Freethought Today

Vol. 23 No. 7 - Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. -
September 2006

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Theocracy Alert

Congress Buys San Diego Cross

Pres. George W. Bush on Aug. 14 signed a bill rushed into law by Congress to seize city property in San Diego bearing a 43-foot-tall cross and base.

The Mt. Soledad Easter cross, erected in 1954, was first challenged in 1989. Plaintiff Philip Paulson (who will receive the premiere "Atheist in Foxhole" Award at the upcoming FFRF convention) won the lawsuit in federal court in 1991. Since then, removal of the cross has been thwarted by various machinations, including three referenda to divest the cross and land to prearranged buyers in order to "save" the cross.

In response to an Aug. 1 federal court deadline to remove the cross, the U.S. House on July 19 voted 349 to 74 to give control of the cross and land under it to the Department of Defense. On Aug. 1, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to approve the court-stripping measure.

In early July, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy issued a stay, permitting supporters of the cross to continue the legal fight.

Paulson, and new additional plaintiff Steve Trunk, have already filed a challenge of the congressional act. Both plaintiffs are members of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Vietnam veterans. Although the display was known as the "Easter Cross," supporters dubbed it a "war memorial" as soon as the lawsuit was filed.

U.S. District Court Judge Barry Moskowitz will hear arguments regarding the constitutionality of the transfer in September, calling the matter a "priority."

Meanwhile, the city has appealed the latest federal ruling ordering removal of the cross to the Ninth Circuit, which is scheduled to be heard in October. An October 2005 ruling by Superior Court Judge Patricia Yim Cowett, invalidating a city referendum giving the cross and land to the federal government, is on appeal before the state Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

To listen to an indepth interview with Phil Paulson about the 17-year case, tune into the Aug. 19 Freethought Radio show at ffrf.org/radio/.

Law: Churches as Courthouses!

In late July, President Bush signed into law a bill giving $16 million to a three-year Fugitive Safe Surrender program. It is based on a pilot program in Cleveland, Ohio, in which churches temporarily are transformed into courthouses. The program will expand to eight cities. Fugitives are encouraged to surrender to federal marshals in churches, who make big bucks.

Religious Right Registers Voters

Focus on the Family, the evangelical empire run by James C. Dobson, is coordinating a massive registration drive to mobilize religious voters in battleground states. Dobson announced the campaign via e-mail in early August.

Dobson is focusing on eight states with key races: Maryland, Montana, Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Minnesota. Church publications and booths outside worship services are among the strategies.

In Ohio, with high-profile Senate and gubernatorial races, the plan calls for three million bulletins detailing voter registration procedures to appear in publications put out by 15,000 churches. Included will be "voter guides" on abortion, same-sex marriage, and stem-cell research.

"Church coordinators" are asked to encourage pastors at "key evangelical churches" to "speak about Christian citizens," help with voter drives, and distribute "voter guides." A "Values Voters Summit" is to be held in mid-September in Washington, D.C.

The Republican Party is also targeting evangelical voters.

The IRS claims it will crack down on church violators who enter into partisan politicking.

Ohio Mandates Religious Mottos

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft signed a bill in July requiring all public and community schools to display any donated copies of the national and state mottos--"In God We Trust" and "With God, All Things Are Possible."

Moms for Ohio, described by Associated Press as a "small political-action committee that mostly promotes conservative causes," promoted the bill. The Legislative Service Commission warned that the courts might hold public schools to a higher state/church standard, since impressionable children are at risk.

Religious Hiring Debated in House

The House Judiciary Committee in late July approved the Second Chance Act, a prisoner reentry initiative, without any mention of religious organizations or hiring provisions. An amendment, introduced by Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, to designate "faith-based" groups among the recipients failed. So did Rep. Bobby Scott's amendment to prohibit proselytizing or religious hiring by organizations receiving funding.

The Second Chance Act allocates $176 million for prison reentry programs.

Church Asks for GOP Gift Back

Three years of donations from his church to the Republican Party of Texas was an "accident," according to Calvary Temple Church Pastor Del Way of Kerrville, Texas.

