Escaping from A convention In Bangladesh, dangerous conversation with the fear for LGBTQ, oppression Cecile Richards atheists is real PAGE 13 PAGE 14-16 PAGE 18-19

Vol. 36 No. 2 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. March 2019 Getting the message out It’s over! Chino Valley case finally ends with victory for FFRF

This 20-by-60-foot billboard was seen by travelers on the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90-94) and Constitution west of Montrose near Chicago during February. See page 12 for the story about FFRF’s ad campaign The praying, proselytizing and bible-reading school in Chicago and a column by the campaign’s underwriter, a victim of clergy sexual abuse as a teen. board in Chino Valley (Calif.) voted to respect the First Amendment and minority rights by not appealing a ma- jor Freedom From Religion Foundation victory to the U.S. Supreme Court. FFRF, with 22 local parents, students and employ- FFRF’s Strategic Response ees of the Chino Valley School District, triumphed in July before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (the largest in the country) against prayer at Chino Valley Team is getting it done School Board meetings. These meetings, which re- sembled church revivals more than public gatherings, opened with prayer and regularly included board mem- By Andrew L. Seidel bers reading from the bible and proselytizing. “The board’s prayer policy and practice violate the Establish- he Strategic Response ment Clause,” a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Team. Sure, it’s a cool had ruled unanimously. The appeals court reaffirmed Tname, but what does it ac- FFRF’s victory in December by denying a petition by the tually do? The team is part of school board to rehear the case. FFRF’s legal squad. We are Jacks On Jan. 17, the Chino Valley School Board voted and Jills of all trades, tasked with: 3-2 not to further appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme 1. Lobbying, tracking, analyz- Court. FFRF welcomes the new board’s display of good ing and educating about pend- sense. (The composition of the board changed follow- ing legislation. ing the November elections.) 2. Shaping public opinion “We’re so pleased reason and our Constitution have with articles, editorials and let- prevailed in protecting the rights of students and par- ters to the editor. ents to be free from proselytizing by their school board,” 3. Drafting statements, press says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “The fact releases, action alerts and articles that we had so many members of the community with us for FFRF. shows how the school board was riding roughshod over 4. Working to stop imminent the rights of students.” state/church violations. The display of sectarian religiosity at board meetings FFRF launched the Strategic was brazen. Then-Board President James Na injected Response Team after its 2017 na- Freedom From Religion Foundation Christianity into many of his official statements to par- tional convention when the some- This map shows states where displaying the phrase “In God We Trust” ents and students at meetings. For instance, at one such what informal “rapid response” in public schools has been written into law or is proposed to be. See Chino Valley on page 2 crew was formally reorganized. Our inaugural year was a success. Dakota). ing the Johnson Amendment Here are some highlights: On the from sustained assault, an attack Camp Quest smiles We tracked 115 bills, more bright side, that continues this year. than 80 percent of which were much of the Another important victory negative in regard to state- legislation we was convincing the Florida Con- church separation. Most notably, opposed last stitutional Committee to retain we opposed bills pushed by “Proj- year failed. the state’s No Aid Clause, which ect Blitz,” a scheme aimed at cod- For instance, prohibits taxpayer funds from ifying Christian nationalism into we opposed flowing to churches. A huge win, state statutes that features a wide a bill in West if not racy. variety of bad bills, including Photo: Chris Line Virginia re- We couldn’t have done that displaying “In God We Trust” in Andrew L. Seidel quiring all without your help. The Strategic public schools. By mid-year, eight schools, in- Response Team works to mobi- states had laws about posting “In cluding elementary schools, to lize FFRF members, and since the God We Trust” in public schools, teach bible classes, and we op- last convention, you have made some adopted several years ago. posed a bill in Mississippi forcing 29,672 connections with legis- This year, we’re already track- public school teachers to recite lators on the 109 action alerts Playing a crucial role in the development of a new ing similar bills in another nine the Ten Commandments in class. we sent out. That total number generation of secular youths, Camp Quest inspires states (Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Neither of those bills advanced. of connections is actually much them to live life well and fully, guided by empathy Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Perhaps our biggest legislative and critical thinking. See story on page 20. New York, South Carolina, South victory was successfully defend- See Team on page 5 Page 2 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 From ‘Family Guy’ to passionate freethinker Name: David Williamson. who have the courage to come from a Where I live: Orlando, Fla., since minority position and speak out about 2012. what matters to them. I also have great Where and when I was born: respect for people who are in a majority Pensacola, Fla., in 1971. and who take the time to understand Family: In 2013, I married my the impacts their privilege has on partner in activism, Jocelyn Williamson. others. I think we should all strive to be Together we are raising her 15-year old those types of people whenever we can. son and I have a 26-year-old son in the A quotation I like: “Freedom begins Coast Guard. with freethinkers.” — Anne Nicol Education: My childhood was spent Gaylor, FFRF co-founder. in many places, but I finished high These are a few of my favorite things: school in Spartanburg, S.C. I have an Modestly priced dark chocolate, heated associate in science degree in golf course discussion among family and friends, management from Florida Gateway kicking pastors out of public schools, College and a bachelor’s degree in and Oxford commas. occupational safety and health from FFRF Member David Williamson (right), co-president of the Central Florida These are not: People who care about Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Freethinkers Community, and Danny de Armas, senior pastor at First Baptist what happens in our world but do not Military service: I served four years Orlando, discussed the commonalities in their approach toward religion and get involved to change it frustrate me as in the Navy. government during a video segment on the Orlando Sentinel’s website in much as eating my vegetables. Occupation: After college, I worked reaction to the annual National Religious Freedom Day on Jan. 16. My doubts about religion started: as a golf course superintendent and I have no memory of a god-belief — about 10 years ago I moved into organizations and individuals who share How I got where I am today: A 2008 thank God. occupational safety. our goals. Even if we don’t agree with episode of the “Family Guy” was how I Before I die: I hope to see a majority Tell us about your FFRF chapter: everyone on everything, we can work first heard about Richard Dawkins’ The of Americans regain an understanding Jocelyn and I founded the Central together where our values align. Today God Delusion. It had a profound effect on and appreciation of the secularism Florida Freethought Community in we have a thriving me and helped me which pre-dated the rise of the 2012 out of a passion for keeping organization that M MMR realize the value “Religious Right.” religion out of government. We found serves the Orlando of clear thinking Ways I promote freethought: Along the best way to do activism is to build area locally and the state of Florida in and the harm that religious dogma has with community development and being a community of like-minded people other ways. visited upon civilization. That created open about my atheism, I am creating and to form relationships with allied We have nearly 1,000 Meetup a path for me into freethought where personal relationships with local clergy members, 1,700 email subscribers, and I found a desire to be part of fostering so we can resolve and prevent issues 2,891 Facebook fans. There is a monthly communities for people who want to of religion in government together. speaker series, regular social events, be free from the question, “So, what An organization I have recently been occasional secular invocations, and the church do you attend?” asked to join is the Central Florida annual Freethought Cruise, where a Where I’m headed: My aim is to Commission on Religious Freedom national-level speaker is brought in for ensure Orlando always has an active (real religious freedom). We host an a weekend or a week-long getaway. freethought community. With a annual summit open to the public and We have worked with FFRF on short supply of people interested in smaller discussions during the year two lawsuits: literature distribution in leadership, I and the rest of our board where religious leaders get together to Orange County Public Schools and members need to work on identifying discuss how religious freedom affects secular invocations at Brevard County and empowering fans and followers our various communities. Working with Commission meetings. who care about the same things we do, religious people to help us maintain Group management has changed a but don’t yet know how to get involved. “Jefferson’s wall” is an area of focus I David Williamson is co-founder (along lot since the days of the paper newsletter, Person in history I admire and why: I hope to write and talk about more soon. with his wife Jocelyn) of the Central so we find ourselves trying to grow and really should spend more time studying I wish you’d have asked me: To come Florida Freethought Community, an be dynamic while meeting the needs of history, but I am a huge fan of two types work full-time at the Freedom From FFRF chapter. those who look to us as a resource. of activists. I admire regular people Religion Foundation. Chino Valley Continued from page 1 meeting, Na “urged everyone who does initially decided in FFRF’s favor on three members had belonged, had ty nor the means of doing so via prayer not know Jesus Christ to go and find Feb. 18, 2016, finding that “permitting voted 3-2 to appeal the decision. The acknowledges or respects the beliefs of Him,” after which another board mem- religious prayer in board meetings, three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit nonreligious citizens in the district.” ber closed with a reading of Psalm 143. and the policy and custom of reciting was not impressed: “The prayers fre- Bernal had ordered the school board “These prayers typically take place prayers, bible readings, and prosely- quently advanced religion in general to pay more than $200,000 for the ini- before groups of schoolchildren whose tizing at board meetings, constitute and Christianity in particular.” And in tial case. Costs and fees associated with attendance is not truly voluntary and unconstitutional government endorse- an acknowledgment of the presence of the appeal ran to $75,000 for a total of whose relationship to school district of- ments of religion in violation of plain- nonbelievers in California, the court more than a quarter million dollars. ficials, including the board, is not one of tiffs’ First Amendment rights.” also emphasized how discriminatory FFRF and the plaintiffs were full parity,” the appeals court had ruled. The previous school board, pres- the prayer practice was toward secular represented by Attorney David J.P. U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal had sured by a local megachurch to which local residents. Kaloyanides, FFRF Legal Director “The purpose of respecting reli- Rebecca Markert and FFRF’s Director gious diversity, to the extent that it of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel. does not encompass nonreligious The Freedom From Religion belief systems and their diversity, is it- Foundation is a national state/church self constitutionally suspect,” it stated. watchdog organization that has more “Atheists and agnostics comprise 4 per- than 31,000 nonreligious members cent and 5 percent of the California and 20 chapters all over the country, Published by Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. population, respectively. Neither the including almost 4,000 members and a purpose of respecting religious diversi- chapter in Sacramento. P.O. Box 750 Madison WI 53701 [email protected] FFRF.org P 608.256.8900 F 608.204.0422 American Infidel: Lead Us Not Into Penn Station: Robert G. Ingersoll Provocative Pieces EDITOR PJ Slinger [email protected] EDITOR EMERITUS Bill Dunn By Anne Gaylor By Orvin Larsen EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Annie Laurie Gaylor A must-have for Prof. Larsen writes GRAPHIC DESIGNER Roger Daleiden any freethinker, this with a ection and gracefully readable COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Amit Pal respect of this book contains Gaylor’s illustrious 19th classic writings. CONTRIBUTORS century freethinker. Philip Appleman, Julian Borger, Ingrid Laas, Chris Line, Bailey Published by FFRF Nachreiner-Mackesey, Sarah Miller, Andrew L. Seidel, Shuchessmita Buy it from FFRF online Buy it from FFRF online Simonti, Jake Swenson shop.ff rf.org shop.ff rf.org The only freethought newspaper in the United States March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 3 OVERHEARD IN MEMORIAM

The doctrine of fetal personhood and more available to everyone. And it represents a sharp break from the great is certainly high time to make abortion Prominent scientist, activist traditions of Western law that, at their rights a voting issue in elections. philosophical core, seek to preserve Editorial, “Roe v. Wade is at risk. Here’s Alice Bennett dies at 89 space for the individual to live free from how to prepare.” the tremendous power of the state. . . . The New York Times, 1-21-19 FFRF Life Member Alice Swen- tributions to breast cancer research That this doctrine is acquiring the force son Bennett, 89, died Jan. 27 in and authored many research pub- of law within the United States should You cannot deny what happened. Indianapolis. lications. She served as chair of the deeply concern Americans — men and You cannot deny that there was signifi- Alice was born Aug. 16, 1929, in University Senate at Ball State and women — who value their freedoms. cant abuse in the Catholic Church. You Chicago and was an advocate for faculty and staff. Editorial, “The Future of Personhood cannot deny that it was not handled completed high She received many awards for her Nation.” appropriately. And you can’t deny that school at age 16. hard work in academics, First Amend- The New York Times, 1-10-19 people were hurt. She graduated ment rights, voting rights, needs of New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, flanked three years lat- low- and middle-income persons, sep- You shouldn’t by survivors at a press conference, after er from Western aration of church and state, women’s need a bible to tell signing the Child Victims Act. The bill, Michigan College, rights, equality and social justice. She you to protect our extending reasonable statutes of limita- majoring in chem- was a consistent supporter of those planet, but it does tion for victims of child sexual abuse, istry and biology. who found themselves in challenging anyway. languished for 13 years, opposed by re- She received her times and needing assistance. U.S. Rep. Alexan- ligious groups, Boy Scouts of America Alice Bennett master’s degree in Alice was a devoted volunteer in a dria Ocasio-Cor- and, particularly, the Roman Catholic biological chemis- wide variety of community activities. tez, responding Church, which spent more than $1.8 try from the University of Michigan in Some of her most rewarding accom- to Sarah Hucka- million since 2012 lobbying against it. 1952. She married Carson Bennett in plishments were volunteering and bee Sanders, who The New York Times, 1-29-19 1953 and had two sons, Lawrence and supporting the American Civil Lib- Alexandria dismissed Oca- Thomas. She completed her Ph.D. in erties Union, Planned Parenthood, Ocasio-Cortez sio-Cortez’ push My Christian school had “Slave Day.” biochemistry at Purdue in 1968. American Association of University for the Trump administration to take One day a year, each member of the Alice taught for 31 years in the Bi- Women, League of Women Voters and action on climate change. junior class was auctioned off to other ology Department at Ball State Uni- National Organization for Women. Al- Twitter, 1-23-19 students to be owned for a day. The versity, teaching molecular biology, ice was a strong supporter of the Free- auctioneer — a teacher — sometimes biophysics and radiation biology, dom From Religion Foundation and Whether they’re atheist, Opus Dei, held a whip. Students stood on a box among other subjects. She made con- The Center for Inquiry. Buddhist or Muslim should have no while being auctioned. It was a fundrais- bearing on our assessment of their fit- er for our prom — real money was ex- ness for office. Yet I can’t help but feel changed. Sometimes, the auction took With a lifelong interest and ded- anxious that both of Donald Trump’s place in the sanctuary. In 2001, it was John Hodges: ication to philosophy, he was a hu- main global envoys, [Mike] Pompeo changed — in name only — to Servant manist, writing that what matters and [Mike] Pence, have a conflict be- Day. I do not recall any conversations ‘Be irreverent’ most is how we treat other people tween their private beliefs and what about race and white supremacy. and the natural world. they publicly claim to be doing. Laura Hagen of Minnesota, in response FFRF Member John Bryan Hodg- As he often ended his writings, Financial Times journalist Edward to The New York Times’ request for ex- es died of a heart attack on Nov. 27, “Do justice, love mercy and be Luce. periences with Christian schooling after 2018. irreverent.” Raw Story, 1-15-19 hashtag #ExposeChristianSchools went He was born May 9, 1952, in Wash- viral. ington, D.C., and grew up in Oxon I think the number of women flee- The New York Times, 1-31-19 Hill, Md. From Deborah Welch ing from the Saudi administration and there, he moved abuse will increase, especially since there By giving legal cover for discrimina- to Blacksburg, dies at 46 is no system to stop them. I’m sure that tion, the Trump-Pence administration Va., to attend Vir- there will be a lot more women running is encouraging ginia Polytechnic Deborah Gail Welch, 46, died un- away. I hope my story encourages other providers to deny Institute, where expectedly at her home in Kitchener, women to be brave and free. people health care he studied eco- Ontario, Canada, on Jan. 20. Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun, the Saudi based on their nomics, electrical She was born March 2, 1972, to woman who fled from her country and own homopho- engineering and Doris Luna and family and was given asylum in Canada, bia or misogyny, philosophy. Douglas McTag- in her first TV interview. while worsening After gradu- gart. She married John Hodges NPR, 1-15-19 health care ac- ation, he lived Arno Kilianski cess and forcing in Denver for and they had an It isn’t too late to wipe outdated laws some to forgo care about seven years before returning adopted daugh- off the books and make the procedure Photo: Hotchocolita altogether. to Blacksburg, where he lived until ter Samantha more accessible to low-income women Leana Wen Dr. Leana Wen, his death, just one month before his Mondegreen. president of Planned Parenthood Fed- scheduled retirement from the Na- As expressed eration of America, in a statement after tional Bank of Blacksburg. in her obituary, the Department of Health and Human John was a very kind person with a the family wished ‘IN REASON WE TRUST’ Services announced it is close to final- prodigious memory and keen sense Deborah Welch for any donations Self inking stamp izing a conscience protection rule that of humor, able to recite jokes from in her honor to would allow people to discriminate in comic strips he had enjoyed, humor- be made to the Freedom from Reli- health care settings. ous stories, poetry and quotes from gion Foundation, Diabetes Canada Rewire News, 1-28-19 serious articles and books. or PFLAG.

Hopefully in the future we can put in place some common-sense guide- lines that would bar hate groups from FREETHOUGHT OF THE DAY earning money through Arizona license plates. State dollars should not be fund- “ ere is no such source and cause of strife, quarrel,  ghts, NEW! ing an organization that works to strip malignant opposition, persecution, and war, and all evil in residents of our state of their human the state as religion. Let it once enter our civil a airs, our rights and human dignity. It’s appalling that we’ve already sent over a million government would soon be destroyed. Let it once enter our dollars to this extremist hate group. common schools, they would be destroyed . . . ose who Arizona state Sen. Juan Mendez, an made our Constitution saw this, and used the most apt and Carefully crafted to stamp out open atheist, who proposed a bill for ‘god’ on U.S. currency. Good the DOT to make public the names and comprehensive language in it to prevent such a catastrophe.” for up to 2000 impressions. missions of each entity receiving funds Justice H.S. Orton of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, concurring opinion from specialty plates. Currently, $17 $18 postpaid — Item#ST01 of every $25 from the specialty plates Weiss v. the District Board is sent to Alliance Defending Freedom, March 18, 1890 Call 608/256-8900 a Christian organization that the South- ern Poverty Law Center has labeled as a Online ffrf.org/shop hate group. The Friendly Atheist, 2-6-19 Page 4 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 HEADS UP A Poetry Column By Philip Appleman CHECKMATE God is all-knowing and all-powerful. —The Baltimore Catechism . . . and the Lord hath taken away. —Job, 1:21 Busy as you were, God, when you were alive, you always found time to torment the woman I love—not just that old kid stuff, her tonsil -ectomy, append Steven Pinker’s ad for FFRF will air nationwide on CBS in late March. -ectomy, those casual tweaks, your afternoon’s amusement—no, Steven Pinker ad for I mean the really dirty tricks, the mast -ectomy, blighting her beautiful body, FFRF to air nationally and then of course her hyster For the first time since 2012, CBS the Freedom From Religion Founda- -ectomy, has permitted FFRF to advertise na- tion, the nation’s largest association the doomed flesh gouged away tionally, not just in limited markets. of freethinkers, working to keep the just as you pre-ordained, FFRF’s newest ad, featuring En- state and church separate. Please join and listen, God, I haven’t forgiven you lightenment Now author Steven Pink- me in supporting the Freedom From her hacksawed knees, those twin er, will air on “The Late Show with Religion Foundation to ensure that -ectomies, Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m. East- our government is driven not by reli- nor am I overlooking ern) for three consecutive days. The gion, but by reason.” 30-second spot will run on Monday, Pinker is one of the world’s pre- your other little favors: March 25, Tuesday, March 26 and mier intellects and cognitive psychol- her tricky heart, thinning bones, Wednesday, March 27. ogists, and serves as the Johnstone lazy glands—and when you gave her In the ad, Pinker urges viewers to Family Professor of Psychology at your best shot, that sneaky stroke, join the FFRF in its fight to prevent Harvard University. He’s been named you thought it’d be Strike religion from creeping into U.S. gov- on the Time 100 list of the world’s Three, right? Well, ernment. Pinker has served as FFRF’s “Most Influential People.” Among his not on your life, big boy, first honorary president since 2013. other best-selling books are The Blank she’s tougher than you thought, “Hi, I’m Steve Pinker. In my book, Slate, The Language Instinct and How Enlightenment Now, I show that the the Mind Works. and now that you’re dead, world has become a better place as CBS continues to refuse to air she’s dancing on your grave. reason has been overcoming supersti- FFRF’s other television commercial tion and tribalism. But the values of featuring Ron Reagan (“Not afraid From Perfidious Proverbs and Other Poems: the Enlightenment are under attack. of burning in hell”) nationally or re- A Satirical Look At The Bible That’s why I’m a proud member of gionally on CBS-owned affiliates.

© Philip Appleman.

Philip Appleman is a Dis­tinguished Pro­fessor Emeri­tus at In­dia­na Uni­ver­si­ty. He is editor of FFRF intern works the Norton Critical Edition of Darwin. He and his playwright wife, Marjorie Appleman, are doggedly for legal team both “After-Life” Members of FFRF.

