-Caveat Lector-
from: AMERICAN ATHEISTS
subject: AANEWS for June 21, 1999
A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
#595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6/21/99
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
* Columbine Commandments Madness? Death for disobedience...
* American Atheist Magazine poll
* Nebraska Gov. proclaims another religious recognition, Wiccans protest
* Let the Senate know that you oppose RLPA!
* TheistWatch: vouchers in Pennsylvania
* Resources
* About this list...
BEFORE YOU POST THOSE COMMANDMENTS... HAS THE
"COLUMBINE MADNESS" GONE TOO FAR ?
Rep. Robert Aderholt is elated. So is Pat Robertson of the Christian
Coalition; he terms it a "tremendous victory for people of faith."
And just about all that Janet Parshall of the Family Research Council
can say to the Washington Post is, well, "Wow!"
They are just some of the religious activists who are reacting to last
Thursday's historic votes in the House of Representatives, where
legislators approved wide sweeping measures that serious alter the
First Amendment separation of church and state. By wide margins,
congress approved measures to empower states to order the display of
the Ten Commandments in public schools and other government venues;
made it more difficult to take legal action against schools when
"student religious expression" is involved, even in unconstitutional
practices; and to permit memorial services and statues of a religious
nature in schools, presumably without violating the constitution.
None of these amendments will automatically clear the U.S. Senate,
nor would they necessarily pass muster in federal courts. But they do
typify a growing trend across the nation to interject religion into
the public square, and especially the nation's public schools. Most
observers admit that such amendments would not have enjoyed the degree
of congressional or even popular support they do prior to the April
20, 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.
Notes today's Washington Post, that tragedy "gave a core of committed
activists the momentum they needed to push legislation through the
House that would never have stood a chance otherwise..."
The Post adds that, "Not since the 1950s, when Congress added the
words 'under God' to the Pledge of Allegiance, have lawmakers tried to
insert religious symbols so directly into the public square."
Indeed, the "under God" change to the once-godless Pledge, came in the
midst of national hysteria over the cold war and Soviet subversions.
The legislative debate record of that time suggests that national
leaders saw public declarations of religious belief as a kind of
moral-armament against a creeping Communist menace. With the cold war
over, however, and other symbols of the confrontation between east and
west a crumbling memory -- much like the Berlin wall -- the shootings
at Columbine High have rejuvenated the debate over the role of
religion in the public square, and provided new symbols, martyrs and
cultural momentum for faith-based movements. The proof is in last
Thursday's vote tallies.
"I have people calling my office, elated that such a piece of
legislation could actually pass the House," Rep. Aderholt (R-ALA)
told the Post, referring to the overwhelming vote in favor of Ten
Commandments display. "It's been decades since Congress tried to
change our religious heritage."
"Until now, these (types of) proposals were thought of as deeply felt
but futile crusades of the Christian right," adds the paper.
But even before the Thursday vote, Christian evangelicals and
fundamentalists -- a community that generally stayed on the fringes of
social activism until it was gradually mobilized by Jerry Falwell and,
later, the Christian Coalition in the 1980s -- were openly displaying
their support of symbols which they saw as under attack by the wider
secular culture. Church congregations threw their assistance behind
Alabama county Judge Roy Moore, who defied orders that he remove a
hand-carved copy of the Decalogue he displayed openly in his courtroom
above his dais. When Moore announced that he would face jail before
removing the Commandments or stop the Baptist invocation which often
preceded court business, he became a hero to everyone from the
Christian Coalition and Southern Baptist Convention, to then-Alabama
Gov. Fob James. James went on to declare that he would call out the
state guard, police, and even the University of Alabama football team
to resist any "federal" order attempting to stop Moore from displaying
the commandments, or even public school youngsters trying to pray in
class or at official athletic events.