Way claims the donations were actually for an annual golf tournament advertisement. Texas Ethics Commission records show that the church gave $250 in 2003 and 2004, and $1,000 in 2005. Way has asked the party to return the money.

Reproductive Rights Attacked in Senate

The U.S. Senate passed the Child Custody Protection Act in late July, restricting a teenager's right to abortion, by a vote of 65-34. The bill would forbid a teenage girl to cross state lines for an abortion, unless accompanied by a parent. The Senate did not pass an exception in cases of incest. Democrats are fighting attempts to get the bill to conference.

In related news, an emergency room doctor at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon, Penn., refused to give a rape victim a morning-after pill in July, as it was against his Mennonite religion. The state backed up the doctor's refusal.

Bill Would Chill Lawsuits

The Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution heard testimony in July from the religious right, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson, Focus on the Family and the American Legion, regarding S. 3696, "The Veterans' Memorials, Boy Scouts, Public Seals, and Other Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act."

The bill would chill litigation challenging violations of the separation between church and state, by forbidding recovery of reasonable attorneys fees to victors.

It was introduced by Sen. Sam Brownback, a Roman Catholic, R-Kans., who chairs the subcommittee.

New Faith-based Director

President Bush appointed Jay F. Hein in early August as new director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives. Hein, president of the conservative Sagamore Institute for Policy Research, replaces James Towey, who became president of St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Penn.

Churches Threaten Town Economy

"Our city has an excessive number of churches," was the unusual announcement made in late July by Leonard Scarcella, mayor of Stafford, Texas.

The Houston-area community, which is only seven square miles and has a population of 19,000, has 51 churches and other religious institutions.

Los Angeles Times reporter Lianne Hart (July 31, 2006) noted that in one quarter-mile section alone near the city center, there are 17 churches. Although there are no synagogues, there are religious facilities for Buddhists, Chinese Baptists, Muslims, Filipino Baptists, Spanish-speaking Baptists and "every other variety of Christian you can imagine," Scarcello told the Times.

City officials, desperate for revenue-producers, seek to reserve undeveloped acres for commercial development.

Millions for "Marriage Programs"

Congress has set aside $100 million a year for five years to "promote marriage," plus another $50 million a year to "produce committed fathers." The program is skewed toward funding church groups through the "faith-based initiative."

U.S.A. #2 in Creationism

Only Turkey has fewer people who "believe in evolution" than the United States, according to a new report studying 34 countries by the University of Michigan ( Science Magazine, Aug. 11, 2006). Iceland leads the world in evolutionists.

The study, led by researcher Jon Miller, found that only 40% of Americans accept evolution, down from 45% over the past 20 years. In Turkey, only 25% accept it.

The percentage of U.S. adults who overtly reject evolution also declined in the last 20 years, going from 48% to 39%. The "unsures" increased from 7% to 21%.

Miller attributed America's science lag to a poor understanding of biology, especially genetics, the politicization of science and the literal interpretation of the bible by a small, vocal group of American Christians.

"American Protestantism is more fundamentalist than anybody except perhaps the Islamic fundamentalists, which is why Turkey and we are so close," Miller said.

"Whether it's the bible or the Koran, there are some people who think it's everything you need to know," he added.

In an interview with LiveScience, Miller said it makes as much sense for politicians to oppose evolution in a campaign plank as it would to advocate that the Earth is flat: "You can pass any law you want but it won't change the shape of the Earth."

In Denmark, France and Sweden, 80% or more of adults accept evolution. In Japan, 78% of adults do.

Muslims in Space

Discover Magazine (Aug 06) reports that Malaysia, which is preparing to send its first astronaut to the space station next year, recently held a two-day conference, "Islam and Life in Space," to address theological quandaries. The major difficulty: when a day lasts only 90 minutes, how often does a Muslim astronaut pray, and in which direction does he/she turn? The country commissioned a computer program, "Muslims in Space," to address these and other questions.