Other books of his, available at shop.ffrf.org, M N INRN Photo by Brent Nicastro Brent by Photo include Karma, Dharma, Pudding & Pie and New and Selected Poems, 1956-1996. Name: Liana McGregor Where and when I was born: Madi- son, Wis., in 1995. Family: It’s just me and my parents, Tom and Anita, and the dogs, Emma FFRF thanks 24 new Lifers, and Bailey. Education: University of Wiscon- 3 After-Lifers, 3 Immortals sin-Madison class of 2018. I majored in political science. FFRF thanks and welcomes our ie Barker Nichols), Marsha Petry, My religious upbringing was: None. 24 new Lifetime Members, three Gordon Purser, John Salow, Paul D. My parents are agnostic and they raised After-Life Members and three Singleton, Michael Seaman, Mason me to be open-minded and respectful Immortals. Tikkanen, Teressa Tooth, Priscilla of all religions. The three new After-Lifers are Wegars and David Werdegar. What I do here: Anything they want Charles Bingham, Philip Lentz and States represented are Arizona, me to, but I mostly prepare letters for Sherron Lentz. An After-Life Mem- California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, the legal department. When I’m not Liana McGregor bership is a $5,000 membership level Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, New York, drafting letters, I’m usually working on for those who want their donation to Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, Wis- a research project or mass mailing for constitutional law, women’s rights and “live on” after them. consin and two from Canada (British one of the attorneys. prison reform. The latest $1,000 Lifetime Mem- Columbia and Ontario). What I like best about it: I’ve learned My legal heroes are: Ruth Bader bers are Jim Asa, William Atkinson, FFRF has also received word that so much from everyone here, and ev- Ginsburg, Sir Thomas More and Sally George P. (Buzz) Avery, Susannah three members have become Immor- eryone is so helpful and patient. My Yates. Barbee, Chris Benedict, Andrew J. tals: Sherron Lentz, Stewart Charles writing skills have really improved, and These three words sum me up: Car- Croteau, Bobbie Cunha, Allen Dines, Singletary and Scott Timm. The Im- I like to see how the attorneys edit the ing, skeptical, sleepy. David Gonce (gift from After-Lif- mortals category is a donation desig- drafts I give them. Things I like: Cooking, hiking, read- er David “Chris” Allen), Austin R. nation for those members who have Something funny that’s happened: ing, and hanging out with my dogs. Green, Mary M. Grimaldi, Art Is- contacted FFRF to report they have The legal assistant throws things at Things I smite: Intolerance, canned bell, Marc-Andre Lachance (second made provisions for FFRF in their es- me, but sometimes it’s candy so I can’t corn and dirty fingernails. Life Membership), Karen Nackard, tate planning. complain. I wish you’d asked me: More about Paul M. Nichols (gift from lifer Joan- Special thanks to all! My legal interests are: Social justice, my dogs. March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 5

THEY SAID WHAT? Freethought Today caption contest winner! Congratulations We don’t think he’s suitable as a Numerous states introducing bible to Jay Ballinger of practicing Muslim to be vice chair be- literacy classes, giving students the op- West Virginia for cause he’d be the representative for all tion of studying the bible. Starting to winning FFRF’s cap- Republicans in Tarrant County, and make a turn back? Great! tion contest from not all Republicans in Tarrant Coun- President Donald Trump. the January/Febru- ty think Islam is safe or acceptable in Twitter, 1-28-19 ary issue, voted on by the U.S., in Tarrant County, and in the staff members. For TCGOP. I don’t need words on a piece of pa- his winning entry, he Tarrant County (Texas) GOP precinct per. God made us all equal. gets an FFRF T-shirt! chair Dorrie O’Brien, in a Facebook Virginia House of Delegates member The winning cap- post, commenting on Shahid Sha- Margaret B. Ransone, explaining tion was: The road fi, a longtime Republican who was why she was voting against a bill that to nowhere. appointed vice chair of the Tarrant would grant equal rights to people Top runners-up County Republican Party. The party regardless of sex. include: took a vote on whether, as a Muslim, The Friendly Atheist, 1-24-19 This is your last The road to nowhere Shafi should remain as vice chair. The warning. — Booth Harned of Missouri. board overwhelmingly approved his With faith in God, with fidelity to Enter at your own risk — Phillip Gold of California and (separately) position. country, and with the fighting spirit I Marcia Yeager of Maryland. The New York Times, 1-10-19 got from my mother, I stand before you The preacher kept asking for a sign. — Judy Saint of California. today to announce my candidacy for Watch for falling standards. — Freya Harris of Georgia. This is not putting God back into president of the United States. Thanks to all who participated. If you see any pictures or images that our schools. It’s U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris during you think would be good for a caption contest, please email them to my opinion that her formal presidential campaign [email protected]. we need to put launch. God back into our CNN, 1-27-19 schools, but this isn’t doing that. I think God calls all of us to fill dif- Team Nebraska state ferent roles at different times and I Continued from page 1 Sen. Steve Erd- think that he wanted Donald Trump to man, who pro- become president, and that’s why he’s higher because that tally only includes groups signed onto under the umbrel- posed a bill that there. calls and emails to federal legislators, la of the Secular Coalition for America Steve Erdman would require Sarah Huckabee Sanders, president not contacts with state and local offi- and which Sen. Mazie Hirono intro- schools to display Trump’s press secretary, in an inter- cials or contacts by other means. duced into the record. As part of that “In God We Trust” signs or posters in view with Christian Broadcasting Net- A lot of those connections were collaboration, FFRF attorneys reviewed classrooms or common areas “where work’s David Brody and Jennifer Wis- about Trump’s judicial nominees. more than 10,000 documents from each student shall be able to see and hon. Two stand out: Jeff Mateer and Brett Kavanaugh’s time in the Bush White read it each day school is in session.” Christian Broadcasting Network, 1-20-19 Kavanaugh. House, uncovering some important Lincoln Journal-Star, 1-20-19 One of the Strategic Response memos that were lost in the later me- It is incredible, but not surprising, Team’s biggest victories was prevent- dia narrative. I pray and I tell our team when we that the Democrats would try to re- ing Mateer from receiving a lifetime The Strategic Response Team also get together, we have an opportunity move God from committee proceed- appointment on the federal bench. works to shape public opinion. We to join in with what God is doing in ings in one of their first acts in the ma- Mateer worked at First Liberty Insti- do this with FFRF statements, op-eds Oklahoma. jority. They really tute, the Christian anti-FFRF group, and articles. We drafted 44 statements Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, speak- have become the and would have been a disaster for on a variety of issues, from the new ing at his “Inaugural Prayer Service.” party of Karl Marx. state-church separation. To stop him, “religious freedom” division at the Right Wing Watch, 1-15-19 House Republi- we authored the most comprehensive Department of Health and Human can Conference record of Mateer’s unfitness. Other Services to the pope accusing abuse To my knowledge there is no case Chairwoman Liz groups used this report to build a nar- victims of “slandering” a bishop. We law that prohibits the depiction of Cheney, on a pro- rative against Mateer, as did the media pulled together 50 press releases on three non-Christian Middle Eastern posal that would and members and staff on the Senate legal and legislative issues and another men on camels that are seeking wis- eliminate the “so Judiciary Committee. We worked with 50 articles, op-eds, blogs and letters to dom. Our display has a legitimate sec- help me God” journalists to publicize Mateer’s trou- the editor. ular purpose. Sarah Huckabee reference from bling ties to First Liberty Institute and An article I wrote for ThinkProgress Superintendent Peggy Mathis, claim- Sanders the oath adminis- the Texas attorney general. We even (“The White House bible study ing that the display of the “three wise tered to witnesses put together an effective, popular vid- group that influenced Trump’s family men” on top of Newaygo Elementary testifying before the House Commit- eo compiling Mateer’s most egregious separation policy”) shifted public School in Michigan is not religious in tee on Natural Resources. moments, urging viewers to oppose discourse on both that policy and the nature. Fox News, 1-30-19 his confirmation. President Trump bible study. The Friendly Atheist, 12-5-18 rescinded Mateer’s nomination in This is just a sample. The Strategic I don’t think we’re going to listen December. Response Team handled more than If the commissioner of education to her on much of anything, partic- We put in as much work to oppose 450 separate projects last year. Most of wants to fix education in the state of ularly not on matters we’re gonna Brett Kavanaugh, but without the suc- them you’ll never hear about. By its na- New York, he can go to the public leave in the hands of a much, much cess. The Strategic Response Team ture, much of our work is behind the schools and fix the education being of- higher authority, and certainly not vetted every possible Trump Supreme scenes and there’s a lot that we do for fered there. The Jewish nation will not listen to the freshman congresswom- Court nominee and drafted press re- which we cannot be publicly credited. bow or give in to the wicked, not even an on when the world may end. leases and reports on each of the final We can say that your interests are being the commissioner of education. We will Sarah Huckabee Sanders, president four. This allowed FFRF to issue a state- well represented, including on Capitol go out to war against the commissioner Trump’s press secretary, referencing ment on Kavanaugh less than two min- Hill. So well, in fact, that we’re high- in every way. God while responding to a statement utes after his name was announced. We ly motivated and inspired by our work Satmar Rebbe Aron Teitelbaum, by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio- also collaborated with other groups, this past year to redouble our efforts. an ultra-Orthodox Jew, in a speech Cortez that the United States needs including helping to draft a letter op- Andrew L. Seidel is an attorney and the di- translated from Yiddish, in defiance to act on climate change before it is posing Kavanaugh that other secular rector of FFRF’s Strategic Response Team. of the state’s ruling that the New too late. York City Department of Education Fox News, 1-22-19 is giving yeshivas three years to clean up their act, demanding that the re- The idea that homosexual behavior Freedom from Religion Foundation ligious schools ensure a curriculum is different than bestiality as a consti- P.O. Box 750 • Madison, WI 53701 • (608) 256-8900 • FFRF.org “substantially equivalent” to that of tutional matter is unjustifiable. There public schools. is no right in our Constitution to have What is the Freedom From Religion Foundation? New York Post, 12-2-18 sex with whoever or whatever you Founded in 1978 as a national organization of freethinkers (atheists and want in the privacy of your own home agnostics), the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., works to keep state The bible is an integral part of our (or barn). and church separate and to educate the public about the views of nontheists. society and deserves a place in the Brian Hagedorn, candidate for the FFRF has more than 31,000 members. FFRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and classroom. Wisconsin Supreme Court, in a letter donations are tax deductible for income tax purposes. North Dakota state Rep. Aaron McWil- he wrote in 2005 to the Milwaukee FFRF’s email address is [email protected]. Please include your name and physical liams, a co-sponsor of a bill that would Journal Sentinel. mailing address with all email correspondence. require the state’s public high schools NewCivilRightsMovement.com, 1-3-19 FFRF members wishing to receive online news releases, “action alerts” and to offer an elective on bible studies. “Freethought of the Day” should contact [email protected]. USA Today, 1-23-19 Page 6 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 The evangelical grip on Trump administration This article first appeared in The Guardian Trump’s evangelical clout on Jan. 11 and is reprinted with permission. Trump’s order to move the US By Julian Borger embassy from Tel Aviv — over the objections of his foreign policy and n setting out the Trump national security team — is a striking administration’s Middle East policy, example of evangelical clout. Ione of the first things Mike Pompeo The move was also pushed by Las Vegas made clear to his audience in Cairo is billionaire and Republican mega-donor, that he had come to the region as “as an Sheldon Adelson, but the orchestration evangelical Christian.” of the embassy opening ceremony last In his speech at the American May reflected the audience Trump was University, Pompeo said that in his trying hardest to appease. state department The two pastors given the prime office: “I keep a speaking slots were both ardent bible open on my Christian Zionists: Robert Jeffress, desk to remind a Dallas pastor on record as saying me of God and Jews, like Muslims and Mormons, his word, and the are bound for hell; and John Hagee, truth.” a televangelist and founder of The secretary State Department photo Christians United for Israel (Cufi), of state’s primary Secretary of State Michael Pompeo visited the Cathedral of the Nativity in Cairo who once said that Hitler and the message in Cairo on Jan. 10. Holocaust were part of God’s plan to was that the “He knows best how his faith interacts country in October, depicting a retired get Jews back to Israel, to pave the way Julian Borger United States was with his political beliefs and the duties firefighter who claims to have heard for the Rapture. ready once more he undertakes as secretary of state,” God’s voice, saying: “I’ve chosen this man, For many evangelicals, the move to embrace conservative Middle Eastern said Stan van den Berg, senior pastor of Donald Trump, for such a time as this.” cemented Trump’s status as the new regimes, no matter how repressive, if they Pompeo’s church in Wichita in an email. Lance Wallnau, a self-proclaimed Cyrus, who oversaw the Jews’ return to made common cause against Iran. “Suffice to say, he is a faithful man, he prophet who features in the film, has Jerusalem and rebuilt the Temple. His second message was religious. In has integrity, he has a compassionate called Trump “God’s Chaos Candidate” The tightening of the evangelical his visit to Egypt, he came across as much heart, a humble disposition and a mind and a “modern Cyrus.” grip on the administration has also as a preacher as a diplomat. He talked for wisdom.” “Cyrus is the model for a nonbeliever been reflected in a growing hostility to about “America’s innate goodness” and As Donald Trump finds himself appointed by God as a vessel for the the United Nations, often portrayed as marveled at a newly built cathedral as “a ever more dependent on them for his purposes of the faithful,” said Katherine a sinister and godless organization. stunning testament to the Lord’s hand.” political survival, the influence of Pence, Stewart, who writes extensively about Since former U.N. Ambassador Nikki The desire to erase Barack Obama’s Pompeo and the ultraconservative white the Christian Right. Haley announced her departure in legacy, Donald Trump’s instinctive evangelicals who stand behind them is She added that they welcome his October and Pompeo took more direct embrace of autocrats, and the private likely to grow. readiness to break democratic norms to control, the U.S. mission has become interests of the Trump Organization have “Many of them relish the second combat perceived threats to their values increasingly combative, blocking all been analyzed as driving forces behind coming because for them it means and way of life. references to gender and reproductive the administration’s foreign policy. eternal life in heaven,” Andrew Chesnut, “The Christian nationalist movement health in U.N. documents. professor of religious studies at Virginia is characterized by feelings of persecution Some theologians also see an Policy consequences Commonwealth and, to some degree, increasingly evangelical tinge to the The gravitational pull of white University said. paranoia — a clear administration’s broader Middle East Many [evangelicals] evangelicals has been less visible. “There is a palpable example is the policies, in particular its fierce embrace But it could have far-reaching policy danger that people relish the second coming idea that there is of Binyamin Netanyahu’s government, because“ for them it means consequences. Vice President Mike in high position somehow a ‘war on the lack of balancing sympathy for Pence and Pompeo both cite evangelical who subscribe to eternal life in heaven. Christmas,’” Stewart the Palestinians — and the insistent theology as a powerful motivating force. these beliefs will — Andrew Chesnut, professor said. “People in those demonization of the Iranian government. Just as he did in Cairo, Pompeo be readier to take of religious studies at Virginia positions will often Evangelicals, Chesnut said, “now see called on the congregation of a Kansan us into a conflict Commonwealth University. go for authoritarian the United States locked into a holy war megachurch three years ago to join a that brings on leaders who will do against the forces of evil who they see as fight of good against evil. Armageddon.” whatever is necessary embodied by Iran.” “We will continue to fight these Chesnut argues that Christian to fight for their cause.” In a speech at the end of a regional battles,” the then congressman said Zionism has become the “majority Trump was raised as a Presbyterian, tour, Pompeo reprised the theme, at the Summit Church in Wichita. “It theology” among white U.S. evangelicals, but leaned increasingly towards describing Iran as a “cancerous is a never-ending struggle . . . until the who represent about a quarter of the evangelical preachers as he began influence.” rapture. Be part of it. Be in the fight.” adult population. In a 2015 poll, 73 contemplating a run for the presidency. This zeal for a defining struggle For Pompeo’s audience, the rapture percent of evangelical Christians said Trump’s choice of Pence as a has thus far found common cause invoked an apocalyptical Christian vision events in Israel are prophesied in the running mate was a gesture of his with more secular hawks such as the of the future, a final battle between good Book of Revelation. Respondents were commitment, and four of the six national security adviser, John Bolton, and evil, and the second coming of Jesus not asked specifically whether their preachers at his inauguration were and Trump’s own drive to eliminate Christ, when the faithful will ascend to believed developments in Israel would evangelicals, including Paula White and the legacy of Barack Obama, whose heaven and the rest will go to hell. actually bring forth the apocalypse. Franklin Graham, the eldest son of the signature foreign policy achievement For many evangelical Christians preacher Billy Graham, who defended was the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, in the United States, one of the key Complicated relationship Trump through his many sex scandals, which Trump abrogated last May. preconditions for such a moment is the The relationship between evangelicals pointing out: “We are all sinners.” In conversations with European gathering of the world’s Jews in a greater and the president himself is complicated. Having lost control of the House leaders such as Emmanuel Macron and Israel between the Mediterranean and Trump himself embodies the very of Representatives in November, Theresa May, Trump has reportedly the Jordan River. It is a belief, known opposite of a pious Christian ideal. and under ever-closer scrutiny for insisted he has no intention of going to as premillenial dispensationalism or Trump is not a churchgoer. He is his campaign’s links to the Kremlin, war with Iran. His desire to extricate U.S. Christian Zionism – and it has very profane, twice divorced, who has boasted Trump’s instinct has been to cleave ever troops from Syria marks a break with real potential consequences for U.S. of sexually assaulting women. But white closer to his most loyal supporters. hawks, religious and secular, who want to foreign policy. evangelicals have embraced him. Almost alone among major contain Iranian influence there. It directly colors views on the Israeli- Eighty percent of white evangelicals demographic groups, white evangelicals But the logic of his policy of ever- Palestinian conflict, and indirectly, voted for him in 2016, and his popularity are overwhelmingly in favor of Trump’s increasing pressure, coupled with attitudes towards Iran, broader Middle among them remains in the 70s. While border wall, which some preachers unstinting support for Israel and Saudi East geopolitics and the primacy of other white voters have flaked away in equate with fortifications in the bible. Arabia, makes confrontation with Iran protecting Christian minorities. In his the first two years of his presidency, Evangelical links have also ever more likely. Cairo visit, Pompeo heaped praise on white evangelicals have become his last helped shape alliances in the Trump One of the most momentous foreign Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, for building the new solid bastion. presidency. As secretary of state, policy questions of 2019 is whether cathedral, but made no reference to the Some leading evangelicals see Pompeo has been instrumental in Trump can veer away from the collision 60,000 political prisoners the regime is Trump as a latter-day King Cyrus, the forging links with other evangelical course he has helped set in motion — thought to be holding, or its routine use sixth-century B.C. Persian emperor leaders in the hemisphere, including perhaps conjuring up a last-minute of torture. who liberated the Jews from Babylonian Guatemala’s Jimmy Morales and the deal — or instead welcome conflict as a Pompeo is an evangelical Presbyterian, captivity. new Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro. distraction from his domestic woes, and who says he was “brought to Jesus” by The comparison is made explicitly in Both have undertaken to follow the sell it to the faithful as a crusade. other cadets at the West Point military “The Trump Prophecy,” a religious film U.S. lead in moving their embassies in Julian Borger is a British journalist who academy in the 1980s. screened in 1,200 cinemas around the Israel to Jerusalem. is the world affairs editor for The Guardian. March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 7 IN THE NEWS Pope admits nuns Iowa abortion restriction were sexually abused Ohio governor takes oath on nine bibles ruled unconstitutional For the first time, Pope Francis said An Iowa state judge on Jan. 22 publicly that the Catholic Church had struck down the state’s so-called “fetal faced a persistent problem of sexual heartbeat” law, declaring one of the abuse of nuns by priests and bishops. nation’s most restrictive abortion bans Nuns have accused clerics of sexual unconstitutional. abuse in India, Africa, Latin America The law, signed in May, would ban and in Italy, and a Vatican magazine in doctors from performing most abor- January mentioned nuns having abor- tions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. tions or giving birth to the children of That can happen as early as six weeks priests. Francis hadn’t discussed the into a pregnancy, before many women issue until he was asked to comment even know they are pregnant. during a news conference on Feb. 5. “Today’s ruling is a victory for ev- “It’s true,” Francis said. “There are ery Iowan who has ever needed or will priests and bishops who have done that.” need a safe, legal abortion,” Planned Parenthood of the Heartland’s medi- 300 priests accused of cal director, Dr. Jill Meadows, said. sex abuse in Texas Waiver granted to The Roman Catholic Church in Christian ministry Texas on Jan. 31 released the names of almost 300 priests who it said had New Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine was sworn in with his hand on a stack of nine The Trump administration said Jan. been credibly accused of child sex bibles. His son, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat DeWine, administered the 22 it was granting a Christian ministry abuse over nearly eight decades. oath. His wife Fran held all of the bibles. A DeWine spokesman said the gov- in South Carolina permission to partic- It was the latest in a wave of disclo- ernor and first lady wanted a bible to represent each of their eight children. ipate in the federally funded foster-care sures by the church as it faces a series FFRF wrote a strong letter of protest. (See page 8.) program, even though the group will of federal and state investigations into work only with Christian families. its handling of sexual misconduct. Last year, the South Carolina De- The names were posted online by partment of Social Services learned all 15 of the state’s dioceses and fol- It said about two-thirds of the peo- Supreme Court blocks of Miracle Hill’s policy, notified the lowed the publication in August of ple on the list are dead. The diocese is group it was in violation of federal a bombshell report on clerical sex one of the largest in the country. abortion law in La. law and downgraded it to a provision- abuse by the Pennsylvania attorney Advocates who track abuse cases On Feb. 7, Chief Justice John Rob- al license. Gov. Henry McMaster then general that has spurred investiga- said it also roughly doubled the num- erts joined with the Supreme Court’s asked Health and Human Services for tions of the church in more than a ber of suspected abusers they had liberals to block a Louisiana law that a waiver. dozen other states. been aware of in the diocese. opponents say would close most of HHS said it would grant this waiv- The diocese in 2018 reached a the state’s abortion clinics and leave er, days before the group’s provisional 380 Southern Baptists $27.5 million settlement with four it with only one doctor eligible to per- license was set to expire. The depart- accused of sex abuse men who said they were abused as form the procedure. ment argued that the Obama-era regu- boys by a Catholic school teacher be- The justices may yet consider lation was ill-conceived and that some More than 700 victims have been tween 2003 and 2009. whether the 2014 law — requiring of its requirements “are not reflected” sexually abused by about 380 South- doctors at abortion clinics to have ad- in the underlying statute. ern Baptist leaders and volunteers Ex-cardinal McCarrick mitting privileges at nearby hospitals since 1998, according to an investiga- defrocked for sex abuse — unduly burdens women’s access to Supreme Court denies tion by the Houston Chronicle and abortion. Muslim imam at execution San Antonio Express-News. The Vatican said Feb. 16 it had de- The Louisiana law has never been “Ultimately, we compiled informa- frocked former cardinal Theodore enforced, and the Supreme Court in The Supreme Court on Feb. 7 al- tion on 380 credibly accused officials in McCarrick. 2016 found a nearly identical Texas lowed the execution of a Muslim in- Southern Baptist churches, including He is now the highest-ranking law to be unconstitutional. mate in Alabama whose request that pastors, deacons, Sunday school teach- church official to be expelled from “The Supreme Court has stepped his imam be present had been denied. ers and volunteers,” the newspapers said. the priesthood for sex abuse. in under the wire to protect the rights The vote was 5 to 4, with the four “We verified that about 220 had been A church tribunal found McCar- of Louisiana women,” said Nancy Nor- more liberal members of the court convicted of sex crimes or received de- rick guilty of “solicitation in the Sac- thup, president and CEO of the Cen- in dissent. The majority offered little ferred prosecutions in plea deals.” rament of Confession and sins against ter for Reproductive Rights, which reasoning but said that the inmate, According to the report, of those the Sixth Commandment with minors represented the law’s challengers. Domineque Ray, had waited too long 220, 90 are in prison and 100 are reg- and with adults, with the aggravating But the legal challenge isn’t over, to object. Justice Elena Kagan, writ- istered sex offenders. factor of the abuse of power,” the Vat- so Roberts’ position on the merits re- ing for the dissenters, said the major- ican said. mains to be seen. ity was “profoundly wrong.” New Jersey dioceses Pope Francis has approved the rul- She wrote, “a Christian prisoner may release names of abusers ing and there is no possibility of ap- Lawyers: Kim Davis have a minister of his own faith accom- peal, the statement said. must pay legal bills pany him into the execution chamber The names of nearly 200 priests and McCarrick, 88, resigned his post as to say his last rites. But if an inmate deacons who were accused of sexual- cardinal last year after an investiga- Lawyers for Kentucky Gov. Matt practices a different religion — whether ly abusing children were released Feb. tion found evidence he had molested Bevin say former Rowan County Clerk Islam, Judaism or any other — he may 13 by New Jersey’s five Roman Catholic a minor altar boy almost a half-centu- Kim Davis should be held responsible not die with a minister of his own faith dioceses. ry ago. for nearly $225,000 in legal fees and by his side.” “In an effort to do what is right and Another man told The New York court costs incurred by couples who In June, the Supreme Court de- just, we are publishing the names of di- Times that he was in his 20s when Mc- sued her in 2015 when she refused clined to reconsider the appeal. ocesan clergy credibly accused of sexual Carrick abused him in the 1980s. Mc- to issue marriage licenses because of abuse of minors in the Archdiocese of Carrick was a bishop in New Jersey at her religious opposition to same-sex Montana ends tuition Newark,” said Newark Archbishop Jo- the time. marriage. tax credit program seph Cardinal Tobin in a letter. The Dio- A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. ceses of Camden, Trenton, Paterson and Vatican official quits Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinna- The Montana Supreme Court in- Metuchen also released their own lists. after abuse accusation ti heard arguments about who should validated the state’s tuition tax credit The lists follow many similar records bear the case’s expenses. in December, ending a program that of names published by dioceses across A Vatican official who handles sexual A district judge ruled in 2017 that allowed taxpayers to fund scholar- the country recently. Of the 188 names abuse cases for the Catholic Church quit the couples suing for marriage licens- ships for private schools, most of released, more than 100 are deceased. two months after being accused of sexu- es clearly prevailed and that the state which are religious-based. al abuse. of Kentucky must pay their fees and Taxpayers could donate up to $150 N.Y. diocese names 108 On Jan. 28, Hermann Geissler re- costs. toward scholarships for students at- priests in abuse cases signed from his position as chief of staff Bevin appealed that ruling, hop- tending private schools – the major- in the Congregation for the Doctrine of ing to hand the bill instead to the ity of which are religious in Montana The Roman Catholic Diocese of the Faith, a body that handles discipline Rowan County clerk’s office. Davis – and then receive a $150 credit on Brooklyn, N.Y., released the names in sexual abuse cases within the Catholic acted alone, without any state sup- their tax bills. of 108 priests who have been credibly Church. Geissler maintained his inno- port, the governor’s lawyers told the The Montana Department of Rev- accused of sexually abusing minors cence but said he was resigning to pro- 6th Circuit in briefs ahead of the oral enue determined the program unlaw- during the diocese’s 166-year-history. tect the church. arguments. fully aided religion-based schools. Page 8 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 FFRF NEWS Latin cross dishonors freethinking veterans

