr, encounter, though, is when the issue of "religious
liberty" applies to sects or religious philosophies frowned upon by
fundamentalists and evangelicals. RLPA and RFRA could make it even
more difficult to discriminate against a Wiccan group, or some other
non-mainstream religious organization.
But Wiccans may have sufficient legal protection without RLPA and the
dangerous precedents that legislation -- now under consideration on
capitol hill -- might generate. By allowing Christians, Jews and
Moslems on military bases, the government must tolerate all religious
(and non-religious) groups, including ones which do not meet with
approval from Rep. Barr or Paul Weyrich's coalition. Mr. Machate
noted, "All religions are protected, not just those that Congress, the
president or Supreme Court determine... All religions are and should
be permitted free practice on military bases, within reasonable
limits."
So far, says Machate, six U.S. military installations sanction the
peaceful rituals and meetings of Wiccan groups.
**
AMERICAN ATHEISTS TO PROTEST PROMISE KEEPERS "SOLEMN
ASSEMBLY," SATURDAY, JUNE 26 IN DETROIT
American Atheists will hold a peaceful protest at the Promise Keepers
rally in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, June 26, 1999. The
demonstration will take place outside the Joe Louis Arena, from 10:00
a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Appropriate signs and banners will be provided in
keeping with the theme of this demonstration, and members and
supporters of American Atheists are cordially invited.
We'll meet on the ground level sidewalk across the street from the
main entrance ticket office, ground level. This is a peaceful
demonstration, which emphasizes the American Atheist opposition to the
Promise Keepers agenda, and a defense of atheist civil rights and
First Amendment separation of church and state.
Parking is available at the Joe Louis Parking Garage, or the nearby
Cobo Hall parking facility. Expect to pay an hourly rate. After the
picket, we will gather at a nearby restaurant -- details at the
picketing.
Visit the Michigan Atheists web site at
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/affilmic.htm for more information,
or contact AA State Director Henry Morgan through [EMAIL PROTECTED],
or (734)-326-5794. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, June
26th in Detroit!
**
PETITION TO REMOVE "GOD' REFERENCE SPARKS FUROR IN
CANADIAN CHURCH-STATE DEBATE
A petition with over 1,000 names urging the Canadian government to
remove references in the constitution to a deity sparked everything
from debate to catcalls last week when it was presented in Parliament
by New Democratic Party MP Svend Robinson. Drafted by the Humanist
Association of Canada, it calls upon the state to amend a section of
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which declares that the country "is
founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the
rule of law." The petition reads:
TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
"We, the undersigned citizens (or residents) of Canada, draw the
attention of the House to the following:
THAT the section of the Preamble to Canada's Charter of Rights and
Freedoms (Constitution Act, 1982) that reads: Whereas Canada is
founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God ... is a
discriminatory reference and offensive to millions of Canadians who
are non-Christians or non-religious.
THAT each incident that discriminates against non-Christian or
non-religious Canadians due to government-endorsed religious reference
or exercise, harms the public in general, in that such preferential
endorsement by the government belies the whole intent and purpose of
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
THAT this basis for discrimination against all non-Christian and
non-religious Canadians would be greatly alleviated if the following
legislative measures were taken.
THEREFORE, your petitioners call upon Parliament to enact legislation
to change the Preamble to Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms
from: "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the
supremacy of God and the rule of law" to read: Whereas Canada is
founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of intellectual
freedom and the rule of law, AND that Section 2(a) of the Fundamental
Freedoms be changed from: "freedom f conscience and religion" to read:
freedom of conscience, and both freedom of and freedom from religion."
The groups notes that originally, there was no mention of "god" in the
preamble until a Member of Parliament, responding to pressure from
evangelical organizations, pushed for its inclusion. Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau (ca. 1982) observed, "God couldn't care less if it was
in or not..."
MP Robinson said that he did not personally support the petition's
amendment, but added that he submitted it as a courtesy to his
constituents.
Religious Groups Retaliate
Robinson submitted or "tabled" the petition before the House of
Commons last Tuesday, and was immediately criticized. Reform Party
House Leader Randy White told the Canadian National Post newspaper
that he had tried unsuccessfully to extract a promise from the Liberal
government that it would not remove any references to god from the
Charter. Echoing American culture warriors, White asked, "What do we
stand for any more? Where are the morals? Where are the values?" He
added, "Every time you turn around, you see this Liberal government
slipping lower and lower into the gutters of the country..."
