FFRF Sues Over Forced Prayers in Puerto Rico the Freedom from Religion Foun- Monday During the School Day
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We’re less The challenge White biblical religious, but of leaving imagery is also better off Jehovah’s Witnesses still with us PAGE 3 PAGES 12-13 PAGE 15 Vol. 37 No. 3 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. April 2020 FFRF sues over forced prayers in Puerto Rico The Freedom From Religion Foun- Monday during the school day. cannot ensure that the prayer practice has people,” FFRF points out. dation filed a federal lawsuit on Feb. 27 FFRF is representing two of these chil- stopped and that teachers at the school The family brings this action under against Puerto Rico’s education secretary dren and their mother at the U.S. District have been properly trained on the separa- pseudonyms to protect the mother and and a principal on behalf of a family sub- Court for the District of Puerto Rico along tion of church and state. But based on the her two minor children from social ostra- jected to forced prayers and bullying in a with Humanistas Seculares De Puerto mediation thus far, FFRF is optimistic that cism, retaliation and even physical harm. public primary school. Rico, a leading Puerto Rican secular hu- the lawsuit will end quickly and favorably. Eligio Hernandez Perez is being sued in Since September 2019, in direct con- manist organization that the mother be- As far back as 1962, the U.S. Supreme his official capacity as the secretary of the tradiction of well-established constitu- longs to. Court has held that “the constitutional Department of Education. Luz Ramos tional law, officials at the Luis M. Santiago The parties have entered into medi- prohibition against laws respecting an es- is the principal of the Luis M. Santia- School, a public school in Toa Baja, have ation to resolve the lawsuit, but due to tablishment of religion must at least mean go School and is being sued in both her reportedly organized, led and coerced stu- the coronavirus pandemic, Puerto Rico that in this country it is no part of the busi- official and individual capacities, since dents to participate in 50-minute prayer schools are closed at least through March ness of government to compose official sessions on school property every other 30. Until the public schools reopen, FFRF prayers for any group of the American See Puerto Rico on page 3 Where do you ‘Freethought’? Major hit to state-church separation The 11th U.S. Circuit Court the landscape in Bladensburg, tions in a June 2017 decision. of Appeals issued a ruling on Md., did not violate the First In September 2018, the 11th Feb. 19 upholding the constitu- Amendment. Circuit upheld the decision, tionality of a massive Latin cross Taking its cue from the Su- agreeing that the govern- on city property in Pensacola, preme Court, the 11th Circuit ment-funded, freestanding Fla. ignored the religious signifi- See Pensacola on page 3 Circuit Judge Kevin New- cance of the Bayview Park cross, som, writing for the unanimous holding that because it’s been three-judge panel, wrote that there a long time, and secular the 40-foot-tall Christian cross community events have been in Bayview Park “has evolved held in the park nearby, it is into a neutral” symbol. constitutional. The Freedom From Reli- Newsom wrote: “American gion Foundation, the Ameri- Legion itself demonstrates that can Humanist Association and an ‘undoubtedly . Christian their plaintiffs won at the dis- symbol’ — in particular, a Lat- trict level and before the 11th in cross — may nevertheless Circuit. However, the case was pose no Establishment Clause remanded back for recon- concerns.” sideration following the U.S. The Pensacola cross stands I like to treat myself to lunch and read my Freethought Supreme Court’s June 2019 in popular Bayview Park, serv- Today. I hold it proud where everyone can see the headlines American Legion v. American ing solely as the centerpiece of and I even strategically pick the best seat in the house for Humanist Association cross deci- annual Easter Sunrise Christian viewing. Most of the time I get snarky looks, but I have been sion. In the Bladensburg case, worship services. It was first approached by some curious folks. We all need to advocate the Supreme Court ruled that challenged in a 2016 lawsuit The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of for freethought when and where we can! the government-owned, gov- filed by FFRF and AHA. Appeals has allowed to stand Kami Pryor ernment-maintained, Christian The district court sided with the Latin cross in Bayview Park Georgia cross war memorial dominating the national secular organiza- in Pensacola, Fla. FFRF is still at work on your behalf Like all of you, we at the Freedom 256-8900. Please leave a clear message and