U.S. Supreme Court to large disbelieving portion of the U.S. rule on Maryland cross population while making its decision, the secular groups urge in their joint A huge Christian cross on public land amicus brief. As secular and humanist in Maryland is massively disrespectful to organizations that promote freedom of nonreligious Americans, the Freedom conscience for those who do not prac- From Religion Foundation and four tice religion, the groups’ brief offers other secular groups are contending be- a unique viewpoint on government fore the U.S. Supreme Court. display of religious symbols and the The friend-of-the-court brief in sup- exclusion of religious minorities and port of the American Humanist Associ- nonbelievers. ation’s case before the Supreme Court The government’s use of prominent Photo from Wikimedia Commons was filed Jan. 30 by FFRF, the Center religious symbols serves to stigmatize, The fate of the 40-foot cross in Bladensburg, Md., will be decided by the Supreme for Inquiry, American Atheists, Military marginalize and diminish that large Court. FFRF has filed a friend-of-the-court brief backing the American Humanist Association of Atheists & Freethinkers, portion of citizens who exercise their Association’s case to have it removed. and the Secular Coalition for America. constitutional right not to believe or The Supreme Court will be holding practice a religion. These same trends twice about seeing an Islamic crescent The U.S. solicitor general and others oral arguments on Feb. 27 in the chal- are present in the U.S. military. In 2017, or Wiccan pentangle or atheist atom on are asking the court to disregard the lenge of a major 4th U.S. Circuit Court more than 30 percent of the active duty a prominent government building, dis- harm to nonbelievers from the govern- of Appeals victory that the American population of the American military did play or monument, especially one pur- ment’s use of Christian symbols, arguing Humanist Association obtained in Oc- not affiliate with any religion. The five porting to honor the sacrifice of those that there cannot be an Establishment tober 2017. The appeals court affirmed secular groups note that those soldiers with different religious views. Clause violation without a showing of that a mega-cross, which was erected as risk their lives to defend our country. When deciding whether the Estab- coercion. a war memorial in Bladensburg, Md., So, when we purport to honor them, lishment Clause permits the govern- Establishment Clause principles is unconstitutional. It held that the why would we do so in a manner that ment to use the Latin cross to collective- have long prevented government from 40-foot-tall cross “excessively entangles disrespects their nonbelief? ly honor fallen soldiers, the historical stigmatizing nonbelievers. And those the government in religion” because “The ‘First Amendment mandates practices of the U.S. military reveal that principles are particularly salient today, the cross is the “core symbol of Christi- governmental neutrality between reli- the military has scrupulously avoided because tens of millions of Americans anity” and “breaches” the constitution- gion and religion, and between religion using sectarian symbols, such as Latin identify with no religion. al wall dividing state and church. The and nonreligion,’” to quote the U.S. Su- crosses, to mark the graves of soldiers That’s why FFRF and four other petitioners challenging this ruling are preme Court, the brief observes. who practice a different religion. like-minded organizations are urging the Maryland National Capital Park The brief asks the court to imagine The secular groups write: “This un- the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the and Planning Commission and the if the shoe were on the other foot: A derstanding requires no logical leap: A ruling of the 4th Circuit. A judgment American Legion. Christian who takes for granted being Latin cross is unmistakably ‘the preem- to the contrary would dishonor the in- The Supreme Court needs to keep in surrounded by Latin crosses and oth- inent symbol of Christianity,’” to quote numerable soldiers without belief who mind the rights and sensibilities of the er Christian symbols might well think the U.S. Supreme Court. have fought and died for our nation. FFRF chides new governors over sectarian events It was an inauspicious start to the tickets to the event, offering those who new terms of several governors around pay $7,500 “reserved section seating the country, as they made references to for two at the Inaugural swearing-in God or held worship services as part of ceremony and the worship service.” the official inaugural celebrations. FFRF urged each of these governors, Wisconsin in writing, that the governor’s offices The new governor in FFRF’s home in these states honor our secular form state started his tenure with a major of government and keep divisive and state/church misstep, causing FFRF to unnecessary religion out of state-spon- Kevin Stitt Kristi Noem Bill Lee Tony Evers formally complain. sored events. On Jan. 7, Wisconsin Gov. Tony edly declared his mission as a governor nationalist vision for South Dakota. Evers’ Inaugural — the first state-spon- Ohio to be a religious mission, to “join in with She even pivoted from Christian na- sored event with him at the helm — An overdose of bibles at the new what God is doing in Oklahoma.” tionalism to exorcism, praying that included religious (almost completely Ohio governor’s swearing in caused Then, Oklahoma First Lady Sarah “any demon that may try to come in Christian) content that led local FFRF FFRF to be concerned about the consti- Stitt followed with similarly trouble- this place is kicked out.” members who were in attendance to tutional health of the Buckeye State. some statements, telling Christians to “We hope that you can see how feel immediately excluded. For exam- Gov. Mike DeWine chose to be offi- use their position in elected office to your endorsement of an event at ple, the ceremony opened with an in- cially sworn on Jan. 14 in at a religious convert people to Christianity: “We are which attendees were asked to pray vocation by the Rev. Willie Brisco that ceremony held in his home, with Chris- God’s kingdom here on Earth. It is our that ‘the Holy Spirit absolutely takes plainly conveyed a Christian message. tian hymns, prayers, and an overempha- call to go out into our state and save over every corner and every crevice The occasion also included a con- sis on religion that included swearing in people and bring people to Him.” of this Capitol and this state’ sent an cert of Christian songs by William Reed on not one, not two, but nine bibles. unmistakable message to all nonreli- III Community Choir, a gospel choir, This conveyed a fealty not to the South Dakota gious South Dakotans ‘that they are featuring repetitive theological lyrics United States, but rather to DeWine’s On Jan. 6 — her first full day as gov- outsiders, not full members of the about worshiping Jesus. own religious beliefs, FFRF asserts. In- ernor of South Dakota — Gov. Kristi political community,’” FFRF Legal Even the ordinarily banal inclusion stead of swearing in on nine bibles, it Noem sponsored a church service in Fellow Colin McNamara wrote to the of “God bless” by various speakers con- would have been far more appropriate the Capitol rotunda. The event was governor, quoting the U.S. Supreme tributed to an overall impression that for DeWine to swear in on the U.S. Con- billed as an “Inaugural Worship Ser- Court. “We urge you to focus on the the event was intended mainly as a cel- stitution, a godless and entirely secular vice with Governor Noem,” explicitly secular business of governing, and ebration for Wisconsin Christians. document, whose only references to re- tying this religious event to her inau- leave church services where they be- ligion are exclusionary. guration and public office. Despite long — in a church.” assurances that “all [were] welcome,” Oklahoma this event made no attempt at being Tennessee What Is a Freethinker? Newly inaugurated Oklahoma Gov. an “interfaith” service; every aspect Tennessee Gov.-elect Bill Lee sold Kevin Stitt had not even been in office was decidedly Christian in nature. tickets to a government-sponsored re- freethinker n. one week before violating the Constitu- The service featured Christian ligious service under the guise of it 1 A person who forms opinions tion he took an oath to uphold. music, a full sermon by a pastor, and being the Inaugural Ceremony. Me- about religion on the basis of The day after his inauguration, Stitt multiple group prayers. One of these dia reported the Jan. 19 event as a reason, independently of tradition, and his wife attended an Inaugural prayers, led by a woman who iden- “star-studded prayer service at the Ry- authority, or established belief. prayer service at the First Baptist Church tified herself as the new governor’s man Auditorium.” of Moore. During the service, he report- family friend, endorsed a Christian The governor-elect’s website sold March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 9 FFRF, others decry Christian Nationalist drive A major stealth campaign to legally enshrine Chris- “An alarming effort is underway to harness the tianity in states all over the country is being forced power of the government to impose its faith onto ev- into the public eye, thanks to dozens of leading con- eryone else, including our public school students,” stitutionally minded groups, such as the FFRF. the statement contends. “This effort seeks to trans- “Project Blitz” is a coordinated national effort by form religious freedom into a sword that can be the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation and used to harm others, undermining important civil others to incorporate Christian nationalism in state rights protections and health care access, especially laws across the country. It promotes a three-tiered for women, LGBTQ people, those of minority faiths, framework of state bills intended to incrementally and the nonreligious.” redefine religious freedom to tear down the Therefore, FFRF and other secular organizations separation of church and state, with each tier laying urge legislators across the nation to oppose Project the groundwork for the next. Blitz and similar efforts. America is stronger when Religious freedom is a fundamental American the government gives no set of religions or beliefs value, FFRF and the 42 other organizations, which more power or preference than any other — and range from American Atheists to Muslim Advo- when everyone is welcome and treated equally cates, maintain in a joint statement spotlighting under the law. Project Blitz. FFRF is proud to be part of this combined initia- “The separation of church and state . . . is the to practice a religion or be nonreligious without tive, organized by Americans United for Separation linchpin of religious freedom and a hallmark of pressure from the government.” of Church and State, to preserve our secular values our democracy,” the statement asserts. “It ensures But Project Blitz is out to breach the wall of and ensure that the nefarious “Project Blitz” project that each person has the right to choose whether separation. to undermine our Constitution doesn’t succeed. FFRF meets with Freethought Caucus Michigan pulls out of three FFRF lawsuits Michigan is withdrawing itself from opposing three of FFRF’s cases under the leadership of its new Attorney General Dana Nessel. The state had previously been part of a group led by conservative attorneys general that opposed FFRF’s ongoing lit- FFRF Co-President Dan Barker and Director of Strategic Response Andrew Seidel were among leaders of several national igation to ensure the separation of state secular organizations invited to meet with members of the new Congressional Freethought Caucus in January. Members and church. Previous Attorney General of the Congressional Freethought Caucus in attendance were U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. (front row, second from Bill Schuette had left), Jerry McNerney, D-Calif. (front row, fourth from left) and Jared Huffman, D-Calif. (back row, fourth from left). filed briefs in op- position of FFRF. Nessel has honor- ably decided that, Just Pretend: A Book For under her leader- Young Freethinkers FFRF couldn’t have said it better ship, the state will NEW! no longer waste By Dan Barker Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in a New with religious teaching, govern- legal resources on Illustrated York Times op-ed Feb.7: ments do not pass laws to be con- these cases. by Kati Treu Mr. Trump and the Religious sistent with what any particular Dana Nessel The three cases Revised and Right are spreading falsehoods religion dictates. are: Freedom From adorably illustrated about New York’s law to inflame I was educated in religious Religion Foundation v. Lehigh, Gaylor v. classic. This fun their base. schools, and I am a former altar Mnuchin, and Barker v. Conroy. book explores Activists on boy. My Roman Catholic values “I will not use this office to under- myths and the far right are my personal values. The deci- mine some of the most important religion from a freethought point of continue to sions I choose to make in my life, values in our state, including those view, and promotes critical thinking. mislead with or in counseling my daughters, involving reproductive rights and the Color Edition! Published by FFRF the ridiculous are based on my personal moral separation of church and state,” Nes- claim that the and religious beliefs. sel said in a statement announcing Buy it from FFRF online act will allow Thanks to the nation’s found- the state’s withdrawal. shop.ffrf.org abortions up ers, no elected official is empow- FFRF applauds Nessel on her to a minute ered to make personal religious decision. Photo: Marc A. Hermann before birth. beliefs the law of the land. My “The new AG has demonstrated Andrew Cuomo . . . The oath of office is to the Constitu- commendable leadership by choosing FFRF’s classic 73 percent tions of the United States and of to honor the values of Michigan citi- of New Yorkers who support Roe the State of New York — not to zens over religious interest groups,” says ‘Freethinker’ mug includes 59 percent of Catholics. the Catholic Church. My religion FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gay- Our classic ‘Freethinker’ mug has While governments may very well cannot demand favoritism as I lor. “We hope this serves as an example been re-created. White imprint on enact laws that are consistent execute my public duties. to other attorneys general that their po- classic blue, matte finish. 9.5 fl.oz. sitions are better served upholding the American-made mug. law than weaponizing religious liberty NEW! to target vulnerable groups.” Yip Harburg, from his book: Rhymes for the Irreverent Illustrated by Seymore Cwast, published by FFRF The Born Again Skeptic’s Guide to the Bible

Strike Three By Ruth Hurmence Green A broken clock can tell the time A Missouri grandmother debunks the bible as Correctly twice a day, no one has debunked it Astrologers, like broken clocks, since Thomas Paine. — Item#MU01 $20 postpaid Are clairvoyant that way. Published by FFRF

Call 608/256-8900 BuyBuy it it from from FFRF online online Online ffrf.org/shop Buy it from FFRF online - shop.ffrf.org shop.ffshop.ffrf.org rf.org Page 10 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 FFRF VICTORIES