White also attacked other Liberal policies such as ending the
recitation of the Lord's Prayer from official proceedings, lowering
the age of sexual consent, and ordering that a memorial service for
victims of an airline tragedy in Canada not include any references
from the Bible. "You have to take this seriously," White told
reporters. "We cannot just sit back and allow these guys to lower the
morality levels of this country without saying something..."
Editorials in Canadian newspapers also denounced MP Robinson and the
petition. After noting the disintegration of the old British empire
and how the country's "martial history" has been replaced "with
peacekeeping revisionism," the unidentified writer for the National
Post added: "Considering such changes, is it really surprising the
last bulwark of Western tradition -- a deferential not to God in our
Constitution -- is now being assaulted by fashionable politicians?"
The paper also blasted "atheist fundamentalists," and noted that the
god-reference "is sufficiently broad to include Christians, Jews and
Muslims alike ... the particular denomination is the basic
acknowledgment that there is some being supreme to Man, and some
lawmaker more authoritative than any politician or judge." The Post
also claimed, "Attacking God flouts the sensibilities of Canadians and
the history of the NDP -- Reverend Tommy Douglas built his socialist
party on Jesus' example..."
Some newsgroups and internet postings inaccurately reported that MP
Robinson was an "atheist politician," which is he is not. Calling
himself "only the messenger," Robinson told media, "When I am
approached by constituents to present a petition that raises a serious
issue, I certainly do so... I was not involved in drafting the
petition and it's not wording that I particularly support." He added
that he has already been approached by other members of his district
who are launching petitions to keep the "god" reference in the
Charter. "I have said I would be pleased to present that petition,"
declared Robinson.
Also speaking out against any change were groups like Chinese
Christians in Action and the British Columbia Moslem Association; both
organizations are circulating keep-god petitions to their respective
religious followers. Bill Chu of CCA told the Canadian Broadcasting
Service on Monday that those seeking to change the Charter wording
were "trying to make everything so relative that nobody can argue
what's right and wrong anymore." MP Robinson responded, "Canada is a
secular country. That's not to deny the deep importance of
spirituality and religious faith to many folks in Canada, but when
Bill Chu says for example, and he said 'we are a Christian country,'
Canada is a country of many different religious faiths, and a country
in which there are folks who have the right to express no religious
beliefs, and that's what this petition would seek to ensure."
Even the New Democrats distanced themselves from Mr. Robinson and the
petition. On Wednesday, Alexsia McDonough, senior NDP leader,
reprimanded Robinson for introducing a measure "which was not the
position of the party."
"He (Robinson) was advancing a position that was immensely
controversial and rejected by the party," said McDonough, "and we felt
that it was very important to both make clear that this is not the
position of the party... He has been reprimanded and it is very much
our desire to move on." Party officials also criticized Robinson for
presenting the petition in conjunction with a television appearance,
which generated a tidal wave of media curiosity. Nelson Riis, also an
NDP Member, described the petition as "absolutely stupid," and
characterized Robinson's move as "disgusting" and reflecting "poor
political judgment."
Ms.McDonough rose before the news cameras and House to declare,
"Today, together with my NDP caucus, I reaffirm our party's continuing
support for the inclusion in Canada's Constitution of the preamble
referring to the supremacy of God."
Others rose in support of McDonough, including Progressive
Conservative MP Elsie Wayne who insisted, "This country has been going
in the wrong direction for a long time, and for the first time in 132
years you can't say the Lord's Prayer in the House of Commons. This
country was built on good moral, Christian values." Wayne ominously
warned, "You open the door to all the different cultures, you ask them
to come in, you welcome them here. But when you go to someone else's
country, you don't ask them to change their believe because you've
come to their country."
News reports say that no action is expected on the petition.
**
RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS...
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articles from the current or back issues, as well as special web-only
features. Visit us at http://www.americanatheist.org
* If you are a current member of American Atheists, sign up for our
e-mail discussion group, aachat. We have over 120 participants who
discuss topics such as Atheism, religion, First Amendment issues and
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