these uncertain times, it’s more import- National events. We are “full steam From Religion Foundation are adapting call-back number. Your email to info@ffrf. ant than ever to maintain a sense of nor- ahead” on planning FFRF’s 43rd Nation- to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 org will continue to be routed to the ap- malcy and community. Production of the al Convention (ffrf.org/convention2020) in pandemic. We hope this message will find propriate staff person. Freethought Today newspaper continues San Antonio, Nov. 13–15. If conditions you well and want to assure you that FFRF If you have a complaint about a state/ on schedule; it also remains an online warrant cancellation, FFRF will refund is committed to working on your behalf to church violation, use the online form at publication (freethoughttoday.com). We registration fees in full. Guests may cancel keep religion out of government and pro- ffrf.org/legal/report. Please be patient about plan to continue producing the weekly hotel reservations without penalty at least mote freethought. After all, one of FFRF’s results: Many schools and public ser- Freethought Radio (broadcast and pod- 48 hours prior to arrival. purposes is fighting the virus of religion. vices are closed or operating at reduced cast, ffrf.org/radio). “Freethought Matters” Office closed to visitors. For obvious To keep employees safe while also capacity. TV show will continue to broadcast on reasons, FFRF’s Freethought Hall office maintaining services, FFRF staff are offi- To donate or renew (thank you for Sundays through the end of May and be in downtown Madison, Wis., is not open cially working remotely for the foresee- helping to keep our nonprofit going!), posted on YouTube (google “Freethought until further notice. able future. Other measures we’ve taken: please use the online forms at ffrf.org/re- Matters playlist”). Wednesday’s Facebook We sincerely wish for you to take all Travel. We have canceled or postponed new or ffrf.org/donate if possible to reduce Live! “Ask an Atheist” may be affected. precautions to keep yourself, your family all travel and events through the spring. the need to process mail at FFRF. FFRF’s social media continues, along with and your community safe. Rest assured, Modified operations and services. Al- Note: Our online store is closed for the press releases and action alerts (check out that while the theocrats are not stopping though staff are working remotely, you time being. at ffrf.org/news) and Friday’s Weekly Wrap their activities during this time, neither may still phone the FFRF office at 608- Keeping our community in touch. In email. will we. Page 2 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | April 2020 OVERHEARD The Declaration of Independence our society, to claim public money and noted that the power of the government resources for themselves, and to identify is not from God, but from the people. I a despised other and organize around think it’s important to understand what their contempt of that enemy. Through the Founding Fathers believed when the unlikely person of President Trump, they had the clause that there must be a the Christian Nationalist movement has separation of church and state. This also seized the levers of power at the heart of protects religion from interference by government. This is just the beginning. government in their beliefs. Katherine Stewart, from an excerpt of Indiana state Sen. Mark Stoops, in voting her new book The Power Worshippers: against having an “In God We Trust” sign Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious in every public school classroom. The bill Nationalism. Stewart will be speaking was amended without the requirement. at FFRF’s convention in November in TheIndyChannel.com, 1-22-20 San Antonio. The New York Review of Books, 2-28-20 The abortion law is much more than the right to perform an abortion. My husband Avijit [Roy] once wrote: Photo by Chris Line It recognizes women as independent “We risk our lives the moment we start Greta Martens holds up a protest sign during a visit to the Wisconsin Capitol by Vice people who have the right to decide over wielding our pens against religious bigotry President Pence on Jan. 28 to promote religious vouchers. our own bodies. The church is never and fundamentalism.” going to be in favor of this. Today, I ask you to Maria del Valle, speaking about take up the cause Argentina’s bill that would have legalized of those armed only Legal assistant helps abortion in that country. The bill failed. with pens. We all The New York Times, 2-23-20 must have the right to examine, question, As a science advocate, I take strong issue criticize, oppose, make a difference Rafida Bonya with the nonscience [Ken] Ham peddles express ourselves, Name: Greta Martens to families and students.