By Bailey Nachreiner-Mackesey also reportedly made a school-wide federal and state law and local Board The district notified the substitute’s announcement over the PA system to policy.” employer, and has enacted a plan to Here’s a state-by-state look at the numer- promote distribution. ensure that this violation will not hap- ous victories FFRF has won recently. FFRF Associate Counsel Elizabeth Pike County pen again. Cavell sent a letter to Superintendent A Christian adventure comedy ARIZONA John Graham, alerting him to the sit- called “The Star” will not be shown in Tuba City uation. Cavell reminded the district of Pike County Schools again. MISSOURI Tuba City Unified School District its constitutional obligation to remain A Valley Elementary School parent Columbia #15 will no longer allow prayer at its neutral on matters of religion and to reported to FFRF that a third-grade A Columbia Public Schools employ- graduation ceremonies. protect both its students’ and parents’ science teacher at the school showed ee has been reminded of his obligation FFRF was informed that Tuba City rights of conscience from religious a film called “The Star” in class. The to refrain from leading or participat- Junior High School’s 2018 gradua- proselytization on school property. movie apparently follows the biblical ing in religious clubs at school. tion ceremony included an opening The superintendent has spoken account of the birth of Jesus. Christian A concerned district community prayer led by a student. FFRF Associate with the staff at Filer Intermediate themes are reportedly also portrayed member reported that a teacher and Counsel Elizabeth Cavell wrote to Su- School and ensured that they would throughout the movie, including a re- basketball coach at Gentry Middle perintendent Sharlene Navaho, stating not allow the Gideons back on school liance on prayer for guidance and a de- School had been actively leading a Fel- that unconstitutional religious rituals property. sire to do God’s will. lowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) should not be part of graduation cere- FFRF Legal Fellow Colin McNamara club at the school for several years. monies or any other school-sponsored wrote the district, requesting that it FCA is a Christian organization whose events. ILLINOIS “make certain that none of its employ- mission is to “lead every coach and ath- The superintendent responded to Effingham ees is unlawfully and inappropriately lete into a growing relationship with FFRF’s complaint with assurances that FFRF has extracted a pledge from an indoctrinating students in religious Jesus Christ and his church.” “religious prayers will not be permitted Illinois school district to curb creation- matters.” FFRF Legal Fellow Colin McNamara at [their] graduation ceremonies. ism-promoting events in its schools. The district’s attorney responded to wrote to Superintendent Peter Stieple- A concerned district parent con- the letter by letting FFRF know he had man, alerting him to this teacher’s un- tacted FFRF after discovering that a spoken with the school’s principal and lawful leadership of the club. CALIFORNIA fourth-grade math assignment at Cen- advised him to speak to his staff about The district investigated the matter Rocklin tral Grade School in Effingham includ- the issue and to refrain from showing and spoke with the teacher. “We reit- Rocklin Academy Charter School ed unconstitutional overt religious this movie or any like it in the future. erated the school districts’ position,” will move an annual field trip from a instruction. the superintendent’s letter read, “that Christian camp retreat to a secular lo- The assignment consisted of count- Rowan County children may form religious clubs, but cation in the future. ing the total number of gifts given in FFRF addressed two separate in- that teachers/staff, in their capacity as A concerned parent reported that the lyrics of the song, “The Twelve Days stances of coach-sponsored prayer in school employees, may not participate Rocklin Academy Gateway takes an of Christmas.” Completely superfluous Rowan County Schools, prompting the in or lead any type of religious clubs.” annual field trip to Alliance Redwoods to the task, students were given reli- district to remind district employees of Conference Grounds (ARCG), an gious metaphors for each lyric in the their constitutional obligations. evangelical retreat. ARCG’s mission is song. The assignment stated that “the First, a concerned parent of a Row- NEBRASKA to provide a place “where our guests ‘true love’ of the song refers to God,” an County Senior High School band Stapleton meet the Creator in his Creation,” ac- “The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus member contacted FFRF to report Promotions for a religious Todd cording to the camp director in a pro- Christ,” etc. that the band was subjected to a group Becker Foundation event have been re- motional video. FFRF Staff Attorney Ryan Jayne prayer as part of a mandatory practice moved from Stapleton Public Schools’ FFRF Associate Counsel Elizabeth wrote to Effingham CUSD #40 Super- last October. Then, separately, a par- website. Cavell wrote to the district, outlining intendent Mark Doan, citing the un- ent reported that, last December, Row- Stapleton Public Schools had been the plethora of the religious entangle- constitutionality of the math exercise. an County Schools basketball coaches promoting and endorsing a religious ments associated with taking students The district responded to FFRF’s joined hands with players for an on- worship event being put on by the to this camp. complaint on Jan. 28, acknowledging court prayer circle. Todd Becker Foundation at North The school has put a plan in place that the religious material was inap- In both instances, FFRF Legal Fel- Platte High School. to ensure this year’s trip does not in- propriate and assuring that no similar low Colin McNamara wrote to the dis- FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line wrote clude any religious proselytization, violation will occur in the future. trict, asking that it cease the practice to the district, asking that it remove the including vetting the curriculum and of allowing adults to proselytize to its unconstitutional religious promotion never allowing camp staff to be alone students. immediately. Superintendent Howard with students without school chaper- KANSAS The district’s response assures FFRF Gaffney responded quickly, complying ones present. Next year’s trip will then Wichita that “school district central office with the request and thanking FFRF for be moved to a secular location. A public marquee in Wichita Public personnel have met with principals, bringing the matter to his attention. Schools will no longer advertise an coaches and other school-level person- after-school bible club. nel to remind them of their obligation GEORGIA FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line wrote to refrain from any actions which have OHIO Bibb County to Unified School District No. 259’s the appearance of endorsing religion, Marlington FFRF has ensured that Bibb County general counsel, alerting the school even if unplanned and unintentional, A teacher at Marlington High School District will no longer include to the unconstitutionality of using a while at the same time refraining from School has been instructed to refrain prayer in district-sponsored meetings. school-owned marquee to advertise re- demonstrating open hostility toward from leading Youth 4 Christ, a religious A district employee reported that a ligious clubs. the sincerely held religious beliefs of club at the school. While the teacher mandatory employee meeting at Cen- The school has adjusted its pol- others.” is listed as the “faculty advisor” for this tral High School last August began icy and, in the future, only official club, the complainant reported that he with a prayer that lasted between three school-sponsored activities will be ad- also organizes and participates in the and five minutes and invoked Jesus. vertised on the sign. MICHIGAN The complainant also noted that this Kentwood is not the first time they had been sub- FFRF received an exemplary re- jected to prayers at BCSD meetings. KENTUCKY sponse from a school district in Kent- MOVING? FFRF’s Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Hopkins County wood after reporting a substitute teach- Chris Line wrote to the district’s legal An employee in Hopkins County er praying with students in Kentwood counsel, asking the district to refrain Schools reported that this year’s “Su- Public Schools. from including prayers in meetings. perintendent’s Day” was rife with re- A concerned Southwood Elementa- FFRF received a response from ligious proselytizing and prayer. “Su- ry School parent contacted FFRF after Chief Legal Counsel Randy Howard, perintendent’s Day” is a mandatory a substitute teacher led third-grade stu- indicating that the district has resolved gathering for all district staff that is dents in prayer in the classroom. The Don’t miss your next copy of the issue. ostensibly for team-building and staff complainant reported that after the development. class recited the Pledge of Allegiance, Freethought Today The complainant reported several he told the class “when I was in third IDAHO events that were highly religiously grade, we prayed.” He then proceeded Notify us of your address Filer charged, including the reading of a to pray aloud, with many of the stu- change promptly! The infamous bible-distributing biblical passage and a speech given dents joining in. email: [email protected] Gideons will not be allowed back in the that was based on the biblical story FFRF Legal Fellow Colin McNamara Filer School District. David and Goliath, among others. wrote to Superintendent Michael Zoer- FFRF cannot be responsible for FFRF received a complaint that The school’s attorney replied to hoff, outlining the constitutional issues replacing back issues if we have not Gideons International, an organiza- FFRF’s Robert Ingersoll Legal Fellow being violated. been notified prior to your move. tion whose mission is to spread Chris- Colin McNamara’s letter, assuring Zoerhoff thanked FFRF for bring- tian doctrine, was allowed to distribute FFRF that they will “continue to mon- ing this matter to his attention, and The U.S. Post Office does not bibles to students at Filer Intermedi- itor all of these and other issues to directed the district’s human resources forward third-class mail. ate School in November. The school ensure compliance with appropriate department to investigate the incident. March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 11 club’s events and activities. allowed a group of outside adults ac- FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line Head-spinning logic cess to the campus to distribute New wrote a letter to ensure that district Testament bibles to each fifth-grade staff members do not continue orga- student during the school day. nizing or participating in religious FFRF Associate Counsel Sam Grover student clubs. wrote to Superintendent Don Dunn The district sent a response letter to ensure that this sort of illegal bible informing FFRF that Marlington Lo- distribution does not take place in the cal Superintendent Joe Knoll has spo- future. ken with the club advisor and shared Dunn responded to FFRF’s letter the constitutional concerns present- with assurances that he has addressed ed by FFRF. the issue with the campus principal and has been assured that this bible Jeromesville distribution will not recur. A school district in Ohio will no longer assign students to complete religious Christmas projects, thanks UTAH to intervention from FFRF. Davis A concerned parent in the Hills- Corrective action has been taken dale Local School District in Jeromes- to ensure that a Utah school dis- ville reported that Hillsdale Elemen- trict will no longer recite prayers at tary School required its students to Life Member Ken Clark sent us this photo taken near his home in Kent, school events. complete a religious craft assignment Wash. The answers you’d get from Christians and nonbelievers are as A concerned citizen reported that last December. The project includ- different as night and day. North Layton Junior High School ed a specifically religious message, in Farmington held a Veterans Day “Jesus is the reason we celebrate the Assembly that included a Christian season.” prayer delivered by the principal. FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line to us. What we do with it is our gift TEXAS FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line re- wrote the district to alert it to the to God.” Denton minded the district that it is unlaw- unconstitutionality of such an assign- The principal of the school dis- Religious rituals will not be included ful for any school-sponsored event to ment and ensure that, in the future, cussed the issue with the teacher in district-sponsored meetings in the include prayer and asked that it en- students are not required to com- and the email signature has been Denton Independent School District sure any future events do not include plete explicitly religious projects. removed. anymore. religion. Hillsdale Superintendent Steven A district employee contacted FFRF The district’s director of educa- Dickerson said in a response letter to report that the district invited a reli- tion equity sent a response to FFRF. that “the matter had been addressed PENNSYLVANIA gious leader from Morse Street Baptist “Corrective action has been tak- and [he] does’ not anticipate any- Nazareth Church to give a Christian prayer at the en to address the situation with [the thing like this happening again.” FFRF Legal Director Rebecca staff Christmas party at Thomas Rivera principal]. The Davis School District Markert sent a letter to the borough Elementary. The complainant reported Legal Department has reviewed the administrator of Nazareth after a lo- that this was a district-sponsored event State and District Policy: Recogniz- OKLAHOMA cal resident contacted FFRF to report and that the school principal made ing Freedoms in Public Schools.” Midwest City a cross that was displayed on what the clear to all employees that they were in- The Midwest City school district complainant understood to be public tended to be in attendance. Orem is taking steps to ensure it is in com- property. The display has a silhouette Associate Counsel Sam Grover wrote Utah Valley University has recon- pliance with its constitutional obliga- of a soldier kneeling next to a Latin to ensure that no prayer is scheduled at sidered a continuing education class tion to remain neutral on religion. Cross on the base of a cannon. district-sponsored events. assignment that centered around cre- A parent in the Mid-Del School FFRF received a response from Superintendent of Schools Jamie ating a nativity scene. District reported that Schwartz El- the borough explaining that while Wilson responded to FFRF’s letters with A local Orem resident reported ementary School held a Christmas the property in question is not actu- assurances that they would investigate that Utah Valley University’s continu- concert last December that included ally owned by the borough of Naza- the situation and “in doing so all of our ing education program includes a religious worship music. The com- reth, the cross was removed as it was employees will be educated that prayers woodcarving class where students will plainant reported that students sang placed without permission or ap- during mandatory training programs “complete and paint the beginning of “Happy Birthday” to Jesus and about proval from the Nazareth Borough and staff meetings presents the message a Nativity set: Mary, Joseph and baby how much they love Jesus. Council. that school district decisively endorses a Jesus.” Our complainant reported FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line particular religious position.” that they considered taking the class wrote a letter to Superintendent Rick but were discouraged from doing so Cobb, who then responded, saying he TENNESSEE Quanah because of the religious theme. is “aware of the incident and [they] Hamblen County FFRF scored two victories for state/ FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line re- are taking steps internally to ensure The superintendent of Hamblen church separation in Quanah ISD. FFRF minded Utah Valley University of that the practices of our schools and County Schools has instructed all received records from the district which its obligation to remain neutral on staff are in alignment with state and teachers and administrators to re- confirm that Quanah High School had matters of religion and pointed out federal laws.” frain from unconstitutional religious a practice of scheduling prayers and the exclusionary nature of such an endorsement after a religious prayer religious remarks at its graduation cer- assignment. was delivered “in Jesus’ name” during emonies. Each graduation ceremony The university’s legal counsel re- NORTH CAROLINA an in-school Veteran’s Day event. for the last three years has included a sponded to FFRF’s letter. “We’re Johnston County FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line sent program identifying the event as a “Bac- working to ensure inclusive project A teacher in the Johnston County a letter, lauding the district for orga- calaureate and Commencement” event. offerings specifically in the wood- School District has removed a reli- nizing an event to honor veterans, Each program has included a scheduled carving course at issue, and hope gious email signature from his school but reminding the district that, in “invocation,” “scripture reading,” “bac- that the concerned resident you ref- account. order to honor all veterans and their calaureate address,” and “benediction.” erence will reconsider the course in A parent in the district reported obligation to the Constitution, they The complainant further informed the near future.” that a teacher at South Jackson High may not include religious prayers in FFRF that several district employees dis- School was sending emails from his school events. play Christian crosses on district prop- school email account with religious The superintendent assured in erty, in areas frequented by students WISCONSIN messages included in the signa- his response to FFRF that the district and members of the public, including Amherst ture line. An email received by our will “be more vigilant in [its] efforts a cross on the wall of the Quanah High FFRF wrote to the school board complainant included the message, to prevent activities that are uncon- School principal’s office. president in the Tomorrow River “What we are born with is God’s gift stitutional or illegal.” Associate Counsel Sam Grover sent a School District to urge the school letter to Quanah ISD, alerting it to the not to lease space in St. James and unconstitutionality of both. St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church Losing Faith in Faith: Women Without Superstition: FFRF received a response from the in Amherst for classes as it was From Preacher to Atheist “No Gods — No Masters” district, stating that future graduation considering doing. ceremonies will no longer include reli- After reviewing records related to By Dan Barker Edited by Annie Laurie Gaylor gious prayers and practices and the re- the selection of classroom space for How Dan “threw out Collected writings of 50 ligious iconography has been removed Tomorrow River, FFRF Staff Attorney the bathwater and women freethinkers of from all district property. Ryan Jayne sent a letter urging the discovered there is the 19th & 20th centuries board to select one of the alternative no baby there.” (51 photographs). Van secular classroom spaces. Published by FFRF Published by FFRF A Texas school district will no longer Board President Mark Kryshak said allow the distribution of bibles in its that, at the time of his response, the Buy it from FFRF online BuyBuy it it from from FFRF online online schools after intervention from FFRF. board does not support leasing the shop.ff rf.org shop.ffshop.ffrf.org rf.org A concerned parent of a district stu- church space and is looking at other dent reported that Van Middle School options. Page 12 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 FFRF ad blitz hits Chicago, despite censors

The Catholic Church’s clout in the of the Catholic Church to intimidate its Chicago area has resulted in the Windy critics, maintains Annie Laurie Gaylor, City’s two daily newspapers rejecting a FFRF co-president. Freedom From Religion Foundation “The ‘look the other way’ defer- media campaign that spotlighted a ence the Church has continually de- survivor of priest abuse. The ad urged: manded and received — from con- “Stop ignoring headlines: It’s time to gregations, media, police and courts leave the Catholic Church.” — is the very reason why so many hor- Chicago’s alternative weekly, the rific crimes against children have oc- Chicago Reader, demonstrated more curred and gone unreported and un- bravery than the Chicago Tribune and prosecuted in the first place,” Gaylor the Sun-Times and published the full- says. “The Catholic Church remains a page ad on Jan. 31. (See ad below.) virtuoso in silencing not only its crit- A Chicago-area FFRF member who ics, but its hundreds of thousands of was sexually abused at age 13 by his par- In February, FFRF placed 11 digital billboards throughout the Chicago area victims — including one Chicago-ar- ish priest suggested and underwrote showing this message. ea victim seeking to spare future chil- the FFRF ad and is using a portion of on the Kennedy Expressway west of Quit the Church.” dren similar abuse.” his church settlement to pay for the Montrose, stating, “Value Children The ad in the Chicago Reader lists Adds Tom Cara, volunteer director plea to the public to abandon the Cath- over Dogma: It’s Time to Leave the a series of real newspaper headlines of FFRF Metropolitan Chicago Chap- olic Church. (See story below.) The Catholic Church.” The powerful im- about the ongoing revelations of mas- ter, which helped oversee the ad cam- person asked that the ad be timed to age depicts a small schoolgirl hiding sive priestly abuse of children and the paign: “It is tragic when a major met- run during National Catholic Schools her face. (See Page 1 for the billboard subsequent Church cover-up, urging ropolitan’s two largest newspapers elect Week (Jan. 27-Feb. 2). image.) That message went up in Feb- readers to stop supporting the world’s not to publish a public condemnation After encountering print censor- ruary for the entire month. largest and most powerful religious of an organization’s horrific crimes. ship, FFRF fought back by placing Additionally, through Feb. 10, 11 institution. Our ad is a plea for help from a victim, prominent billboards all over Chi- digital billboards in the Chicago area The suppression of FFRF’s ad by and it is being ignored in order to pro- cago, including a 20-by-60-foot sign showed the message: “It’s Time to Chicago’s two dailies shows the power tect the offenders.” My life of mental anguish after a priestly assault

This article was written by a generous FFRF member who used a portion of his sexual-abuse settlement money to underwrite FFRF’s billboards and full-page ad pushing people to leave the Catholic Church. He wishes to remain anonymous. t the tender age of 13, an event occurred that would change my life. A After serving mass as an altar boy for a wedding, I was in the sacristy getting ready to go home. One of the parish priests then pinned me against the cabinets and molested me. That was a frightening, life-altering and traumatic event. The mental anguish continues for me to this day. Up until then, I had lived a relatively normal life. I was born and raised on the southwest side of Chicago and its suburbs. I was the fifth child of seven. My dad worked in construction, and my mom held many dif- ferent jobs throughout her work life, mostly working second shift. That way, one of them would always be home when we were kids. I was fortunate I had great loving parents and never knew hunger. I always had a clean, loving home atmosphere. I was raised as a Catholic, christened shortly after birth, made the sacraments, was an altar boy and at- tended Catholic grammar and high schools. Howev- er, other than losing touch with some friends, there is not a thing I miss about that experience. But the trauma of that day all those years ago caused me to withdraw and isolate myself and my thoughts to the point where I told no one about my experience. My mother and father died without ever knowing about the abuse I endured. In fact, as a 13-year-old, I took on an adult role of not sharing the news with anyone, largely to protect my parents. Because I never told anyone about it, when my wife and I got married (she was raised Catholic, as well), I found myself standing in a church — haunt- ed by memories of when I was molested during an- other wedding. (I felt that if we did not participate in a Catholic Church ceremony, it would raise too many questions, so I just did it.) This ad ran in the The Chicago Reader after a similar ad was refused by the Tribune and Sun-Times. Eventually, I filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese re-victimize the victim. I owe it to my classmates who Catholic Church. I want the public to challenge of Chicago. After several years of legal wrangling, I were also molested, but chose not to come out, to the validity of the church, I want to promote reached a monetary settlement. But it felt good to not expose their situations. I did not want to make it state/church separation, I want to promote FFRF get the abuse and the abuser documented. I also re- any harder on them than what they already endured. and all the good work it does and finally, I want alized that much of the public either wasn’t aware of After receiving the settlement from the Catholic to acknowledge the number of religious people in or didn’t care about the size, scope and magnitude of Church, I wanted to use the money I received to prominent places within our government — i.e., the abuse by Catholic priests. try to expose religions for what they are: controlling state and federal justices who use their religious You can imagine, ever since the abuse, I have and manipulative. In today’s society, there is still perspective and impose it on the rest of us. viewed the whole church/God/priest thing in a way too much religious influence in our laws and Despite the horror of the abuse when I was 13, I very different way. I look at all religions with a large our society. In Illinois, the statute of limitations pro- have put together a good life. For the last 37 years, amount skepticism. tects the predators! This needs to be removed. I also I was a union carpenter who was fortunate enough I chose not to go public with this because I am well believe very strongly in the concept of separation of to have helped build the Chicago skyline and its sur- aware of the power and the influence of the Catho- church and state. rounding infrastructure. I hope to continue with the lic Church, that it can destroy people’s relationships So, I decided a good use of my settlement would most normal, healthy life I can and enjoy my retire- and lives. It has the money, power and resources to be to have FFRF run an ad campaign against the ment with my wife. March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 13 Escaping from dangerous oppression The Freedom From Religion Founda- member anything at all. It was filed un- tion in January gave a $5,000 stipend to der a draconian law in Bangladesh that Shuchessmita Simonti, a young student, sec- aims to silence voices of dissent. I was ularist and feminist from Bangladesh now scared and shattered at the same time seeking refuge in the Netherlands who has because I knew that it could land me in been imperiled by her activism. This is part prison, and also make me a potential of FFRF’s “secular Underground Railroad” target of the extremists. grants. Last year, Shuchessmita’s mother re- Given that my mother can no longer ceived a $5,000 grant from Nonbelief Relief, live in Bangladesh, and I had no place and also received aid from ICORN and other to live there, I was already in a difficult agencies to remove her from Bangladesh and situation whenever I tried to contem- settle her safely in a European nation. plate my future. Now this accusation brought everything to a standstill. I By Shuchessmita Simonti deactivated my Facebook account in panic. In no time, the news was shared in different religious extremist pages, was born in Russia and moved to Ban- with claims of punishing us brutally for gladesh when I was just 4 or 5 years committing the crime. The news had Iold. While growing up, I was person- misspelled my name, so it may take ally affected by a number of issues that someone awhile to find me. But in the caused deep anguish. era of technology, it is probably not so First and foremost, I was born to a difficult to track me. Hindu mother and a Muslim father I refuse to hide my face because I whose marriage did not work out, so I am not a criminal. But I do know that I grew up with my mother. As a teenag- cannot ensure my safety in Bangladesh. er, I was vulnerable and was bullied on The situation is like being blindfolded several occasions because my religious and not knowing who will attack. Even identity did not fit into a box. I never if people do not want to attack me for learned about religion like many oth- who I am, they can attack me for whose ers. I was often made to feel I did not daughter I am. Or because I am affiliat- belong in society. As a young girl grow- Shuchessmita Simonti with her mother, Supriti Dhar, who also had to leave ed with Women Chapter. ing up in Bangladesh, I found myself in Bangladesh. Reflecting on this, I feel a sense of a traumatizing situation where I faced grievance and anger. When I reflect on sexual abuse and was unable to stand in different activities. articles had to be withdrawn because my life, I did not choose to be born to up for my rights. For a while, I found myself with- the writer’s safety was at stake. Unfortu- parents from differing religions. And I felt my life would be better if I drawing, but I wanted to find my way nately, my mother had to bear most of yet, that made me a target for bullying moved out of the country. I was elat- back again. And this is when I stumbled the wrath. She started receiving threats and harassment. And even though I ed when I got a scholarship to pursue upon the world of online volunteering. and even lost her job. tried to resist the oppression, the op- a bachelor’s degree in India. Once I I joined one nonprofit as a remote vol- I was afraid to go back to Bangladesh pression only amplified over time and moved to India in 2011, I tried to live unteer in 2014, and that was my official for vacation, and only returned to renew has escalated into a much more dan- my life to the fullest and keep myself first step toward feminist activism. I my passport. I resemble my mother, and gerous situation. safe from the discrimination I had faced started helping them with social media, many times when I was in a public place, We have a lot to do when it comes earlier. However, being born to parents and later served in different positions. I I was approached by random people who to protecting individuals who do not from Hindu and Muslim background found a safe space for myself. asked if I was related to my mother. Given fall into the societal norms, or do not was used against me when I was study- that she was already abide by them. In ing in India. These individuals (mainly Activist writing being threatened, so many countries from Bangladesh) resisted my ambi- I had a passion for writing, so I start- I began to fear my around the world, tion to participate in different kinds ed writing about women’s issues I had own safety. In 2015, I refuse to hide my face individuals are be- of events organized for international observed while growing up and sub- after we were both because“ I am not a criminal. But ing oppressed for students. It bothered them that a wom- mitted them to different student blogs. threatened, I con- I do know that I cannot ensure being who they an was being so assertive. They tried to While I continued to face politicized fined myself for my safety in Bangladesh. are. And often, the shame me for my choice of clothing discrimination, these activities kept me two months, never government does and for living freely, although that was happy despite lack of peace in my life. stepping out with- — Shuchessmita Simonti not care. not enough to kill my enthusiasm. They In parallel, some developments oc- out necessity. Yes, as a child I used my identity to put me in a corner. curred back home. My mother, Supri- At this point did not choose my In South Asia, religious extremism is ti Dhar, who had had a long career in I felt I could no longer keep silent. I identity, but as an adult individual I made one of the major issues of concern and journalism, became involved in activ- had to use my own painful experiences a conscious choice to be a secular femi- I found myself cornered from all ends. ism and eventually founded an online and insights to help others. I organized nist and pursue my passion freely. I also This affected my self-esteem. The feel- portal for women called Women Chap- and participated in interfaith dialogues hope that in the near future, I can utilize ing of not belonging, of being worth- ter. It was initially published in Bengali, where I felt I could contribute to my own experiences to help others. less, like a particle spinning in space but sometimes she also published arti- promoting a culture of tolerance. Shuchessmita has a one-year visa in the without an orbit, was shattering. It cles in English. I gave her a few of my As a secular and tolerant individual, Netherlands, allowing her to legally reside started reflecting on my performance articles, which she gladly published. I wished to foster this culture of there for one year and try to rebuild her life As the writers started addressing bold tolerance and inclusivity. Around the in that country. She has had to leave student and sensitive issues, Women Chapter same time, my mother approached housing. The grant will provide her with the started getting the attention of political me with a proposal. She told me that time needed to secure her stay there through A note to FFRF Members figures and religious extremist groups. she wanted to create an English site of employment or further studies. Don’t miss a single issue of Many writers criticized the patriarchal Women Chapter and invited me to be Freethought Today & Private Line! aspects of religion, while some talked editor of the English website. I agreed, about social stigmas. Some pointed out and tried to utilize my own networks to the corrupted and brutal acts of people build the portal. affiliated with political groups. Some In 2017, I moved to the Netherlands to pursue my master’s degree in social justice. I continued working for Wom- If the expiration date of your FFRF Woe to the Women: en Chapter and I tried to provide a membership on your address label The Bible Tells Me So platform for women from diverse back- says March or earlier . . . grounds. In 2018, my mother had to Please renew now! leave Bangladesh. To this date, she is By Annie Laurie Gaylor FFRF Memberships: afraid to return as it can cost her life. $40 single; $50 household; A concise, easy-to-read $100 gung-ho; $250 sustaining book that will challenge Draconian law your concept of the Sometime after she left, I got a mes- Memberships are tax deductible! bible as “a good book.” Illustrated. 264 pages. sage from an acquaintance who sent me a news link. When I opened it, I Published by FFRF was in shock! It was a case filed against Freethought Today is published 10 times a year. four women, including my mother and Buy it from FFRF online me, on the grounds of insulting Islam. I Shuchessmita Simonti is now in the P.O. Box 750 • Madison, WI 53701 shop.ff rf.org ffrf.org/donate tried to recall what I could have written Netherlands after fleeing Bangladesh to merit this charge, but could not re- for her safety. Page 14 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 A conversation with Cecile Richards