Columbine has fueled those passions, especially since it has provided
religious believers with an authentic modern Christian martyr, Cassie
Bernall. A legend has already been established about Bernall -- no
one knows for sure how true it might be -- that moments before being
shot by one of the two high school gunman, she was asked if she
believed in god. When she responded that she did, she was killed --
ostensibly, a champion for her faith. It's one reason why Rep. Tom
Tancredo (R-Colo.) pushed his successful amendment which allows
religious memorial and services in schools. "People realized it's not
their 401(l)s and the stock market, but family and faith in God that
are really important," he declared. As for the wave of objections to
erecting any religious symbols in a permanent Columbine monument,
Tancredo describes that debate as "idiotic," and insists, "When we are
desperate to strip away every degree of religiosity, we pay the price
with things like Columbine." Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga.) suggested that
the tragic shootings at Littleton which claimed the lives of 14
students and one teacher, might not have occurred had the Commandments
been displayed on school grounds. Tancredo adds that the two gunmen,
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, didn't need psychological therapist
"but an exorcist."
As for the amendment which ends recovery of plaintiff's fees in
successful First Amendment cases which might challenge coercive school
prayer or other unconstitutional and illegal practices, Tancredo told
the Washington Post, "The opponents go, 'This will have a chilling
effect on those kinds of suits,' and I'm thinking 'great,' "
Back at Columbine High School, the debate over including religious
symbols as part of a permanent memorial to the victims rages on. Over
100 ideas have been submitted to the Foothills Parks and Recreation
District, which does not yet even have a formal budget for any design
and construction. Opinion seems to favor a permanent monument in
Clement Park, which is the site of a makeshift memorial that sprang up
next to Columbine High just hours after the shooting. At one time,
fifteen wooden crosses were erected, but squabbling quickly erupted
and two of the crosses -- supposedly to honor the lost lives of Harris
and Klebold -- were removed.
Most of the designs acknowledge only 13 victims. One for instance
calls for an enormous bronze bell that would sound 13 times a year on
April 20. It would be surrounded by thirteen concrete pillars linked
with a bronze ribbon, and thirteen doves. Other ideas suggest a
sobbing angel draped over a tombstone, or an ensemble of 13 marble
benches framing a stained-glass window. The final design is to be
approved by a committee of over two dozen local citizens, but
religious content is sure to be one of the hotly debated topics,
especially if public monies are used.
And what about those commandments? Bible literalists especially might
want to think twice about recommending that youngsters be
indoctrinated in the Decalogue, especially in light of the biblical
penalties for breaking any commandments. They include:
* "He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall
be utterly destroyed." (Exodus 22:20).
* "And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be
put to death." (Leviticus 24:16).
"Whosoever shall work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to
death." (Exodus 31:15).
* "And he that smitheth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put
to death." (Exodus 21:15).
* "And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put
to death." (Exodus 21:17).
* "Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death."
(Exodus 22:19).
* "If a man lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them
have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death."
(Leviticus 20:13).
* "And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, the
adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death." (Leviticus
20:10).
* "He that believeth not, shall be damned." (Mark 16:16).
* "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If you will
not hear, if ye will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name ...
Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces."
(Malachi 2:1-4).
**
GOVERNMENT AID TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS -- WHAT'S
YOUR OPINION?
The U.S. Supreme Court has announced that it will review a
controversial Louisiana case which challenges government aid to
parochial schools. A decision is expected next year -- and it could
open the door for more taxpayer funding of religion. What's your
opinion on this important First Amendment topic?
The new American Atheists Magazine on-line poll wants to know. Pay us
a visit at http://www.americanatheist.org, get the background on this
subject, answer our polling questions and leave your opinion for
others to read. But hurry ... the voting ends this coming Wednesday,
June 23.
**
NEBRASKA GOVERNOR DECLARES "BIBLE DAY," REFUSES
SUMMER SOLSTICE PROCLAMATION
Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns has again crossed the line of state-church
separation after declaring last Thursday, June 17 as "Back to the
Bible Day," in honor of the anniversary of a radio ministry based in
Lincoln. At a ceremony at the group's international headquarters,
Johanns "congratulated the organization on its anniversary and for
establishing an international presence that helps teach the Bible to
millions," noted the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper.