Christian Nation Video Game

The new Left Behind video game, slated for release by October in time for Christmas shopping, creates a "Christian nation" scenario with a "take no infidel alive" plot.

Players are foot soldiers in a paramilitary group whose purpose is to remake America as a Christian nation by engaging "the infidel" on the streets of New York City, and to kill anyone who refuses to be "born again."

The game's stated mission is to conduct "physical and spiritual warfare, using the power of prayer to strengthen your troops in combat and wield modern military weaponry throughout the game world."

The game is based on the Left Behind series of 14 novels by retired Southern Baptist minister Tim LaHaye and writer Jerry B. Jenkins. "We hope teenagers like the game," LaHaye told the Los Angeles Times. "Our real goal is to have no one left behind."

Video players can switch sides and fight for the army of the "AntiChrist," known in the game as the "Global Community Peacekeepers"--a jab at the United Nations and pacifists-- whose demons devour conservative Christians. Players are rewarded with scriptural references and religious music as they progress through levels of difficulty.

According to blogger Jonathan Hutson, the video game's creators include Rev. Rick Warren, bestselling author of The Purpose-Driven Life, who presides over the Saddleback [mega] Church, Lake Forest, Calif., and describes himself as a "stealth evangelist." Time magazine called Warren--who believes this is the End Times and preaches dominionist theology, that the scriptures give Christians a mandate to take over the world to make way for Christ's return--one of the nation's most influential evangelical Christian leaders. A 25th anniversary celebration of his church a year ago was held at the Angels baseball stadium in Anaheim, and included a courtesy message from President Bush.

Religion-related Fraud Worsens

Religion-related fraud in the United States is getting more common, according to the Associated Press (Aug 13, 2006). Billions of dollars have been stolen in recent religion-related fraud, according to the North American Securities Administrators Association.

A typical scam involves a "good Christian" con artist who inveigles a pastor into investing by making a generous donation to the church. Once their pastor invests, congregants follow, often encouraged to donate part of their promised double-digit earnings to the church. Churchgoers are groomed for "pie in the sky" scams by "prosperity gospel" teachings--that faith will be rewarded by wealth. Law enforcement authorities often find victims in denial and uncooperative.

Utah Pol Crusades

Utah State Sen. Chris Buttars, chair of the Judicial Confirmation Committee, known for sponsoring a failed bill questioning classroom instruction in evolution, has drafted a bill to redefine the separation of church and state. He claims that constitutional principle "is built on a house of cards and judicial activism." He also seeks to force state judges to face a second confirmation hearing after their first term of office.

Kentucky Bans "Infidel" Books

A century-old anachronism banning "infidel" books in schools isn't likely to be repealed soon. The law says "no book or other publication of a sectarian, infidel or immoral character, or that reflects on any religious denomination, shall be used or distributed in any common school."

Although surprised to learn of the 1905 law, Republican and Democratic lawmakers told the Lexington Herald-Leader in August they "are fearful of taking a vote that would tend to put them on the side of infidels," as state Rep. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, put it.

"There's nobody that wants to get on record saying 'I'm against God and Christianity,' " concurred state Sen. David Darem, D-Louisville.

School districts include the book ban, which was invoked in the 1990 Kentucky Education Reform Act, in their policies and procedures. The Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled the bible is not a "sectarian" book, and therefore the law does not apply to Christian and Hebrew scriptures.

State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, one of the few to decry the bill, said: "It's 2006, for heaven's sake. . . . We look like a bunch of Jim-Jones-drinking-Kool-Aid kind of folks. I think it makes it look like we're not quite in the 21st century."

Boise to Vote on Decalog?

The Idaho Supreme Court ruled on Aug. 14 that the city of Boise erred in denying a 2004 petition to ask voters whether to replace a Ten Commandments monument previously removed from a public park.

In early 2004, the city council voted to remove the religious monument from Julia Davis Park, after a fanatical Kansas minister applied to put up a venomous antigay monument with religious language. The city decided to ban all religious monuments from the park.