FFRF Co-President Annie was born with a silver foot in Laurie Gaylor sat down with Ce- his mouth.” cile Richards, former president of George H.W. So, anyway, Planned Parenthood, for an hour- then she ran for re-election. I long discussion at FFRF’s nation- know you were very involved. al convention in San Francisco Of course, that was a bitter on Nov. 3. Richards was given defeat. But that opened your FFRF’s Forward Award, which eyes to a different need. recognizes individuals who have Right. So just to back up for moved society forward. Here is an a second, I do think one thing edited version of that talk. is important to remember. I Cecile Richards: I’m so think it’s important just to put honored to be here, and this it in context that Mom was award is spectacular. And it’s never supposed to be elected so important because there governor. It wasn’t like people are barely any monuments of said, “Oh, my god, a progres- women anywhere in the Unit- sive woman, pro-choice gov- ed States of America. ernor. That’s what we need in Annie Laurie Gaylor: I Texas.” just finished reading and lov- So, every step of the way ing your book, Make Trouble: it was a fight. And there was Standing Up, Speaking Out, and never a poll showing that she Finding the Courage to Lead. could win that race. Never. I wondered if you could talk And yet people just never gave about the very first sentence in up. And I do think it is an im- your book, “Little lady, you are portant lesson. That was 28 just trying to make trouble.” years ago, but it was because I was just a wee child. I grew teachers and farm workers up in Dallas, Texas, and actual- and LGBT activists and stu- ly that’s where this took place. dents and labor folks or peo- I was going to the University Photo by Ingrid Laas ple who had been shut out of Park School, a local public Former Planned Parenthood director Cecile Richards speaks with FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie government for so long just school. I was in sixth grade, Gaylor during FFRF’s national convention in San Francisco on Nov. 3, 2018. never gave up. And it was a and my teacher decided to grassroots uprising. open every day with the Lord’s Prayer, of course, it was a case that came out of decided to run. That is the reason that Ann Richards which I neither knew the words to or Dallas. And then when she came back, Yeah. My husband and I had just had became governor. It wasn’t just her. She wanted to recite. And I told her that. even though she had done that, even Lily, our first child, and we were just rais- just represented the hopes and dreams I said, “I actually don’t, that’s not what though she was obviously a renowned ing hell in Los Angeles. I was organizing of a lot of people, and I think we are we do in my family.” And she replied, attorney, she couldn’t even get credit in immigrant janitors. Kirk was organiz- seeing that now in other parts of the “Are you just trying to make trouble?” her own name. She had to have her hus- ing home care workers, folks who take country. At least I hope so. I think it’s I realized I really wasn’t trying to make band sign for her. She wanted to open care of people that didn’t have a union, important to remember that polls don’t trouble, but if she thought I was, then I a bank account because she had a law didn’t have any benefits or work protec- vote, people vote. Right? And that’s re- guess I was and that was OK. And it sort firm. She got so mad she decided she’d tion. And Mom called and said she was ally where we have to remember that’s of stuck. run for the state Legislature and change going to run for governor. I mean, it was what democracy is about. You just knew it was wrong. the law. And that was in the day when just like a movie. We just packed up the So anyway, she was governor for four Exactly. I just felt like, why should my mom had never worked for a living. U-Haul, put all our stuff in, took Lily, years. But it was also important because she be making me recite a prayer that She’d always taken care of kids. And put her in the car seat, and we drove to she was able to appoint more people has nothing to do with me and certainly Sarah asked Mom to run her campaign. Texas and helped on her campaign. of color, women, LGBT leaders, folks had nothing to with my family? We went When I think of Ann Richards, I sort It was amazing. Of course, she had who had never been in office than all to the Unitarian church, not because of assume she’d had a career her whole gotten into the national consciousness the previous governors in the state we were religious, but because that was life. And, of course, no, not in that era. of the Democratic Party. That famous combined and literally changed the where all the social movements in town Oh, no. In fact, she spent 20 years speech. face of government in Texas. And that were organizing. just building up all this energy. Once Her convention speech in Atlanta. mattered. That actually mattered. Like Before we talk about your moth- she found out about the women’s move- Yes. President Obama did, I think those are er, Ann Richards, you also had a very ment, she just never stopped. She basi- Do you want to quote that one line? things that could never be undone. She strong grandmother, Nona. And there’s cally left us back at home and said, “I’m I can never really quite do it justice did lose re-election to George W. Bush a couple of funny stories about her. going to go do this thing.” And she ran because she had more of an accent in 1994, that horrible, terrible year. She My mom’s parents basically survived Sarah’s race. Mom was a campaign man- than I do. But of course, that was the got beat, Mario Cuomo got beat, Newt the Depression, and really never got ager —­ and that was unheard of. So, we speech that not only launched her, but Gingrich and sort of the Christian Right over it. They grew everything. They kids got to hand out bumper stickers that people still repeat to me in airports took over the House of Representatives. lived down the country, outside Waco. and learn all those important skills you and on the street: “Poor George. He And in Texas, I mean they just, it was a They didn’t have any money, so when learn as a young person — like taking my grandmother got pregnant with my down the opponent’s yard signs, you mom, it was unthinkable that she’d go know, critical things. [Laughs] And the to the hospital because they didn’t have statute of limitations has passed on all the money and you didn’t do that. You of that, but it was really wild. As a young had your kids at home. Once she went person, I didn’t appreciate what Sarah into labor, she had the neighbor lady had done at the Supreme Court. That come over and make dinner for my wasn’t really part of my consciousness. grandfather because, of course, it was But to have a woman win against all unthinkable that he would cook dinner odds was really quite amazing. So yeah, for himself. The problem was she had Sarah won that race and that’s kind of planned chicken for dinner and the what kicked off Mom’s political career. neighbor lady didn’t know how to kill So, you were in college by the time a chicken. So, my grandmother, Nona, your mother was running for governor. hoists herself up on one elbow in the She was the first woman to win a state- birthing bed and rings that chicken’s wide office earlier, right? neck. And that’s how Ann Richards Yes. She became county commission- came into this world. er, which was kind of funny because they Tell us about Sarah Weddington, thought only men could be county com- the young woman who argued Roe v. missioners because you had to do things Wade, then went on to run for the state like look at roads and bridges and heavy Legislature. machinery. That was really unique to She’s as unrepentant a feminist as have a woman county commissioner. any woman that ever walked this Earth. But then she ran for treasurer. Sarah had argued the Roe v. Wade case at Well, let’s talk about that then. Be- Photo by Ingrid Laas the age of 26. Still the youngest person cause you were in California, right? Do- Cecile Richards poses with comedian Julia Sweeney for a selfie following ever to win a Supreme Court case. And, ing labor organizing when your mother Richard’s convention conversation. March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 15 wipeout. It was a total wipeout. back and forth, and Ivanka You were seeing the Chris- was very upset that I hadn’t tian Coalition begin, and . . . said anything nice about her Well, it’s funny. Yeah, I father because once he said was. I mean, honestly, I didn’t something nice about Planned know. I still remember this sort Parenthood. I said, “I know he of apocryphal call that I got did. He said that we did great from a friend of mine in Cal- work because he knew women ifornia. She said, “Have you who’d been helped by Planned heard about this new group Parenthood. And he was going called the Christian Coalition, to defund us.” There was really because we’re seeing them nothing more I could say. out here.” And it really wasn’t Anyway, we went on about until after the election that our ways, and I just have to say we realized how much money this because I think it’s import- organizing had been done in ant as freethinkers, as people Texas. And I remember very who believe in justice: That specifically going to plant was a scary time. I do think gates and handing out liter- it’s important, particularly in ature to union guys who had these moments when I think been the backbone of Mom’s everyone is trying to figure out support and how she’d done how are we going to make it so much for organized labor through. Even though we were and men snarling at me saying threatened in that way, and “I’m not going to vote for that Paul Ryan said he was going to baby-killer lesbian.” Things have a bill on the president’s like that. desk was going to defund And it wasn’t until later we Photo by Ingrid Laas Planned Parenthood and get realized there had been a con- Cecile Richards shows off her Forward Award, presented to her by Annie Laurie Gaylor. rid of Obamacare by the very certed effort around the coun- beginning. It was a long, hard try, and certainly in Texas, to fight, but I’m just here to say not only defeat Mom but to elect people ple would come up to you and say, “Why Go ahead. Paul Ryan is in retirement and Planned to our State Board of Education. And, don’t you change your name?” or “Why Yeah, well, good. I had gotten a call Parenthood’s doors are still open all honestly, they took over the Republican don’t you separate out the abortion after the election that Ivanka Trump across the United States of America. Party in Texas, and they still have con- from the contraceptive?” wanted to meet, wondering how she [applause] trol. And that’s when I realized, instead I spent a lot of time on this topic, could help with Planned Parenthood You write that one of the things that of just being despondent, that we need- and so for those of you who don’t know because obviously the president had drew you to Planned Parenthood was ed to organize. And that’s how I orga- much about Planned Parenthood, we said he was going to defund us. And I that history of brave, troublemaking nized the Texas Freedom Network. just turned 102, so we’ve been around thought, “OK.” I really didn’t want to women. Margaret Sanger, “No gods, no Which is still thriving. a long, long time. It’s important to go, but then I talked my husband into masters” was her motto, and she said Exactly. In fact, it has grown and put in context, too, that we were born going. I said, “Kirk maybe you would go she thought women should have a go- blossomed and is on the forefront of in controversy. People say, “My gosh, with me because I just want a witness.” to-hell look in their eye, and that they fighting for separation of church and Planned Parenthood is so controver- Was it a very weird meeting? risked their reputations and even their state, fighting for public education, and sial.” I say, “Well, if we aren’t, then we’re It was, actually. It was a meeting lives to change things. But you also say fighting for LGBT rights, reproductive not doing our job, right?” Our founder at one of the golf clubs, a Trump golf you have a concern that for the first rights. I’m just so incredibly proud of was thrown in jail. As we know, Marga- club, I guess. Jared Kushner and Ivanka time in your life you are concerned that the folks that are in Texas doing that ret Sanger and her sister opened up a were there. Jared said, “Look, we con- you will have had more rights than your work right now. completely illegal birth control center trol everything now. Republicans have daughters, that our daughters are going Then you went on to found, this is to hand out pamphlets to women. Even the White House. We have the House, to lose those rights. And I, as a mother, not quite in order, but another group, though it was illegal, folks lined up from we have the Senate. So, if you want to share that concern. It is a scary, scary America Votes. And you write in your day one. And it wasn’t until 10 days lat- keep your funding, you’re going to have time right now. book, “Coordinating progressive lead- er that an undercover cop posing as a to make a deal with us.” He basically It really is. Right now, if my daugh- ers is like keeping puppies in a basket. mother busted Margaret, threw her in said, “If Planned Parenthood will quit ters lived in Texas, they would have Just when they’re all in, someone jumps jail where she taught all of her fellow providing abortion, then I will talk to fewer rights than I had when I lived out.” So how did you do it, and what is inmates about birth control. I like to re- Paul Ryan and maybe we’ll get you even in Texas because abortion is harder to your advice on that? mind people of that. That is the spirit. more funding.” And I said, “First of all, access. Access to Planned Parenthood Well, it’s like that because we’re opin- On this whole topic, abortion, it’s im- that is never going to happen. We are is much more difficult. It’s not even a ionated folks. We don’t follow along as portant to me that people, that all of us, not going to give up. We’re not going to future state. I know a lot of folks say, sheep. The reason we started it was be- understand that abortion is healthcare. trade away women’s access to abortion well, now with Kavanaugh on the Su- cause I felt like we had all these different It’s health care for people who are preg- for money. That’s not going to happen.” preme Court, which I can’t believe groups doing great work, but none of nant, and they need the right to it, and And he said, “I just can imagine a head- those words have just come out of my them were really talking to each other. it’s not different. At Planned Parent- line in The New York Times that says mouth, because it is so distressing. I think the only way that anything ever hood, we are never going to be where ‘Planned Parenthood quits providing People say, “Well, with Kavanaugh on works is that people don’t do things for you go in one door if you’re getting an abortions.’” And I said, “That’s not ever the Supreme Court, does this mean your reasons, they do things for their own abortion or you’re going to the other going to be in The New York Times. that Roe is at risk?” And I would say, reasons. What we were able to show is, door for other care. I’m not going to do that.” And we went “100 percent.” That’s why women and and I’ll never forget being in Pennsyl- For us, it is the continuum of repro- vania, that it was smarter in some areas ductive health care. So much has been for the labor union folks to be carrying done to stigmatize and shame people the message and doing door-to-door who have had abortions. And one of outreach on voting. The Planned Par- the most important things I think we’ve enthood folks could actually just go been doing over the last decade, led by with them and help and support them. the reproductive justice movement that Whereas, in the Philly suburbs, where was way out in front of this, is for women we have a lot of independent women, to actually share their abortion stories. labor was able to join up with Planned And it is incredibly important to me that Parenthood and begin to talk to people we all, that everyone who can, is public about issues that matter to them. And I about this because it is not uncommon. do believe we’ve gotten better, but it’s I had an abortion. I wrote about it very frustrating that we haven’t made in a women’s magazine. And I can’t tell progress on some fundamental issues of you the number of women who come democracy. up to me and say, “Thank you for shar- They are being targeted. Now as a ing your story because I was able to go co-founder myself of a nonprofit with home and share my story for the first the Freedom From Religion Founda- time with my family.” We’ve got to make tion, I nodded my head all the time sure that we keep abortion safe, legal when you were writing about nonprof- and available. And I know that there are its and talking about what a privilege it folks in this audience that help do that. is to work for social justice, and I can’t I do write about one person in par- believe they pay you to make trouble. ticular who wanted us to quit providing That’s how I feel. But I sympathized abortion, but I don’t know if you’re go- also about something that came up with ing to ask about him. It’s OK. He’s relat- Photo by Chris Line Planned Parenthood and abortion. Peo- ed to the president. Jared Kushner. FFRF Board Chair Professor Stephen Hirtle enjoys a moment with Cecile Richards. Page 16 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 other people mobilized so strongly over the last few months. But Roe already has been under- mined. In fact, I was just talking to some- one here who is an escort, or a volunteer, at a Planned Parenthood in California, saying a woman from Alabama had just been brought by her grandmother to get abortion services in Pasadena because she couldn’t get them in Alabama any- more. This isn’t like a theoretical, intel- lectual issue — it’s happening already all across the country. When you wrote your book, Neil Gor- such had just been confirmed. Let’s talk a little bit about Planned Parenthood. I know you retired from it, but just to go over all that it does. The latest research I saw was that one in three women in this country have been to Planned Parenthood at some point in her lifetime, including me. That’s where I got birth control. Right? So, it’s not a kind of a random thing. It’s actually a community health care pro- vider all across the country. We’re in all Photo by Ingrid Laas 50 states, and we provide safe and legal Cecile Richards signs a copy of her book, Make Trouble, for Gwendolyn Olson. Order the book at FFRF.org/shop. abortion, and proudly do and will. We also provide birth control of all types. We people. This gets back to the work of I do think one is we have to vote. It’s so cently retired from Planned Parenthood. provide STI testing and treatment. We the Texas Freedom Network and some distressing that we don’t. Even my home You have defined politics as a contest provide for a lot of people, in particular of the fights we had under, actually, the state of Texas, we’re not a red state or a of wills between folks who are satisfied women. We may be their only healthcare Bush administration. But then it got bet- blue state. We’re a non-voting state. And about how things are and those who are providers, so they come for their breast ter because we provided sex education to it’s just true. And absolutely we have to passionate about what could be better. I exam and their annual exam. And I’m tons and tons of young people. And for stand up for the right of people to be- do want to ask what’s in your future. Do really proud of the fact that we are also a lot of young people, they live in places lieve and think and live in whatever way you have some plans? expanding LGBTQ services. that you don’t get sex education in your they want to. And I think that was really I don’t really know. I did step aside at One of the last things I did before schools. One of the things that just makes how we held ourselves at Planned Par- Planned Parenthood, but I hate the idea leaving: We had spent a lot of years rais- my head explode is that we actually got enthood. That people needed to know of retiring because I’m definitely not re- ing resources to expand services in the this teen pregnancy prevention program there was a place where you could go, as tired. I had the best job in the world for South because of course health care under President Obama and we actually our tagline says: “Care, no matter what.” 12 years. Being the president of Planned outcomes and access to reproductive are now at a record low for teenage preg- That means no matter your beliefs, no Parenthood, it was the honor of a life- health care is particularly bad in the nancy in the United States. And that’s a matter your income, no matter your im- time. And I could have stayed forever. Deep South. Before I left, I got to cut big thing. Folks always say to me, “Where migration status, no matter who you love I loved it, I loved everything about it. the ribbon on a brand new health care can we find common ground?” I say, or where you live. And I just think we But I also think as an organizer and as center in South Carolina that not only “That’s about as common ground as you need more of that this country. someone who spent a lot of time and re- is providing safe and legal abortion ser- get.” And we’re in a lawsuit against the Obviously, you all know, you are at the sources to invest in young people and a vices, but also providing transgender administration. forefront of this, new generation, it’s important for those care in South Carolina. It’s just been re- He is now trying that is increasingly of us who have had these awesome op- ally interesting to talk to patients and to to end the teen Watch the video of this event what young peo- portunities to step aside and make room talk to providers about the shame and pregnancy pre- at FFRF.org/video-2018-con ple in this country for other folks. That’s why I don’t want the stigma. And just the downright chal- vention program and Richards’ interview on want, too. They anyone to think I gave up on the fight, lenge that exists everywhere for trans- and give mon- “Freethought Matters” at don’t want to be because I also believe there’s never been gender people to actually get life-affirm- ey only to absti- judged. They don’t a better and more important time for us ffrf.us/richards. ing medical services by someone who nence-only orga- want to be shamed. to organize as a country. I’ve been run- knows what they’re doing. And that is nizations that are They don’t want to ning around the country, not only sup- extraordinary to me. not health care providers. be labeled, and they don’t want anybody porting people running for office, but A young woman in Virginia said to And they are usually religiously based. using their own religious values to tell trying to figure out how do we take this me, “Going to Planned Parenthood One hundred percent. And it doesn’t them what they can and can’t do. moment, this organizing moment, and in Richmond was the first time I had work. This is just one of the things that They don’t want to hate. make it into a permanent movement for a doctor who actually knew more really upsets me. There are so many That’s right. When did this idea come equality in the country. And that, to me, about my health care needs than I young people, that if they don’t get sex up that there was one true way, one true is the challenge. did.” And I’m proud that Planned education when they’re in high school, religion? Of course, religion was being It’s going to take us a long time to Parenthood is doing more. where else are they going to get it? And used to go after women’s rights, to go af- get out of the fix we’re in. And I think And Planned Parenthood also serves then they go off. They may leave home, ter LGBTQ rights. It’s happening again it requires all of us to think about what many, many low-income women. they may go to college, and I just feel like more and more, and I’m so grateful for we do, how we live our lives, how we Predominantly. I’d say like 75 percent it’s directly related to the issues we have what you all do because the hypocrisy of build multiracial, multigenerational or- of our patients are at 150 percent of pov- around sexual assault, sexual violence, the evangelical community standing with ganizations and coalitions. The exciting erty or below. A lot of them are young the fact that we don’t even talk to young a president who has thrown in their face thing is I do believe that change is com- people at an early age every single tenet of what they purport to ing. And I think what we are experienc- about what healthy believe. If there were never a time to real- ing now in this country is the last gasp relationships are like, ly unmask the danger to people of having of the patriarchy seeing that its time is and we are doing an religion dictate government, this is it. almost over. enormous disservice to Well, the Religious Right has totally Thank you. young people in this ceded the high ground. You have just re- country. And it just is very upsetting. We’ve been on the Freethought Matters defensive for so long. A new weekly half-hour TV talk show produced by FFRF. I remember when Roe An antidote to religion on the airwaves and Sunday morning sermonizing. v. Wade was handed down. I was a teenager Watch our show every Sunday! Freethought Matters TV Talk Show airs in: and I thought that the Chicago WPWR-CW (Ch. 50) 8:30 a.m. battle was over. Can you Los Angeles KCOP-MY (Ch. 13) 8:30 a.m. give us your thoughts Madison, Wis. WISC-TV (Ch. 3) 11:00 p.m. on how we can counter- New York City WPIX-IND (Ch. 11) 8:30 a.m. Phoenix* KASW-CW (Ch. 61) 8:30 a.m. act this weaponizing of Portland, Ore. KRCW-CW (Ch. 32) 9:00 a.m. the idea that religious Sacramento KQCA-MY (Ch. 58) 8:30 a.m. rights give you the right Seattle KONG-IND (Ch. 16) 8:00 a.m. to impose your dogma Washington, D.C. WDCW-CW (Ch. 15) 8:30 a.m. *(In Phoenix: Ch. 61 or 6 or 1006 for HD) Photo by Chris Line on other people and Cecile Richards and sculptor Zenos Frudakis show off even deprive them of FFRF’s Forward Award, which Richards received at the civil liberties? Watch online: ffrf.us/youtube convention. Frudakis created the statuette for FFRF. Well, that’s a big task. March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 17 Convention speech Open dialogue the key to religious freedom

