Wonders of the Best way For minorities, universe written to honor is to reason can lead in Stardust become an ally to equality PAGE 13 PAGES 14-15 PAGE 24 Vol. 35 No. 10 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. December 2018 Convention attention FFRF sues over Wisconsin’s DOJ chaplaincy program The Freedom From Religon 4, but had been in the works Foundation is legally contesting for at least a year. a Wisconsin religion-centered Schimel claims that the counseling state program. chaplaincy program is a “crit- In a lawsuit filed Nov. 13 in ical component” of the DOJ, a Dane County court, FFRF is and has urged other state challenging agencies to contact the DOJ the constitu- staff to start their own chap- tionality of a laincy programs. Six all-white faith-based men from Christian faiths, employee many conservative, have been chaplaincy formally appointed DOJ chap- that Wis- lains. Although unpaid, the six consin At- agency chaplains are under the torney Gen- direction of a paid DOJ chap- eral Brad laincy program coordinator Schimel cre- Brad Schimel and have received training and Photo by Ingrid Laas ated at the reimbursement at taxpayer Comedian Julia Sweeney (right) takes a selfie with former Planned Parenthood president state Department of Justice. expense. They’re issued DOJ Cecile Richards during FFRF’s national convention in San Francisco the weekend of Nov. Schimel, who was defeated identification and building ac- 2-4. A record 986 people attended this year’s convention, from 42 states, Puerto Rico and in his bid for re-election on cess cards and are not prohib- Washington, D.C., and from Canada and the U.K. For more photos from the convention, Nov. 6, announced the chap- ited from soliciting donations see the eight-page special insert. The speeches given by child author Bailey Harris and Ex- laincy program in mid-October or proselytizing employees. Muslims of North America co-founder Sarah Haider are also reprinted in this issue. while campaigning. The pro- gram became effective on Oct. See DOJ on page 2 New art makes FFRF, AHA ask Just Pretend high court to let more colorful, cross win stand Two of the country’s leading secular groups have lively, engaging asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let stand their vic- tory declaring unconstitutional a massive cross in a FFRF Co-President Dan Barker’s book for chil- Florida city park. dren, Just Pretend: A Book for Young Freethinkers, has FFRF and the American Humanist Association been given a deluxe makeover. filed a brief Nov. 19 opposing the city of Pensaco- Originally published in 1988, the book had a Photo by Chris Line la’s efforts to overturn the recent 11th U.S. Circuit second edition printed in 2002 in a smaller format. Artist Kati Treu and author Dan Barker show off the Court of Appeals decision declaring the city’s mas- Both were printed in black and white. The new updated version of the children’s book, Just Pretend. sive Christian cross towering over Bayview Park a vio- 2018 edition lation of the First Amendment. is printed in a The filing argues that Supreme Court review is un- glossy paper- showed them to Dan, and we got them sharpened warranted because the law is clear and does not need back format with more and then I did the final illustrations,” Treu to be disturbed. Numerous court decisions already dozens of color- said. “My favorite drawing is of ‘Imagination Anon- make it clear that religious displays motivated by a ful illustrations ymous,’ where I got to create my version of all religious purpose are unconstitutional, so there is no drawn by art stu- those fictional characters.” need for review. dent Kati Treu. Just Pretend is a children’s book that teach- “Of the 33 federal cross cases, not a single circuit “We realized es kids (and adults) how to think clearly, how to has upheld a stand-alone Latin cross, let alone one that we should question authority when necessary, and how to motivated by a purely religious purpose,” the brief utilize the ar- separate fantasy from fact. It gets children to think states. “That uniformity is proof that this court’s tistic talents of about and explore myths like Santa Claus (spoil- jurisprudence currently provides more than suffi- Kati to make the er alert!) compared with ideas like the existence cient guidance to the lower courts to yield consistent book more at- of God. Just Pretend encourages children to apply results.” tractive,” Barker said. “This edition is really driven the tests of reason to any idea, fairy tale, myth, or The two groups filed their initial lawsuit on be- by the art. In fact, we edited