Opponents gathered more than 10,000 signatures for an initiative to put a similar monument and two others in the park. Those would include a plaque with a Thomas Jefferson quote on religious freedom, and another stating the city's commitment to religious freedom, acknowledging the "secular influence" of the Ten Commandments.

Appeals Court Muddies Waters

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Aug. 10 against a Maryland public school district seeking to bar distribution of religious flyers in schools. For five years, the Montgomery County public schools have fought off attempts by the Child Evangelical Fellowship of Maryland to use the schools as conduits to distribute flyers advertising its after-school "Good News Club" bible programs. The fellowship rents classrooms directly after the school day ends.

The school system rejected the request by the evangelists in 2001, due to its religious nature. The group sued, maintaining they were discriminated against because parent-teacher groups and nonprofit youth sports leagues were allowed to distribute flyers.

In its decision, the appeals court said the policy is overbroad.

School Supt. Jerry De. Weast told the Washington Post: "I continue to believe that the volume of material, unrelated to school, delivered home through the time and energy of our staff and students, must be limited."

Nevada School Sued

A high school valedictorian, who was warned that her June 15 speech would be cut off if she did not delete proselytizing references to Jesus, is suing the Foot Hill School, in Las Vegas. The Rutherford Institute is defending her.

The microphone was cut as Brittany McComb, 18, started to say, "God's love is so great that he gave his only son up to an excruciating death on a cross so his blood would cover all our shortcomings and provide for us a way to heaven in accepting this grace."

"Character First" Invasion

The International Association of Character Cities (IACC), based in Oklahoma City, has designated 13 communities in Texas and more than 200 worldwide as "Character Cities," according to the Texas Observer (July 14, 2006).

The IACC began in 1998 as part of the Character Training Institute, a subsidiary of the Institute of Basic Life Principles, run by evangelist Bill Gothard. The Observer reports the Institute has assets of $80 million. The IACC generates about $1.7 million annually in revenue from the sale of training materials. Schools often pay $120 to $135 annually per classroom. San Antonio millionaire James Leininger serves on its advisory board.

The IACC program is based on the "Character First!" curriculum developed by Gothard, who is considered a Christian Reconstructionist seeking to turn the United States into a Christian nation. The bible-based underpinnings of his 49 character traits, emphasizing "obedience" to authority, are deleted for curricula for public schools and cities.

Gothard's religious program, used as a prison ministry in New Mexico, is being challenged by the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Ohio Theo-politics Heat Up

Religious political activity to elect Secretary of State Ken Blackwell for governor continues to dominate Ohio election news.

Most recently, the Ohio Republican party in late July fired a staffer for sending "gutter politics" e-mails about Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland, a Methodist minister. The messages, questioning Strickland's and his wife's sexual orientation, were sent by Gary Lankford, former director of the Ohio Restoration Project. The project is one of two "patriot pastor" groups openly campaigning for Blackwell, a fundamentalist Christian. Lankford had been hired to do outreach to social conservatives for the GOP by Ohioans for Ken Blackwell.

Moderate Ohio clergy have twice this year urged the IRS to investigate the political nature of the "patriot pastors." Blackwell, who chose Diebold machines for Ohio's 2004 controversy-ridden presidential election process, received $10,000 this year from the registered lobbyist for Diebold Election Systems.

People For the American Way Foundation, the NAACP, and the African American Ministers Leadership Council released an Aug. 16 report, "The Patriot Pastors' Electoral War Against the 'Hordes of Hell,' " that documents how churches are turning into political machines for far-right Republican candidates.

Blackwell has ties to evangelist Bill Gothard (see news item above), and launched the Ohio Center for Civic Character in 2001, promoting a "character covenant." He changed the wording of Ohio's "I Voted Today" sticker to "I Voted Today -- Change Our World, Vote Your Conscience," with roots in Gothard's "character" program.

When someone incorporates a new business or becomes a U.S. citizen in Ohio, Blackwell's office delivers a copy of "Uncommon Sense," with 20 of Gothard's tenets. Blackwell's website links to the IACC.