This is an edited version of the speech It is Western values, and most impor- given by Mohammed Al Khadra on Nov. tantly free speech, that kept the pow- 3 at FFRF’s national convention in San er-hungry religious and politicians in Francisco. He was introduced by FFRF check. It is why you and I can say in a Legal Fellow Chris Line: crowded room that we do not believe. Mohammed Al Khadra, known as I had some thoughts before, disre- “Khadra,” is the founder of Council garding the risk one has to take, but of Ex-Muslims of Jordan, a group fo- why have an uncomfortable conversa- cused on raising awareness of atheism tion altogether? Who am I to ask and in Jordan, as well as helping Jordanian interfere with deeply held beliefs? May- atheists. He is an outspoken advocate be it’s hate speech to try to have this of freedom of speech, secularism and kind of dialogue. Maybe it shouldn’t be human rights. a concern of mine. Following a speech about Islam at the Well, what about pinpointing the Freedom of Expression Conference in level of religiosity a society as a whole London in July of 2017, Khadra faced is at? Some people say 82 percent of potential arrest by the Jordanian gov- Jordanians believe in the death penal- ernment and his life as an open atheist ty for people like me. Maybe I should became untenable, prompting him to be concerned; maybe I should be hav- move to the United States. With assis- ing that dialogue. Maybe, just maybe, I tance from FFRF, as well as British and should not give a damn about feelings other American nonprofit organiza- when depowering religion is depower- tions, Khadra established a new home in ing a major source of pain and suffer- the United States. ing that is inflicted not just on those Photo by Ingrid Laas Khadra continues his activism by pub- who leave it all together, but those who Mohammed Al Khadra, the founder of Council of Ex-Muslims of Jordan, moved to lic speaking and working to support non- are still captives of it. the United States recently (with the help of Nonbelief Relief) after facing arrest by believers in Jordan and throughout the The Yemenis, Iraqis and Iranians who the Jordanian government. Islamic world. Please welcome Moham- died and continue to die to this day are med Al Khadra. in the Middle Eastern version of it, sec- with the forces of religion, creating a mix victims of the same poison that kills ex- ularism was crushed 20 years later to be- of two evils, the results of which can be Muslims, mutilates children, convinces By Mohammed Al Khadra come almost nonexistent? observed not only in Yemen, Syria, Egypt followers that vaccines or condoms are There was a key difference between and Iran, but can now be seen in Boston, bad. This is something that I will not hank you for your kind intro- the two: the Western version and the New York and London, to name a few. put up with. Being an atheist or having duction. Please keep in mind Middle Eastern one. The earlier one The question of “When does reli- a secular state with freedom of speech is Tthat my English-speaking skills did not push theocrats away at gun- gion go too far?” is important in the not a monopoly for the West. are self-taught. point, nor did it replace man-made process of not having a flourishing sui- Ask yourself this: Why is a critic of When the hero of mine, Maryam gods with man-made political ones. cide bombing industry again. If I would Christianity called secular, while a critic Namazie, reached out to anyone who But the change in the Middle East kept walk out of here, and I would directly of Islam is called an Islamophobe? It’s could help when I needed to leave the people under the control of au- meet the next person on the street, I not reasonable. It is not reasonable to the country, Annie Laurie Gaylor and thoritarian regimes. The subjugation have a great degree of confidence that sanction a woman under hate speech FFRF were the first to respond. And of the individual and the censorship he or she will be against blowing them- for stating that Mohammed had pe- for that, I thank them. I am finally at of thought were still existing phenom- selves up. But at what level of religious dophilic tendencies, as the European a place where I can say in a crowded ena. And religion waited underneath indoctrination is he at? Does he fol- Court of Human Rights ruled recently. room: “I do not believe.” the lie of a free society until it was time low the Quran strictly? Are his morals It is sad to see that the difference be- I’ve been here in the United States for it to come back to the surface. based only on their Islamic scripture, tween East and West that was necessary for a few months now, but I’m still not It can be argued that the secular au- and if yes, what does he exclude from for its values to live to this day is now used to seeing that people here can thoritarian regimes are the reason for them, if he does? Does he or she strict- slowly vanishing, and it is funny to me say what they want. They can eat and their own downfall. The authoritarian ly follow the war verses, too? how I and my friends used to dream drink what they want. They can even aspect of them denied any real freedom After all, if I were to tell you that I’m a about having a life where there is no tell their own president to go to an un- of expression and had entire nations as devout reader of Mein Kampf, you would thought police. existing hell. It’s all OK. subjects to a selected few. This kept the be interested in knowing whether I fol- The discovery of the lie of religion is This feeling of freedom came as a ground fertile for any other totalitarian low it strictly or whether it just gives me not an easy one, especially when religion series of unexpected events because idea to control the masses, whether for a sense of community. And don’t get me overwhelms your life. I look at you and I had quite a lot of misconceptions the sake of a great leader or a great god. wrong. I am focused on what concerns I see faces of inquiring minds who are upon coming here. The shift of power between those me personally and for my own safety, but brave enough to be the lonely heretics. For example, in 2018, in a country forces did not happen instantly. It took this applies to all religions. You should As Christopher Hitchens said, “It does that supposedly cannot favor one reli- the religious about 20 years to create be wondering, when interacting with a not matter what you think, but how you gion over the others, the president and a generation ready to accept that re- religious person or a devout reader of think.” Open dialogue will always filter members of government, while hon- emerging theocrats would become Mein Kampf, about how far the poison out bad ideas. And as we try to have it oring a Vietnam veteran by receiving a major players on the map. During and reached. Christians, Jews and Muslims open in the East, I count on people like medal of honor, all bowed their heads after that period, while trying to maintain can all be decent. Judaism, Christianity you, the heretics, to never allow it to be in a Christian prayer. It appeared to me their power, some aligned themselves and Islam simply cannot. closed. Thank you. that Christianity is somehow special. It’s like a special part of a secular institution. When we speak of how religion has control of all aspects of life in the Middle East, we describe censorship, blasphemy laws, lack of liberty and freedom of thought. It’s usually con- sidered as if it has always been the case, as if Islam has had this power all along. That’s not quite correct. When we look back into the ’60s, you’d find, for example, publications that no one would dare print right now. Leaders would openly criticize the idea of having religion introduced back into politics. There was even a relative re- spect for women, a period of secular societies. And conversations on subjects that now can get you killed there, or to put it in Western terms, subjects that are Islamophobic. I wondered why that happened. Why Photo by Ingrid Laas is it that in other societies, religion did Mohammed Al Khadra spoke to nearly 1,000 people at FFRF’s convention in San Francisco. Watch his speech at FFRF.org/ not get to have such a comeback, while video-2018-con and see him on “Freethought Matters” at ffrf.us/khadra. Page 18 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019

Introducing the Avijit Roy Courage Award winner . . .

Below is an edited version of the speech more than 300 local and international given by Rasel Ahmed on Nov. 3, 2018, at media outlets and the news of the maga- FFRF’s national convention in San Francisco. zine became viral on social media. Roop- He was introduced by Rafida Bonya Ahmed, baan magazine and LGBT issues in Ban- who was introduced by FFRF Co-President An- gladesh became a major topic of debate nie Laurie Gaylor. in offices, colleges and homes. Annie Laurie Gaylor: Many of you will After Xulhaz Mannan, co-founder remember Rafida Bonya Ahmed, known and publisher of Roopbaan, was hacked as “Bonya,” who received FFRF’s Forward to death, along with gay actor Mahbub Award in 2016. Bonya was born in Bangla- Rabbi Tonoy, in Dhaka in 2016, many of desh and is an American citizen. the already marginalized Bangladeshi’s I’m pleased to announce that FFRF LGBT community went into hiding. The and Bonya are undertaking a memorial attack was claimed by the regional arm of award in honor and memory of Avijit al-Qaeda. Roy, Bonya’s late husband, also an As a filmmaker, Rasel Ahmed has used American citizen and well-known atheist his debut documentary film, “Roopbaan,” and writer. Both Bonya and Avijit were as a conversation starter on gender and set upon by machete-wielding Islamist sexuality issues in Bangladesh. He su- terrorists in Bangladesh on Feb. 26, pervised a group of artists to produce 2015, which left Avijit dead and Bonya Photo by Ingrid Laas the country’s first Muslim lesbian comic Rasel Ahmed, center, holds the Avijit Roy Courage Award after critically wounded. character in 2015. Besides making inde- being introduced by Rafida Bonya Ahmed, right, and FFRF The Avijit Roy Courage Award includes pendent documentaries, he has designed Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. $5,000 and an award, whose image was campaigns, directed theater performanc- fittingly designed by a graphic artist known as Bangladeshi writer, visual artist and community es, hosted film screenings, edited magazine and Sobak, a Bangladeshi freethinker himself in hid- organizer. The Bangladeshi penal code criminal- blogs, curated photo exhibitions and facilitated ing, awaiting a chance to migrate to a Western na- izes consensual homosexual acts, with up to life training. He is also actively working to promote tion. Rasel Ahmed declined the monetary prize in prison, dating back to a provision imposed by democratic spaces and diverse voices in the Ban- for himself, but said it would go to further Roop- 19th-century British colonial authorities. gladeshi public square. baan’s digital presence. Rasel is the editor and co-founder of Bangla- As he feared persecution in Bangladesh, he Bonya recently gave a TED Talk in Exeter, desh’s first and only LGBT magazine, Roopbaan. filed for political asylum in the United States on United Kingdom. Please welcome Rafida Bonya The grand launch in the capital Dhaka was at- Jan. 5, 2018, and he has received help from Non- Ahmed, who will introduce our guest speaker. tended by more than 130 allies and community belief Relief. Rafida Bonya Ahmed: Rasel Ahmed is a gay members. This event was extensively covered by Let’s welcome Rasel to the stage.

Convention speech For LGBTQ in Bangladesh, the fear is real

Co-founder of first LGBT magazine in the country talks about dangers of promoting the lifestyle

By Rasel Ahmed

his is the largest crowd I have ever addressed in my entire life. I’m so nervous. This is won- Tderful. Please bear with me as I may say things that might not make any sense because this is my second language. I will try to explain my journey, and the story of Roopbaan, because I primarily identify myself as an independent, queer storyteller. The thing I feel most comfortable with is sharing stories. I will share two stories. The first is a folk story. It’s very popular in Bangladesh, which is a Muslim-majority South Asian country near India. The other one is a real story, so starting off my remarks with the first story will eventually explain how these stories got intertwined. The one I will begin with is the name of the Photo by Chris Line magazine, Roopbaan. Many years ago in Nirashbu, Rasel Ahmed told the audience at FFRF’s national convention in San Francisco about the beginnings of the which is the fictional kingdom in the story, there Bangladeshi LGBTQ magazine Roopbaan. was a young girl named Roopbaan. And when she turned 12, on that very day, she was forced to mar- And the story has served as a kind of erotica or And how did we do that? We came up with our ry a 12-day-old prince. She was forced after the fantasy for heterosexual men for a long time. Mus- twist of the story. This is a love story of a woman marriage to leave the kingdom, so she was practi- lim heterosexual men, to be precise. So why did who is 12 years older than her husband, which cally exiled to a jungle for 12 years. The reason be- a group of queer people name a queer magazine, is not the case in real world, in real Bangladesh. hind that was to save the life of Roopbaan’s infant a gay magazine, an LGBT magazine, after this The main protagonist of the story is a woman. In husband. character? Bangla, I don’t think there are many references to This story has evolved over 800 years in mostly a woman as the leading character of a folk story. the eastern part of Bengal, which is now known as Reclaiming the story What we wanted to tell them is that it’s essentially Bangladesh. It has become Bangladesh in the last A group of queer men in Dhaka, which is the a story of a woman and her 12 years of struggle to 50 years. I think it’s incredible that how in that part capital of Bangladesh, decided to reclaim the sto- do pushback — to push back sexism, to push back of Bengal, which is the Muslim-dominated part of ry. They took this very heterosexist, flawed and unwanted sexual moves, to push back repression. Bengal, a story like this evolved. Later, I realized problematic story and retold it from a queer per- Eventually, it’s a story of the triumph of love over the reason people celebrated it was because their spective, shifting the focus from heterosexism to social stigma and oppression. story was mostly narrated by heterosexual men. feminism. So that was the twist that we came up with when March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 19 we launched the magazine in 2014. after the launch of the magazine. We started working on the maga- zine at the end of 2013, and it took Introducing Xulhaz more than a year to come up with a Now, I want to introduce a charac- 54-page magazine. Oh, my god. The ter from the real story. His name is community went mad, es- Xulhaz Mannan. Xulhaz was basi- pecially the heterosexual cally a cat lover and a traveler. men. I think there are a If any one of you would couple of reasons for know Xulhaz, you that. They were mad would have probably because gay people, received at least for the first time, one travel request said it was OK to from any ran- be gay. We are dom place‚ like gay and we’re a six-day trek in acknowledging Rukum, which our gay identity, is in India, or so they couldn’t bungee jump- take that. And ing in Nepal, or the second rea- rafting in San- son was, basically, gu, which is one how dare gay peo- of the roughest ple touch their het- rivers in Bangla- erosexual erotica. desh. He was a Photo by Ingrid Laas They were super mad. man with so many Rafida Bonya Ahmed hands Rasel Ahmed (not related) the Avijit Roy Courage Then it turned po- different and beau- Award at FFRF’s national convention on Nov. 3, 2018, in San Francisco. litical, so Roopbaan be- tiful ideas. He loved came news in the coun- organizing. things. But we have other identities ter Avijit Roy’s murder, every month try and internationally. And he was the one beyond this, beyond the Western it seemed there would be someone After we came up with who came up with this spectrum of gender and sexuality. murdered from the blogger, activist, the magazine, we re- idea of this magazine So when Avijit Roy came up with secular community. So that was in- alized it was very in- and planted this idea this book, it gave us a lot of hope, deed very scary. And eventually we ternationally sellable in my mind because, and let people know that it is not a were scared of becoming the target. news. It was picked duh, I was very na- crime to be who you are. This is not That became true in April 2016, up by many inter- ive. I was very easily a disease, which has been told by the one year after the murder of Avijit national and nation- convinced by him heterosexual community for many Roy. Xulhaz Mannan, my friend, al news outlets. What made me very that I had to do something at the age years. So that book, even before the the character I introduced, was in scared was that my name and picture of 24. I was convinced that we have magazine, was something we could his house and having a discussion were in the magazine. to save the gay community in Bangla- always refer to. with one of his friends, who was And when this news started circu- desh by writing their stories. So, we also a Roopbaan activist. They were lating, I panicked a lot. came up with this magazine. Meeting Avijit Roy just chit-chatting and his doorbell So that was sort of the starting of But what followed after that, When we were brainstorming for rang. There were four men posing our journey of becoming more visi- it wasn’t all bad, but it was up and the magazine, we wanted to con- as couriers who went up to Xulhaz’s ble in that country, which is about 90 down, to be very honest. We were nect with Avijit Roy. I knew of him apparently very secured apartment. percent Muslim. I don’t think that’s targeted, we were bullied, we were because of his work and because of Because they were posing as couriers, the only reason why we couldn’t threatened, but at the same time we his image as a public writer, but per- no one could tell they were armed come out. I think religion definitely were appreciated. We were also en- sonally I never knew Avijit Roy. When with machetes. They forcefully is one reason, but there are so many couraged when we wanted to do opened the door and murdered both other different social challenges. Pa- we came up with the magazine, we of them — hacked to death. triarchy was a challenge, and how we this magazine by Watch the video of this event thought to con- That opened the window of fear look at the spectrum of sexuality. In many of our allies at FFRF.org/video-2018-con nect, and he gen- and many people left the country af- Bangladesh, the discourse is missing and supporters. erously agreed to ter that, including myself. I think we talk about gender and sexuality. It’s Before the and Ahmed’s interview be interviewed are the people carrying the baggage a lack of knowledge, lack of informa- magazine, Avi- on “Freethought Matters” by us. We did the of this murder the most because the tion. The thing I often say is that ho- jit Roy’s book at ffrf.us/ahmed. interview during journey did not end. We are still in mophobia in Bangladesh is not prop- Shomokamita was our first issue, a very transitional phase and so is er homophobia because they don’t published in but it was at the Roopbaan. Even the government of know what it is. It’s lack of knowl- 2010. We know that because the book last moment, so we couldn’t publish Bangladesh condemned the bloggers edge. I think it was one of the dom- is written about us. It was so import- it in the first issue. and the homosexual people for com- inant reasons why we were targeted, ant because before this book, even to But we became allies. One of the ing up with a gay magazine. It said especially online. And social media write the magazine in Bangla, we did plusses of coming up with the liter- this doesn’t go with the culture of was also booming in late 2014, so not have the language of sexuality. ary magazine is that you meet other Bangladesh to write about sexuality. people suddenly knew about us. They So how do you express who you are people who you didn’t know before. One final thing I’d like to say. Af- started making comments on every when you don’t have the language? Avijit Roy was there, and then we got ter coming to this country, a lot of other post they see. And we were very What do you do? Duh, you borrow connected — our gay community people mentioned that this is a safe scared because we were not expect- it from the West. You start calling and the people who wanted to work haven. It’s great for you and they ing something this big could happen yourself gay, lesbian and all of those together. congratulate me, but we have to go When that attack on Avijit Roy deeper into this concept of safety happened in 2015, it was not only an and think more about it because it’s attack on him, but it was an attack not all about physical safety. It’s also on our entire community. The com- about mental security, it’s also about munity, and I’m talking about the emotional safety and identity and queer community in Bangladesh, belongingness. And coming to this the queer community felt the attack. country under this administration, We felt it. We felt threatened and we under this Trump administration, it felt like other than the personal loss feels no less horrible than being in and mourning and outrage, what the Bangladesh. It’s seriously a terrible attack evoked was also the fear. And time to be here for any immigrant. for the first time, I think the fear was I think we are all fighting for the real. We always knew that we were same reason. We are all speaking the doing something very controversial same language — freedom of speech and sensitive in Bangladesh, but I and freedom of association for mar- don’t think any of us thought that we ginalized people in a country where would be targeted like this. dissenting voices are always crushed. After that, we were very terrified. I would like to end my remarks by And by we, I mean the queer com- thanking Bonya. Bonya, thank you so munity. It was again very difficult to much for considering Roopbaan for go back into the closet because, by this award and thank you, Freedom then, we started organizing. Other From Religion Foundation, for con- than the magazine, we started doing sidering us. Thank you very much for Photo by Ingrid Laas rallies, we did a transgender fash- this award and for this recognition. Rasel Ahmed editor and co-founder of Bangladesh’s first and only LGBTQ ion show, we came up with a poetry magazine, Roopbaan. book, we did comedy nights. And af- Page 20 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 Camp Quest teaches kids secular ideals

By Sarah Miller their adult lives. Many Camp Quest al- ums return as counselors and apply the In 2018, thanks to the Freedom From skills they learn at camp to new lead- Religion Foundation and Nonbelief ership roles. Amanda Werner, a Camp Relief, 25 campers attended who otherwise Quest Chesapeake alumna and coun- wouldn’t have been able to afford this life- selor, shares why camp is meaningful changing experience. to her: ince 1996, Camp Quest has pro- “The beauty of Camp Quest is that vided a supportive environment its importance is boundless and im- Sfor children of nonreligious fam- measurable. It means something dif- ilies. Over the past quarter century, our ferent but equally valuable to every commitment to inclusion, empathy single person who is touched by its and respect for difference has made magic. My life will forever be shaped Camp Quest a vibrant and diverse by my experiences at Camp Quest as community. a camper, peer leader and counselor. Now, with an expansive network I was thrilled to continue my own jour- of affiliate camps across the United ney at Camp Quest as a counselor two States, Camp Quest continues to play years ago, and I keep returning. I re- a crucial role in the development of turn because I know that I play a small a new generation of secular youth. In part in something much larger than 2018, Camp Quest programs served myself. One week of positive influence children from 36 states, and the de- can forever change the direction of a mand for Camp Quest’s unique take camper’s life, especially one that feels on secular summer adventuring con- insecure in their home community. tinues to grow. “Campers leave with the confidence and tools to have thought-provoking Camp Quest plays a crucial role in the Camp Quest programs help camp- conversations with neighbors, friends and family who view the world differently,” lives of campers and staff as a support- ers develop critical thinking skills, says Amanda Werner, a Camp Quest Chesapeake alumna and counselor. ive, safe place for freethinkers and grow empathy in relationships and nonbelievers. communities, and offer one-of-a-kind and teens born since 1999, is the first oppression. Camp Quest provides a “It teaches how to respectfully ques- learning experiences grounded in sci- post-Christian generation. More than nurturing environment for campers tion beliefs and think critically about ence, ethics, philosophy and nature. 35 percent of youth report that they that fosters the development of reason, the surrounding world. Campers leave Camps typically operate week-long resi- identify as atheist, agnostic or do not integrity and empathy — skills that are with the confidence and tools to have dential sessions for children aged 8-17. claim a religious identity. A further 7 solely needed in today’s confusing and thought-provoking conversations with We welcome children and teenagers percent are of non-Christian faiths. polarized political climate. neighbors, friends and family who from all backgrounds and teach them With an unprecedented number Scores of dedicated Camp Quest view the world differently. Campers to respect others while taking pride in of young people rejecting dogma and volunteers nationwide have spent years and staff develop meaningful relation- themselves. choosing to think for themselves, it is developing supportive and inclusive ships that last far into the future. For so Our society needs Camp Quest at vital that we provide both a community programs, firmly grounded in secular many of us, Camp Quest is a family, a this critical moment. The percentage and a moral framework that can nur- humanist values, that provide a safe, home and a community that will always of nonreligious youths is rising at a ture and guide our children as they ethically-based community for all chil- live in our hearts.” rate never seen before. Generation build their futures and form a bulwark dren. Repeatedly, at camps across the Camp Quest is grateful for the sup- Z, which is comprised of children against the regressive tide of religious country, parents tell us that their chil- port we receive from members of FFRF dren are transformed after a week at and Nonbelief Relief who make this Camp Quest. Campers return home important work possible. Together, we more confident, outgoing and happier will support secular youth as they take than when they arrived. their place in the world. Camp Quest inspires youths to live Please visit CampQuest.org to register life well and fully, guided by empathy, for the 2019 season, help or volunteer. discovery and critical thinking. Our Sarah Miller is Camp Quest’s develop- campers carry that inspiration into ment director.