Johanns has already raised concerns over First Amendment separation in
the Cornhusker state by declaring May 22 as "March for Jesus Day."
The Governor said that he would sign other proclamations for religious
events he agreed with, but not for others.
On Sunday, nearly 100 local Wiccans gathered at the Capitol Rotunda to
celebrate Earth Religion Awareness Day. The event was organized by a
group calling itself the Order of the Red Grail, which had asked
Johanns for a similar proclamation, but was turned down. The
gathering was addressed by a local Jewish Cantor, who read Martin
Niemoller's famous poem about Nazi intolerance that begins, "In
Germany they came first for the Communists, but I did not speak up
because I was not a Communist..."
"These words should be a guide to our governor," declared Michael
Weisser of the local South Street Temple. "We have religious
intolerance in the Statehouse, and silence is tantamount to
permission," he added. A member of another local Wiccan group then
declared, "I hope the governor listens, because we aren't such bad
people. We're like everybody else."
Though not as high-profile as other issues such as school prayer, the
issuing of official proclamations to recognize religious events and
movements is rapidly becoming a feature of the culture wars. Johanns
has issued proclamations while Governor and Mayor Lincoln. In May,
controversy arose over the decree that National Day of Prayer be
acknowledge. Only Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura openly declared
that he would not sign a proclamation for that event.
**
LET THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE KNOW THAT YOU OPPOSE
THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY PROTECTION ACT !
This week, American Atheists President Ellen Johnson will be in
Washington, D.C. to speak out against the Religious Liberty
Protection Act (RLPA). Ms. Johnson plans to personally deliver
letters in opposition to this "special rights" legislation to the
Senate Judiciary Committee. American Atheists is urging atheists and
state-church separationists to learn more about this legislation, and
sign a letter to the SJC opposing its passage. You can "sign" this
letter on-line; a copy will be delivered by Ms. Johnson this week --
if hearings are held as expected -- or at another appropriate time in
the future. Visit http://www.atheists.org/action/rlpa.html for more
information.
**
THEISTWATCH SHORT SHOTS
In Pennsylvania, the legislature has turned back a voucher plan
hatched by Gov. Tom Ridge that would have been one of the broadest in
the country, and more extensive than any other
aid-to-religious-schools scheme currently proposed. The Philadelphia
Inquirer newspaper noted, "Ridge and his most powerful allies,
especially the Catholic Church, wanted a bill that would have been
more encompassing than any other existing program." It would have
even covered families who already send their children to Roman
Catholic Schools.
Several factors killed the legislation, including the Governor's
refusal to push a new academic standards testing plan. Private
schools which benefit from voucher money could have opted out of the
tests, and even school districts -- if they promoted their own voucher
schemes -- could have filed for an exemption as well. Critics say
that this and other flaws betrayed the lack of a "coherent policy" in
the Ridge administration.
A broadcast by Fox Channel 5 in Philadelphia revealed that for the
Parochial schools, vouchers are a "godsend." A number of Catholic
schools have closed over the last decade, and public vouchers are
perceived as a way of rejuvenating the system. Parochial schools
would stay opertional, noted the news cast, if the voucher plan is put
into effect.
Another problem with the Ridge proposal was that, unlike even the new
voucher plan in Florida, the Pennsylvania experiment would have
allowed private and religious schools to discriminate against students
on the basis of religious affiliation and academic performance.
Critics charged that this gave the voucher schools an exemption from
anti-discrimination laws, and permitted them to "skim the cream" of
better-performing students.
Finally, it is worth noting that Gov. Ridge is eyeing a
vice-presidential spot on the Republican ticket in 2000, especially if
Texas Gov. George W. Bush -- another voucher enthusiast -- wins the
top slot nomination.
**
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