some of the copy to religion. half of local residents in the U.S. District Court of better fit the great artwork.” “Children are smart,” Barker said. “They can Northern Florida in 2016. The case contended that Treu illustrated each page to bring the book to think for themselves.” the 34-foot-tall cross overwhelming Bayview Park and life. Order the book ($12 postage-paid) at shop.ffrf. “I just started with some rough sketches, then org/books-and-lit. See Cross on page 4 Page 2 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | December 2018 FFRF in DFW Helping refugees rewarding for Executive Board member Name: Stef Moritz Where I live: Downtown Madison, Wis., just a few blocks from Free- thought Hall. Where I was born: Elgin, Ill. Family: Husband Vince Jenkins and 17-year-old cat, Ginger. Education: I have a master’s de- gree in what they used to call “library science.” Occupation: Retired public librari- an. For 28 years, I worked in libraries in Illinois and Phoenix. How I got where I am today: I have a stubborn streak, inherited from my Photo by Dr. Zach Moore late mother. Sometimes it’s a liability, FFRF Co-President Dan Barker (second from right) traveled to the Dallas- but, on the positive side, it makes me Forth Worth area to speak with members of the DFW FFRF chapter in persistent! Where I’m headed: Well, not into October. Pictured, from left to right, are: Aaron Cott, Karen Hoenig, Stef Moritz Courtney Stewart, Jenny Del Toro, Owen Younger, Rex Burks, Barker and the afterlife, for sure. I just want to Randy Hoenig. live a good life while I’m here, respect The final break came after the dev- the planet and its myriad, diverse astating attacks on 9/11, when I ful- “Thank you so much for coming to Dallas and supporting the new forms of life, and ly realized what a chapter here,” Younger writes. “You and FFRF have a committed group when my time is MEET A MEMBER destructive force of supporters down here and we want to do everything we can to help finished, donate religion could be. protect the wall of separation and to try and make some more freethinkers my brain to dementia research. Since then, religion has played no while we’re at it.” FFRF welcomes its newest chapter. Person in history I admire and role in my life and I am at peace with why: Charlotte Bronte, because she that. I’m OK with people who get invented the admirable, strong char- something out of religion, as long as Continued from page 1 acter, Jane Eyre. they don’t try to force their beliefs on A quotation I like: “The only prob- anyone else. DOJ lem in your life is your mind’s resis- Before I die: I’d like someone, Their explicit duties include providing there could be life-and-death conse- tance to life as it unfolds.” — Dan somewhere, to feel that I changed consultation and spiritual guidance to quences due to the fact that the agency Millman. their life for the better. DOJ employees and their families, and chaplains aren’t required to have nec- These are a few of my favorite Ways I promote freethought: I the chaplaincies are integrated into essary mental health/substance abuse things: Orange tabbies, extra-dark serve as secretary on FFRF’s Execu- DOJ programs, including new employee training. chocolate, gummy bears, quiet eve- tive Board and support other orga- classes and orientation. “There’s absolutely no need or jus- nings on the couch reading with my nizations which champion not only “The DOJ Chaplaincy Program does tification for the DOJ to provide reli- hubby, traveling to new and exotic freethought, but freedom of expres- not include, and affirmatively excludes, gious counseling as an accommodation, places. sion. As a former librarian, I abhor secular mental health professionals,” such as can be argued that the military These are not: People who call censorship and believe that we can- FFRF’s legal complaint asserts. The is obliged to offer,” adds FFRF Co-Pres- mainstream media “fake news,” cre- not have a free society without free- complaint notes that the program sets ident Annie Laurie Gaylor. “This is pure ationists, climate-change deniers, dom of expression. up a religious test as a condition for em- and simple a case of governmental pro- racists and bigots. (Do you see a pat- How I like to spend my free time: ployment: Chaplains must be ordained motion of religion to state employees, tern here?) I volunteer in a number of capacities, or licensed clergy in good standing of a and it’s not only unnecessary, it also goes My doubts about religion started: but what is most rewarding is helping faith group. Yet they aren’t required to against both the Wisconsin and U.S.