Ways you can support Camp Quest • Volunteer as a counselor or camp leader. • Provide a camp scholarship to a child in need. • Invite our staff to speak to your organization or group. • Host or sponsor a Leadership Training Series webinar. • Support promotion of Camp Quest at national conferences and events. • Sponsor Leadership Summit and Volunteer Travel Grants. • Invest in future development of day camps and year-round programs. Camp Quest helps children aged 8-17 develop critical thinking skills using experiences grounded in science, ethics, philosophy and nature. CRANKMAIL Welcome to another monthly installment of Crank- dy Morris Stay out of Tennessee: Keep your opinion in evening because you filed to have a cross removed mail, where we provide a forum for those who are You’re punks: You think you’re hot shit, do you? Socialist Liberal Wisconsin. We in Tennessee worship from public property. This upsets me because I had critical of FFRF (but perhaps not so critical of English Do you feel terrible about yourselves yet? If not, you our Lord God and want Him to bless our new gov- to spend time having your belief shoved at me and usage or spelling). Letters are printed as received. should. The good men of the Amberley Police and ernor. Your ridiculous comments fails to recognize those are minutes I will never get back...wasted. — God is real: this country was Based on the bible Fire Department don’t deserve to put up with aithe- “separation of. Hutch and state” doesn’t appear in Steve Knox we had prayers in schools and moral standards were ist PUNKS like you when they’re doing GOD’s work the American Constitution. You people are disgust- Keep the cross!: Shame on you for taking side of so much higher. you are degrading America with and spreading His light. ing. — David Crocker a single, anonimous person, and ignoring the wish your actions. you think the Bible is incorrect and etc. Prepare for death: Who do you think you are?! You’re contradicting youselves: Darwinian of the vast majority of the city in regards with the you probably believe humans were formed over the One day He will smite all of you radical Islamic aithe- macroevolution is just a theory, and a weak one at lighted cross. If it was a lighted muslim crescent, you time of millions of years. all by accident. and that the ist evildoers right where you stand and you will all that with zero actual physical evidence of it ever ac- wouldnt give a dime! You are fighting hard against universe was formed accidentally? there is a God, the DIE a horrible death just like you DESERVE. tually happening (if you really examine it, it’s not rea- the Christian religion: is this because you feel it is creator. one Day you will stand before him. — Daniil — Benjamin Silverman sonable at all). Atheism is a belief system, or as some something worth fighting against? How stupid! It is Moroz Let’s vote on the cross!: You all can go fuck your call it, the religion of naturalism. It’s a “belief” about like cutting the branch beneath you feet. — Ovidiu Useless: What a worthless organization. Can’t selves. Everyone has a right to religion, if you don’t our world. So, if you will work to keep one set of be- Hajdatan you just be your atheist selves and leave everyone like it then move. There is more people in the world liefs out of a school, why not the other belief system, First amendment: Brownstown In has had a else alone? The things you people hate - “forcing in favor of the cross. since they both require an element of faith as neither nativity scene on the front lawn for years and now it religion on you” is exactly what your advocating. Instead of pushing your fucking weight around, can be explicitly “proved”. Can you explain this con- takes one person to have it removed! What ever hap- Everyone realizes that YOU are in the minority in this why don’t you have a city wide vote on of the cross tradiction of mission? — Jenna Shepherd pened to the majority rules? The first amendment is world as far as your values. So thus we are laughing is to be removed or not. Once again you all can go You are part of the problem: I just wanted to to protect us as well. — Sandra Bobb our asses off at you. Pathetic. fuck your selves. Don’t try to message back it’s a fake take a moment and say look at the world and the Get out of our state: It is my prayer that your Christians just worship on their own. They don’t email. — Aaron Craver news of today. It is you and your organization that organization folds like a cheap lawn chair. Until force their beliefs on anyone. But u use lawsuits and Haters: I just want to know why you hate Chris- has created a world of intolerance and ignorance. then mind your own business and stay the hell out other tactics. — Dan Reida tians? Can you explain and feel free to call me any- Way to go, you have succeeded in turning our world of Indiana or you’ll look like a protester at a Trump Hell for you: Hope u enjoy burning in hell.hope time after 1 EST Monday thru Friday to discuss.— into a cesspool. — Stephen White rally...enormously outnumbered and not welcome. ucan handle a godlessworld. Losers.get a life — Bran- Brad Shultz News: You took up a part of my local news this — Robert Eaker March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 21 ‘Freethought Radio’ listeners chime in

Freethought Radio listeners were of- ernment in check and makes sure the fered the opportunity to enter a random wall stays in place to protect us all. drawing for a free copy of co-host Dan Mere Morality Manolo Matos Barker’s latest book, Mere Morality (a re- Here is an excerpt from Dan Barker’s Kentucky joinder to C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity). new book, Mere Morality. Dan donates • • • Here are some of the messages re- all the royalties from copies purchased Happy New Year from my flight to ceived in January by listeners of FFRF’s via FFRF. Go to shop.ffrf.org. Bangkok! I usually listen on my month- radio show/podcast, which has been on Have you ever seen one of those ly commute to Thailand. Month on, the air since the spring of 2006, current- cartoons where the character is try- month off. Semi-retired for years and ly broadcasts in six cities and drawing ing to make a decision with a devil looking forward to full early retirement some 10,000 weekly podcast listeners. on one shoulder and an angel on in Thailand next year. Freethought Radio features irreverent the other? We often find ourselves Thanks for being the voice of reason views, news music and interviews, and torn between what we want to do and sanity in the crazy USA and for ev- reports every week on FFRF’s most time- and what we feel we should do. Since erything FFRF does. ly actions. To listen, visit ffrf.org/radio. there are no devils or angels, I sug- Kevin Danchisen • • • gest we replace the image of those Michigan I’ve been listening to Freethought silly supernatural symbols of “good • • • Radio through the Overcast podcast app and evil” with something else. Instead I was born in a Christian home and since shortly after I met Dan Barker at of cartoon characters competing for my father is pastor in Mexico City. I the Tucson Festival of Books a few years your attention, picture instinct on preached and led worship, playing the ago, and I’ve been an FFRF member one shoulder, law on the other, and guitar at church. I can identify with your since the day after the general election reason in the middle. These make up story, Mr. Barker. Reading science with in 2016. Thanks for the work you’re do- your three “moral minds,” and none an open mind and all the questions that ing at FFRF! of them, by itself, tells you what to do. Christianity could not answer, and read- Rich Miller None of them is good or bad. Actions Mere Morality is a model, a frame- ing Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion, Arizona are what we judge to be good or bad, work that can help us visualize what amounted to my realization this past No- • • • and your moral minds are guides that we are doing when we make moral vember that God doesn’t exist. I listen to the podcast every week. help you do the judging. choices. I’ve read a couple of your books and I I am agnostic, after identifying as just started on losing faith in faith. I’m 43 a Christian most of my life. Like many now and married to a surprisingly sup- people, it wasn’t something that sprang porting wife. I’m going through a scary/ into existence from nowhere, it evolved • • • YouTube, your newspaper, the “Free- exiting time and your books and now over time. I remember telling my mom I listen to your program in my car thought Matters” TV show, and anything your podcast are helping me through it. when I was not quite a teen that I be- on my way to home after work in Col- else I can find that you’re doing. It is so Genaro Vega lieved in an absent god, that set the lege Station, Texas. I am Mexican of a good to know your organization is work- • • • world spinning and then walked away privileged upbringing and fortunately I ing to keep religion out of the public are- These were the messages received by for us to manage on our own. (I’m pret- have never faced the hardships my un- na. I’ll be really happy if/when you get the ultimate lucky winners of the free ty sure that wasn’t the exact quote, but privileged peers face every day. Howev- rid of chaplains in the Unied States legis- book drawing: that was the idea.) er, I do feel disconnected from my com- lature. Thank you for everything you do. • • • As an adult, I spent much of my ca- munity due to my nonbelief. I feel as if Gladys Burritt We listen to the program via podcast reer working as the news director for a I can’t say out loud what I really think California on iTunes and very much look forward Christian radio group. I was considered because people are going to reject me. • • • to every new episode each week. the token liberal because, among other That’s why I feel so refreshed when I lis- I follow your show in podcast from As parents raising godless (and mor- things, I believed in First Amendment ten to your program. It’s very comfort- @PodcastAddict. Thank you for de- al) young children in small-town Ohio, equality for all faiths, not just Christi- ing to know there is a big community of fending the “the wall,” fence, whatever we appreciate the dose of sanity and ra- anity, even as I expressed a specifically people who will not judge you for what they’d like to call it. I’ll call it whatever tionalism in what can seem at times an Christian worldview on the air, which I you (don’t) believe. they want. But it’s all the same thing “be- increasing oppressive religious environ- did firmly believe at the time. Ricardo Simental Magaña tween church and state”! ment. While serving as a Sunday school Texas Dean Davis Please keep up the fantastic work. teacher and youth group leader, I regu- • • • Ohio Andy Ahern larly told my students to “study to show I first started listening to the pod- • • • Ohio thyself approved,” as the bible says, and cast of Freethought Radio when I I’ve been a listener of your broadcast • • • not take my word for it. Interestingly, was watching atheist-themed videos for quite a few years and just became a I listen to Freethought Radio as a many of those same students now are on YouTube, and a recommendation new member of FFRF in December. I’m podcast through the app PocketCast. I themselves unchurched, atheist, agnos- popped up. It was the video of Dan glad my yearly donation is going toward listen to Freethought Radio and a slew tic, or lean toward what is now consid- and Annie Laurie on the “Oprah Win- such an important cause. of other atheist podcasts. For me, it’s a ered liberal Christianity. frey Show.” That led to watching more I listened to the show on my laptop breath of fresh air to listen to others who As the years pass, I took the advice videos and to the FFRF website, where from your website until I started using share my views. I gave my own students. After much I learned about the radio show. I eager- the Castbox app last year for all my pod- I moved to the rural southwest Wis- thought and study, I realized that the ly await each episode. I’ve read all of casts. Now I have you everywhere I go consin area a couple of years ago. I felt road didn’t lead to Calvary, but to a wid- Dan’s books. Keep up the good work. with my smartphone. alone, and even the podcasts couldn’t er road with a greater sense of the awe, David O’Reilly Thanks for all the great work you do! quench my thirst for social interaction mystery and majesty of the universe, Ireland Carl Davidson with freethinkers. So, I started The Drift- unfettered by the cloistered walls of • • • Illinois less Atheists Meetup group. Christianity. I am so glad I accidentally heard • • • I don’t think I would have had the Even though I’ve been agnostic for about you on the “Devil’s Advocate” ra- I’ve listened to Freethought Radio since courage to start such a group without several years, it’s not something I dis- dio show, which is carried on one of our I found out about the existence of pod- the encouragement and support of cuss often, telling only a few people and local talk show radio stations. This was a casts. I really appreciate you making the people like you. only when pressed on a specific reli- year or more ago, and I think the inter- frank and simple point that Christianity Joshua Masterson gious issue. view was about the Johnson Amendment. is not the default human condition and Wisconsin Robert Parson Anyway, I’ve gone on to become a should not be part of the government. • • • Arkansas member, and enjoy FFRF’s videos on I’m interested in Dan’s book, Mere Mo- I listen to the radio show on podcast rality, because of the false argument because I am an atheist, because I want that a bronze-age and dark-age religion to be exposed to other folks of like mind. Your weekly antidote to the Religious Right teaches humans morality. William McCallister LK Lowe Maryland Oregon • • • FREETHOUGHT RADIO • • • I listen to Freethought Radio pod- PODCASTS AND BROADCASTS I listen to Freethought Radio via podcast casts because I’m not always available every week. I am an FFRF member from at the time of the broadcast. I’ve been FIND OUT MORE: rf.org/radio Kentucky and it’s a great way to keep a member for many years and really up-to-date on all the great work you enjoy every radio show. I have read — Hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor — do on our behalf. Living in Kentucky several of the books mentioned on Slightly irreverent views, news, music & interviews as an atheist is a challenge, especially various shows and have others on my with people like our governor always long list of “to read” books.Thanks for chipping away at the wall of separation all you do for freethought. between church and state. It’s great to Bob Stewart have an organization that keeps the gov- Colorado Page 22 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 LETTERBOX FFRF’s ‘After-Life’ pin Thanks to FFRF for the Birds of a FFRFeather is worn with pride Chino Valley victory

Thank you so much for my new “Af- I love the good news that the newly ter-Life Member” pin! I am so happy to elected school board members of the have this beautiful pin that I will wear it Chino Valley School District voted 3 with pride. to 2 to discontinue the appeal of your I am such a proud member of FFRF case. Thank you for this long-fought vic- and sing your praises every chance I get. tory. The community and the plaintiffs Thanks for all you do. worked long and hard, but FFRF got Susie York them through. New Hampshire You might be interested to know that one of the troublesome board members ended the evening with a warning about Crankmail writers suffer the dangers of vaccination and its con- from Dunning-Kruger nection to autism. No end of fake facts in Chino. I’m proud of your work and I wonder how the people who the hard work of the citizens. Whew. write these pieces in Crankmail Elections matter. would feel if they knew some 32,000 Joanne Dallas people were reading their words and California laughing at them. I recently heard about a malady known as the Dun- ning-Kruger Effect. Basically, it is Donate Stardust books being too stupid to appreciate how to your local library stupid you are. Seems to apply to the Crankmail authors. I was so impressed by reading Bailey Jack M. Pedigo Harris’ speech in the December 2018 Washington issue that I purchased five copies of My Name is Stardust and donated them to I thought you might enjoy photos of Darwin, my 18-year-old cockatoo, my local public library. In the future, Thanks for stopping catching up on FFRF news about the convention. Darwin and I live in Florida I hope to do the same with Stardust Ex- prayer at Chino Valley and are grateful FFRF members. plores the Solar System and Stardust Explores Gemma Dehnbostel Earth’s Wonders. Thank you for stopping the Chi- Florida I suggest that each FFRF member no Valley School Board in promot- purchase at least one copy of My Name is ing church and religion. I strongly Stardust and donate it to their local pub- believe that the citizens of Chino de- I’m joyfully upgrading We should all place lic library. This would be a great way to serve school board members who are promote freethought and science. open-minded and whose best interest to ‘After-Life’ status stickers on hotel bibles John Dunn is to provide a quality education to all I would like to take this opportuni- I was actually happy to find a California students without the influence of reli- ty to joyfully upgrade my membership Gideon bible in my hotel room at gious beliefs. to After-Life status. Your organization the convention in San Francisco. Ben Aguirre has been life-changing. Prior to joining I promptly placed one of FFRF’s Missed convention to California FFRF, I literally had no idea that there “Gideon Exposed” stickers on the become Life Member were so many of us “Nones” out there. cover. It gave me pleasure to know that Unfortunately, my schedule does not future occupants of that room would I’ve wanted to become a Life Mem- Plenty of unanswered allow time to join a local group, so Free- be exposed to the brutal murderous ber for a long time, but needed to wait questions about abortion thought Today is my lifeline to what is history of Gideon. until this year. going on. What wonderful news each is- When traveling, I never leave Thanks for Andrew Seidel’s terrific, The column by Brian Bolton (“Who sue brings! Like it is for so many, Crank- home without an adequate supply thought-provoking article, “Climate is history’s greatest abortionist?”) mail is a guilty pleasure — though I wor- of the “Gideon Exposed” stickers. change is a state/church matter,” in the comes tantalizing close to some tren- ry about your safety at times, I just end In late July, on a drive from Texas to December issue. chant questions which I never hear up laughing anyway. What dimwits! North Carolina, I placed six stickers As a Californian, I was pleased that publicly aired. They deserve greater Finally, at long last, I have decided I on bibles. Assuming a 50 percent San Francisco was chosen as the site of attention: can no longer read about all the won- occupancy rate (two adults occupy the 2018 convention. I chose not to at- How many of us are aborted by God? derful presentations and fun at the an- the room 182 days a year), then on tend, however, because I felt that a Life It’s well over half of fertilizations. The nual convention, so have penciled in an annual basis about 2,000 people Membership was a better use of my lim- observable miscarriage rate is 10-20 per- this year’s event on my calendar. I truly would be exposed to the stickers. ited resources. cent, but most spontaneous abortions look forward to rubbing shoulders with Now, if each of the 30,000-plus On another topic, the usage of the occur too early to be noticed. Whatever the freethought Illuminati. FFRF members spent one night a year terms “atheist” and “atheism” is trou- the fate of the unborn soul, it’s the fate Chuck Bingham in a hotel and placed a sticker on the bling to me because they are still re- of far more than half of us ever creat- Wisconsin bible, millions of people would be ex- lated to theism. Opposing something ed. One may choose to include the very posed to the message. still keeps one attached to it. I’ve always high infant/early childhood mortality I’m just being a Johnny Appleseed, found “humanism” to be far more em- rates that God imposes. Which will she choose? planting seeds of doubt and reason. braceable. I’m an atheist, yes, but a hu- What is the fate of the unborn soul? Bible or morality? Howard Bostock manist first. A dilemma (assuming the life of the Texas Bill Fritch soul begins at conception). Perhaps Second Lady Karen Pence is teach- California they go straight to heaven; a free ride ing at a fundamentalist school with ab- Editor’s note: The “Gideon Ex- without running the gauntlet of life and solute bible beliefs. This raises disturb- posed” stickers and bible warning risking hell. Presumably one must be ing questions: labels can be found at shop.ffrf.org by Venomous tone over born to get to hell. Why is abortion not The bible says clearly that gay lovers clicking on the “Sharables/Gifts” tab. FFRF’s case in Ozark a sacrament? must be killed (Lev. 20:13). Or perhaps for some reason (God’s The bible says clearly that brides who The devil prompted me to send whim), these innocents are denied aren’t virgins must be stoned to death you this note regarding the cross in heaven. If so, why does anyone worship on their fathers’ doorsteps (Deut. 22). Don’t bash believers, Ozark, Mo., on city property. I am ex- this guy? The bible says clearly that people get them to join us tremely fortunate to be able to vaca- Does the aborted soul care who kills who work on the Sabbath must be exe- tion there in the winters. I watched it, be it God or someone else? cuted (Ex. 31:15). Many of our articles and letters bash the TV news and read the local paper God’s scriptural admissions to mass The bible gives explicit instructions religions and faith; yet that same faith regarding the cross issue. The venom abortion are illuminating, but, as usu- on how to buy and sell slaves (Lev. brings relief and comfort to millions, es- of the tone of the TV report and the al, verifiable observations are more 25:44) — including advice about selling pecially in times of duress. Thus, we will language of the newspaper made it instructive. a daughter (Ex. 21:7). always have religions. sound like you guys are from a differ- One may quip, “If I’d been aborted, Will Mrs. Pence tell students to obey Our best hope to prevail is to con- ent galaxy and are minions of Ming wouldn’t I be in heaven right now in- these sacred bible commands, or will she vince the people of faith to join our the Merciless! stead of going to hell?” tell them to ignore God’s instructions? cause. The bashing only alienates them. Keep up the good work! John Wolff James A. Haught George Gjelfriend David Mishkin Washington West Virginia North Carolina Texas March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 23

I don’t believe in God, being a racial minority in the secu- So much for benevolence lar community. The column was di- but Robert Mueller, yes! rectly above the photo of the woe- I don’t believe in God, but I do be- fully-not-diverse FFRF team. Sigh. lieve in Robert Mueller III. Although I know it’s Madison and the demo- I just turned 90, I very much hope graphic there is not very diverse. that Mr. Mueller will deposit me in I salute everyone at FFRF none- heaven before I die! theless. All over the globe, things are Willys Silvers getting better year by year. Wiseman’s Pennsylvania piece is a clarion call and an eloquent upper. Thanks to everyone! Column provided great Lane Browning examples of God’s wrath Oregon

I just want to say how much I’m en- First Amendment joying being a Sponsoring Member of defense a thankless task FFRF. I’m proud of the work you do, I appreciate the email updates, and I es- It is with considerable pleasure that I pecially like Freethought Today, which am able to contribute to you again this is a breath of fresh air. All elements of year. I realize the defense of the First it are fun to read, but I was prompted Amendment is an endless, and seem- to write because of how much I partic- ingly thankless, task. I am honored to ularly enjoyed Brian Bolton’s article Dell Erwin of Virginia sent us this photo of the church marquee from St. be able to stand with you in it. “Who is history’s greatest abortionist?” John’s in Roselle, Ill. “My son saw this on the way to work. No wonder we James Wood Bailey It’s fascinating when someone distills believe religion is cruel and harmful,” Dell writes. New Jersey all the little bits of evidence in the bible that paints yet another vivid example of what an incorrigible character God real- Why do churches get and no one in government should be Hierarchy of Church ly is. Thanks, Brian, and thanks, FFRF! to pollute our air? given the authority to decide what is is all about power Ross Meisner myth and superstition and what is not! Minnesota I was distressed to hear Christian This is very important. And it is time I finally figured out that my bias is hymns being banged out on the St. Rita we attack these violations with the true not against Catholics nor Catholicism. Church’s bell tower on Dec. 25. I was reason for the First Amendment, which My bias is against the hierarchy of the Based on 1990 comments, inside my home with all the windows was the desire to avoid the terrors of institutional church, which I consider a Trump not a Christian and doors shut and the curtains drawn, religious conflict and persecution that bunch of geriatric, misogynist, sexually and I could still hear the religious once plagued Europe and still plagues perverted, totalitarian men. It took me The “Freethought of the Day” of Jan. assault on my ears very clearly. There is the Middle East. years to realize I could separate peo- 27 noted that: “Mozart refused to ask for nothing I can do to get away from the With this approach, we will also have ple I dearly liked from religious tenets a priest when dying. His wife sent for one proselytizing when the town sanctions great opportunities to remind everyone I thought were superstitious nonsense anyway, who refused to attend. Mozart it being broadcast in this very invasive that religion is based on myth and su- from priests who were the instruments was buried in a pauper’s grave without a manner. Not every taxpayer in Fairfax perstition, which no one in all honesty of psychological damage and extreme religious service. Referring to the ortho- is a Christian. Not everyone wants to can deny. unhappiness. doxy of his youth, he [Mozart] said: ‘That be oppressed by Christian ideology in Ron Herman I had friends when I was first married is all over, and will never come back.’” their own homes. Some of us are even New Mexico who were afraid to use birth control. I Contrast Mozart’s words with the traumatized by what Christianity has danced off to Planned Parenthood or answer given by Donald Trump to the done to us. I strongly urge the town my ob/gyn, had two children and a very “Life or death” question posed to him to stop sanctioning Christian content Thanks for intervening good married life. These poor women during his interview in Playboy maga- being broadcast into our homes, our in state-church issues may have gone to Catholic heaven, but zine (March 1990). ears, and our minds in this inescapably their married life was hell on Earth in Trump’s response: “Both. We’re invasive manner. Please do not I just want to express my gratitude many ways. here and we live our 60, 70 or 80 years allow St. Rita or any other religious to FFRF staff for having intervened in As I got older, I met a lot of lapsed and we’re gone. You win, you win, and organization to pollute our air with a few local concerns of mine regarding Catholics. These people were much in the end, it doesn’t mean a hell of a their religious hymns. violations of state/church separation. happier by and large than my newly lot. But it is something to do, to keep Stacey Anderson Living in a small isolated remote west wedded friends who confessed to a you interested.” California Texas city on the U.S.-Mexico border, it priest who gave women absolution for Both Mozart and Trump provided us is hard to get help in righting wrongs using the rhythm method! I couldn’t with the opportunity to form our own involving local government, even if one find anything in the bible that actually opinions about their supposed religiosity Keep focus of cases has the funds to hire an attorney. Some forbade birth control. All their expla- — or, more importantly, their lack thereof. on constitutionality local attorneys won’t take on cases that nations sounded pretty modern and However, it should be noted: Without are not politically correct because doing controlling: “It’s not natural.” Well, a belief in an afterlife (with Jesus, who I often see in articles about church/ so might scare off future business. Many neither is surgery, mass transporta- Trump never mentioned) one cannot be state separation cases that the objection residents do object to violations but do tion, communication or modern ag- a Christian. Such “heaven-deniers” can to crosses and monuments that favor not know how to take on such things or riculture. But I have never heard any claim to be Christians, but according to Christianity over any other religion or are concerned about retaliation for hav- criticism of these scientific unnatural all Christian denominations, they most no religion is because these make oth- ing spoken out. practices. certainly are not. ers feel left out or inferior. This buys As far as the press goes, we real- The hierarchy is all about power. If As Napoleon Bonaparte noted, into the Christian view that we non- ly don’t have much, but what we do I were wealthy, I’d found a home for more than 200 years ago, (and what believers are just sinners complaining have isn’t really inclined to take on women of any faith who want to escape. Donald Trump is obviously capitalizing about being preached to. such issues. Del Rio really is a nice Thank you for doing what you do. on today): “Religion is excellent stuff So, let’s get to the heart to the mat- place to live but, like anywhere else, Marjorie Holden for keeping common people quiet. ter, which is that these are unconstitu- it is not perfect. This is where I find California Religion is what keeps the poor from tional, which is reason enough. But, that FFRF is very helpful to the com- murdering the rich.” also, our founders made respect for munity overall. Please keep up the William Dusenberry churches unconstitutional because good work you do! Constitution is supreme Arizona they promote myth and superstition, Richard d’Avy law of the land Texas I frequently hear people, Judge December issue was Roy Moore included, quote the words, NEW! “Congress shall make no law respect- FFRF’s particularly good! ing an establishment of religion.” They ‘Freethought then claim that they haven’t established The December 2018 issue was a par- a religion. Matters’ mug ticularly good one. Kudos to all! But people forget that the First A meaningful message and the I loved the repurposed churches, Amendment is written within the con- logo of FFRF’s new TV show. Ivory the kidney donor story, the Kirschman text that the Constitution is the su- imprint on tapered burgundy, 8 fl. oz. memorial, the Bailey Harris convention preme law of the land. Whenever a American- made mug. speech (props to her!) and the account conflict arises between the Constitution by Steven Lowe to get bibles out of hotel and an establishment of religion, the $20 postpaid — Item#MU02 rooms (yes!). Constitution is supreme. And then, on the back page, I Thanks, and keep up the good work. Call 608/256-8900 or order online ffrf.org/shop saw the wonderful piece by James Matthew P. Howley Wiseman about the “loneliness” of Ohio Page 24 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 BLACK COLLAR CRIME

baseball at Liberty Christian School in the Dallas an altercation in a private home in December of Church of the Turning Point, calls himself “the Compiled by Bill Dunn suburb Argyle, is accused of forcing a relative to where children were present. He pleaded guilty Apostle.” perform a sex act on him. It allegedly occurred last July to driving under the influence, with his An affidavit alleges a girl was 13 when the as- when the child was 4 and happened twice more blood-alcohol content nearly 3 times the legal saults started and that she conceived 3 children Arrested / Charged during a 2-year period. limit, was fined and placed on probation.Source: with him. She was living with him because her Jacob L. Coyle, 36, Peoria, IL: Criminal Wetteland is a member of the Texas Rang- Star-Tribune, 12-31-18 family had financial difficulties. Another alleged sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual ers Hall of Fame. He was the 1996 World Series Richard Rose, 59, Port Colborne, Ontario: victim is his daughter. Source: WFAA, 12-21-18 abuse. Coyle, youth pastor at Averyville Baptist MVP while pitching for the Yankees. A 1995 New 4 counts each of sexual assault and sexual in- Thomas Kreiser, 53, Bronx, NY: 1st-degree Church, is accused of sexual contact with a male York Times column noted his “Jesus Lives” cof- terference. Rose is accused of incidents involv- sexual abuse. Kreiser, pastor at St. Joseph’s parishioner on “multiple occasions” over 4 years, fee mug and a bible in his locker. “I honestly try ing 2 minors while he was pastor at Northview Catholic Church, is charged with sexual touch- starting in January 2006 when he was 13. He al- and walk with Jesus Christ every day,” he told Community Church when he lived in Markham ing of a 10-year-old girl outside her clothes at a leged friendly back rubs led to sexual encounters a reporter, describing his relationship with Jesus between 1991-2015. He also operated a home church school in September. He was sentenced at the church, mostly in a guest bedroom known as more important than the one with his wife. day care and coached hockey during some of in 2011 to 5 years’ probation for stealing over as the “prophet’s chambers.” Source: Pekin Source: Morning News, 1-15-19 that time. Source: CTV News, 12-29-18 $25,000 from his previous parish. Source: Daily Times, 1-29-19 Voice, 12-19-18 Matthew D. Tonne, 35, Flower Mound, TX: Shauna Haile, Rogersville, MO: Felony Indecency with a child. Tonne is accused of mo- stealing and forgery. Haile has worked at Harvest lesting a girl from the Village Church at a camp Community Church of the Nazarene for 13 years, for kids in 2012, when he was children’s minister. the last several as treasurer. Church leaders said He was quietly removed in June 2018, although about $80,000 is missing. She allegedly told in- Village pastor Matt Chandler later said it was for vestigators it first happened by accident, that she reasons unrelated to the assault. had used the church debit card instead of her Some church members are upset that Chan- own and planned to pay it back, but when she dler declined to say if anyone from the church didn’t get caught she continued to keep using the was involved with allegations made last Sep- card. Source: KY3, 12-18-18 tember. He also said “no persons of interest” in Jeffrey B. Head, 54, Draper, UT: 2 counts the investigation had access to children. Source: each of forcible sexual abuse and misdemeanor Christian Post, 1-26-19 lewdness. Head, the leader of a local Mormon Hugh J. Lang, 88, Castle Shannon, PA: Un- Church ward, is accused by at least 3 underage lawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, boys of offenses. One alleges Head came to his aggravated indecent assault, sexual abuse of home unannounced in May 2016 and inappropri- children involving photography or other imaging, ately touched him after asking to see his genitals indecent exposure and 2 counts of indecent as- after surgery. sault. “John Doe” alleged that Lang molested him Another alleged Head talked to him about in the church basement when he was 10 and was masturbation “all the time” and once locked him training to be an altar boy at St. Therese of Lisieux in a car in the boy’s driveway so they could dis- Parish in Munhall. Although he retired in 2006, cuss sex. Lang was still offering Mass at St. Anne Parish in “We have to figure this masturbation thing Castle Shannon. Source: Post-Gazette, 1-25-19 out,” Head allegedly told him. “You’re not leaving Stephen Jordan, 67, Conway, SC: 3rd-de- until we figure this out.” Source: Salt Lake Tri- gree assault and battery, entry on another’s land bune, 12-15-18 for various purposes without permission and Henry D. Gleason, 71, Claremore, OK: Child trespassing on another’s land without permis- molestation, 1st-degree rape and sexual battery. sion. Jordan, who retired in 2016 as a Methodist Gleason, pastor of Harmony Star Freewill Baptist pastor, was charged last May with 3rd-degree Church, is accused of assaults on 3 girls under criminal sexual conduct with a minor for allegedly age 10 and a woman now in her 20s. He alleged- fondling a 4-year-old girl. ly told investigators he didn’t remember any sex- The new charges stem from a Dec. 26 inci- ual touching but would take the “fall” in order to dent in which a woman reported Jordan came on keep the children out of a courtroom. Source: her property and approached children who were KTUL, 12-13-18 playing. She told him to leave but he kept return- Jerrell G. Altic, 40, Houston: Altic, a pastor ing, a police report said. Source: WPDE, 1-24-19 at First Baptist Church, is accused of embezzling Charles Townsend, 52, Lincoln, NE: Procur- over $800,000 from 2011-17, spending the mon- ing alcohol for a minor. Townsend, pastor at St. Malcolm J. D’Souza, 62, Calgary, Alberta: John R. McFarland, 56, Fountain Valley, ey on things like overseas trips with his family, Peter’s Catholic Church until placed on leave last Sexual assault. D’Souza, pastor at 2 Catholic CA: 2 counts of lewd acts on a child. McFar- groceries and payment for his doctorate in divini- August, is accused of an “inappropriate, nonsex- parishes, is accused of repeated, inappropriate land, lead pastor at Orangethorpe United ty from Lancaster Bible College. The church’s in- ual relationship” with a 19-year-old altar server touching of a woman in 2012. The Diocese of Methodist Church, is charged in alleged inci- surance will cover $500,000 of the loss. Source: that involved alcohol at a residence in July 2017, Calgary put him on leave last October after re- dents involving a girl under age 14 between KHOU, 12-12-18 said Bishop James Conley. ceiving allegations from 2 minors and several July 2012 and August 2013. Source: KUSI, Albert Weathers, 46, Sterling Heights, MI: Conley sent Townsend to Texas for treatment adults about incidents between 2010-16. Source: 12-28-18 Murder and use of a firearm in commission of a and told parishioners it was for health reasons Calgary Herald, 1-15-19 Aron Y. Rosner, Brooklyn, NY: Kidnapping. felony. Weathers, pastor at Logos Church in De- but never told the teen’s parents about the inci- Derek Smittle, 30, Centerton, AR: Sexual Rosner, a member of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish troit, is accused in the December death of Kelly dent, said a church statement. Source: Journal assault. Smittle, a Sunday school volunteer at sect named Lev Tahor, is accused of being part of Stough, a 36-year-old transgendered woman. Star, 1-18-19 First Baptist Centerton, is accused of having a a conspiracy to kidnap children ages 12 and 14 in Prosecutors believe the shooting is tied to Thomas P. Ganley, 63, Phillipsburg, NJ: Ag- months-long sexual relationship starting last Oc- December from their mother Sara Helbrans, 32. Stough’s gender orientation. Weathers also gravated sexual assault and 2 counts of sexual tober with a 17-year-old The children were later worked at Great Lakes Water Authority until re- assault. Ganley, pastor at Sts. Philip and James girl who attended First found in Mexico. cently. Source: Fox 2 Detroit, 12-12-18 Catholic Church, is charged with assaulting a girl Baptist. He also host- The sect was Joseph Walsh, 66, Hamilton Hill, Australia: in 1990-94, when he served a parish in Wood- ed bible studies in his We have to figure this founded by her father 6 counts of theft. Walsh allegedly stole $252,000 bridge. She alleges they had intercourse and oral home. The girl’s mother masturbation thing out. Shlomo Helbrans, between 2014-17 while he was pastor at St. Jo- sex on multiple occasions in New Jersey, Florida alleged she found Smit- who drowned in Mexi- seph’s Catholic Church in Subiaco. Source: ABC tle and her daughter “ co in 2017 after being and Washington, starting when she was 16 and — alleged comment by Mormon Local, 12-11-18 he was 39. at an Airbnb in Janu- convicted of kidnap- Mohamed Rawat, 49, London: Possession It’s the first case stemming from a new state ary, an affidavit said. leader Jeffrey Head to boy ping and deported with intent to supply an illegal substance. Rawat, task force investigating clergy sex abuse. The ar- Source: KFSM, 1-15-19 to Israel. Rosner is a a volunteer Muslim chaplain, is charged with rest came just 2 days after the accuser called the Charles Kormans- brother of Meyer Ros- smuggling a synthetic cannabinoid called K2 or abuse hotline. Source: nj.com, 1-17-19 ki, 56, Bellefonte, PA: ner, one of 5 Lev Ta- Spice into jail for inmates to smoke. Source: Dai- Rashan L. Wilson, 35, N. Charleston, SC: Embezzlement of over $167,000 from St. John hor leaders arrested earlier in Mexico. Source: ly Star, 12-10-18 Domestic violence of a high and aggravated na- Lutheran, where he’s been treasurer since 1998. AP, 12-28-18 ture. Wilson, pastor at Southside Impact Church, It’s alleged he wrote 379 checks to himself, start- Charles W. Seely Jr., 49, Ft. Worth, TX: In- Pleaded / Convicted is charged in an incident at the church involving ing in December 2011. Source: WTAJ, 1-15-19 decency with a child by sexual contact, prohibit- a woman with whom he has 2 children and is 8 Donald L. Reynolds, 59, Edmore, ND: Felo- ed sexual conduct and sexual assault of a child/ Richard Chibuto, Lusaka, Zambia: Guilty weeks pregnant. An affidavit stated: “The defen- ny theft. Reynolds is accused of stealing $34,668 soliciting a minor. Seely, an oil company execu- by bench trial of unlawful carnal knowledge. dant then lunged toward the victim, put both of since 2004 as pastor of High Plains Ministry, a tive who served in the volunteer ministry at Christ Chibuto, a Seventh-day Adventist Church elder, his hands around her neck and squeezed tightly congregation of 6 merged Lutheran parishes. He Chapel Bible Church, is accused of assaulting a was accused of impregnating his 14-year-old until she was unconscious for an indeterminate resigned in June after being confronted with al- teen for about 5 years, starting when she was 15 stepdaughter and forcing her to abort the fetus. period of time.” legations. Source: Grand Forks Herald, 1-10-19 in 2012. She alleges they had intercourse when The girl testified he gave her 60 kwacha ($5) She called 911 after regaining conscious- Douglas Packer, 63, Sierra Vista, AZ: Sex- she was still 15 and had sex in hotels, a vehicle and other gifts to entice her to have intercourse ness and was treated and released. Wilson has ual abuse, sexual assault and unlawful sexual and at a Christian camp. 4 times between January and July 2018 after he written 3 books, including “99½ Things a Wom- conduct in a correctional facility. Packer, 2015 “Given these allegations, and in accord with had kicked her mother out of their home. Source: an Needs From Her Man: How to Establish and Chaplain of the Year for the Arizona Detention our child protection policies, the perpetrator will Lusaka Times, 1-22-19 Maintain a Healthy Relationship.” Source: Post & Association Conference, is accused by an inmate NEVER be allowed to serve in any Christ Chap- Brian Boucher, 56, Montreal: Pleaded guilty Courier, 1-17-19 of inappropriate conduct at the jail in Bisbee. el child-serving ministry in the future,” executive to sexual interference and invitation to sexual Daniel L. Johnson, 24, Greenwood, SC: “Chaplain Packer was in a position of com- pastor Bill Egner wrote in an email. “WE BE- touching for acts in the mid-1990s while he was Criminal solicitation of a minor, sexual exploita- munity trust, and based solely on his actions and LIEVE HER, and commend her for courageously pastor at St. John Brébeuf Catholic Parish. The tion of a minor and criminal sexual conduct poor decisions, he violated his sacred oath of of- coming forward with this information.” Source: victim testified he was molested about twice a with a minor. He was charged in November fice,” said Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels. Star-Telegram, 12-27-18 week over a 3-year-period, starting when he with similar assault counts involving anoth- Source: Daily Star, 1-5-18 Joao T. de Faria, 76, Abadiania, Brazil: was 10. er male alleged victim. Johnson is listed as a John Kakkuzhiyil, 63, Ord, NE: 1st-degree Sexual violation through fraud. Faria, aka Joao The plea came 2 weeks after Boucher was youth minister on the St. John’s United Meth- sexual assault. Kakkuzhiyil, pastor of Our Lady de Deus (John of God), is accused of molest- found guilty by bench trial of similar charges in- odist Church website, but Pastor Scott Nurse of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, is accused ing a 39-year-old woman who had come to volving oral and anal sex with another boy, start- said that’s just because the staff doesn’t know by a woman of a November assault during which his faith-healing clinic for treatment. Over 300 ing when he was 12, while pastor at another par- how to remove him from the site. she alleges she blacked out after having drinks women have come forward with similar abuse ish in 2008-11. Source: Montreal Gazette, 1-9-19 A 13-year-old boy told police in November with him at his home. He entered drug and alco- accusations. Prosecutors said more charges Donald R. White, 70, Hannibal, MO: Pleaded that Johnson made him take photos of his geni- hol treatment Dec. 6 and was dismissed from it are expected due to 9 active investigations in- guilty to wire fraud for embezzling $320,888 as tals and coerced him into performing oral sex, a Jan. 2, said a Diocese of Grand Island statement. volving 16 complainants. Source: Morning Her- treasurer of Antioch Baptist Church from 1994- warrant said. Source: Index-Journal, 1-17-19 Source: WOWT, 1-3-19 ald, 12-25-18 2016. A fire of “suspicious” nature destroyed the John K. Wetteland, 52, Trophy Club, TX: Brian L. Oliver, 30, Casper, WY: Domes- Darrell M. Yancey, 59, Grand Prairie, TX: 4 church in December 2016, about 2 months after Continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than tic battery. Oliver, who took medical leave in counts of sexual assault of a child, 3 counts of White was confronted about the embezzlement, 14. Wetteland, an evangelical Christian who for- September as pastor at First United Methodist aggravated sexual assault of a child and driving but he was never charged and no cause was merly taught high school bible study and coached Church, is accused of assaulting a woman during with an invalid license. Yancey, founding pastor ever determined. Source: Herald-Whig, 1-4-19 March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 25

Loren Copp, 49, St. Louis: Guilty in a bench suit filed by “John CJ Doe,” his attorney told a trial of 8 counts of production, attempted produc- judge. Defendants include St. Louise de Maril- tion and possession of child pornography and lac Catholic Church in Covina, CA, and Chris use of interstate facilities to persuade or coerce a Cunningham, 56, who was the St. Louise pastor minor to engage in sexual activity. Copp, founder in 2001-02 when Doe was 12 and 13 years old. of a combination church, martial arts school and Civil complaints filed in May and October pizza place, was identified in images showing 2017 allege Cunningham also sexually molest- incidents of oral and vaginal sex with underage ed other boys ages 10-15 from the mid-1990s girls, the youngest age 11. He ran the school un- to the early 2000s at parishes in Palmdale and der a nonprofit called Ma-ji Ryu Christian Karate Redondo Beach. He was removed from minis- Association. Source: KMOV, 12-26-18 try in 2006. Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune, James Jackson, 49, W. Palm Beach, FL: 1-22-19 Guilty by jury of 12 counts of child sex abuse. He New Life Church of Alamo, CA, and the San was arrested in 2016 after 3 underage girls told Ramon Valley Unified School District reached investigators he used his status as a pastor of a a $1.55 million settlement with a student who storefront church to groom them for sex during alleged he was molested by high school wres- counseling sessions. He also ran a group called tling coach Kevin Lopez. The church’s insur- Positive Habitat for Aspiring Teens. ance company will pay $849,000 and the church Valerie Jackson, now his ex-wife, pleaded agreed to strengthen its child protection policies. guilty to child neglect last May for covering up the The district will pay $699,000. A concerned par- abuse. Source: WPBF, 12-19-18 ent reported concerns to the district in 2014 but Juan G. Castillo, 35, Carlsbad, CA: Guilty Lopez wasn’t arrested until a year later. It was by jury of misdemeanor sexual battery. Castillo, then discovered that the church had received nu- pastor at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, was ac- merous complaints about his behavior at camps cused by a Diocese of San Diego seminarian of and on mission trips and took no action. groping his genitals in February 2018 in a restau- According to a police report, Lopez was re- rant bathroom. He testified he was trying to put corded talking to himself in an interview room: pressure on the man’s stomach to help him stop “[Expletive] miracles right now, God. Please vomiting and might have accidentally touched his help me.” He was sentenced to 10 years, 8 genitals. months in prison after pleading guilty to mul- Castillo told jurors that text messages he tiple counts of lewd acts on children. Source: tion of public funds. Wooten, founding pastor of ing a cross on a necklace” digitally penetrated sent to apologize were for encouraging the sem- New Covenant Christian Fellowship Center, also a 5-year-old girl in a church bathroom on Palm Mercury News, 1-15-19 inarian to drink to excess, not for groping him. worked for the Pasadena Public Works Depart- Sunday 2017, then exposed his penis and left Five alleged victims of accused New Jer- Source: Catholic News Agency, 12-18-18 ment, where he generated 300 false invoices male DNA in her underwear. A criminal probe sey pedophile priest Michael Walters settled for the city’s underground utility program, which ended with no arrest. their suits against Walters, the Archdiocese of Sentenced he managed. It’s suspected that as much as $6 Her parents allege the girl was gone for Newark and 2 Catholic parishes for $400,000. million was stolen but evidence only existed for about 20 minutes from the classroom and that Walters is accused of molesting boys and girls Brian S. Dicken, 38, New Bern, NC: 5 years slightly more than half that, said prosecutor Rich- the church failed to notify other parents about the in the 1980s and 1990s. Ordained in 1965, he in prison with 3 years suspended after pleading ard Santiago. assault. Barkoff and Williams resigned after the was removed from ministry in 2016. Source: no contest to taking indecent liberties with a juve- Co-conspirator Tyrone Collins, owner of Col- incident. Source: Detroit News, 1-4-19 nj.com, 1-14-19 nile while he was associate pastor at the Church lins Electric, a business through which some of Sarah Greer, New Haven, CT, is being sued Opus Dei, an international conservative of Christ at Mountain View in Winchester, VA. He the money was embezzled, was convicted of 20 for withdrawing $238,000 from an account held Catholic organization, paid $977,000 to settle was accused of having a sexual relationship from counts and sentenced to 7 years and $900,000 jointly with her husband Daniel Greer, the former a sexual misconduct claim in 2005 in Wash- December 2014 to February 2017 with a girl he restitution. Source: L.A. Times, 1-11-19 rabbi at Yeshiva of New Haven. A jury awarded ington, a payment that was only recently made was counseling. She’s now 18. David Tapley, 54, Daniel Greer’s former public. It was made to a woman now in her Text messages entered into evidence includ- Crystal Lake, IL: 5 student almost $22 mil- mid-50s. She alleged that priest C. John Mc- ed them discussing a numbering system for acts years in prison after a Lawsuit: ‘Father Pindel then lion for being sexually Closkey groped her several times while she ranging from foreplay to intercourse (the latter jury found him guilty abused in the early- to was getting pastoral counseling for a troubled was a 12). The girl alleged the relationship grad- of aggravated criminal placed her hand on his erect mid-2000s. marriage and depression. ually became more physical, which Dicken de- sexual abuse of an un- penis and requested for her It’s alleged the with- McCloskey, who’s in his 60s, suffers from ad- nied, calling her a liar. He has 6 children. derage female relative drawal was to reduce vanced Alzheimer’s and is largely incapacitated, Senior pastor Douglas Hardman took issue from about 2010-15 to show him how she became Daniel Greer’s assets said Thomas Bohlin, U.S. Opus Dei vicar. Two in his testimony with Dicken’s claim he never while he was a dea- pregnant.’ available to creditors other women may have been victimized by Mc- completely closed his office door. Hardman, who con at Sts. Peter and and to prevent the male Closkey, Bohlin said. Source: National Catholic had a nearby office, said he often heard Dicken’s Paul Catholic Church in victim from collecting Reporter, 1-8-19 door opening and closing and once saw the girl Cary. The girl testified on the judgment. Dan- A survivor of child sex abuse at a Sisters come out in tears. the abuse started when they played guitar and iel Greer still faces criminal charges of 2nd-de- of Nazareth children’s home in Londonderry, N. Judge Alexander Iden noted the contradiction sang in the choir. gree sexual assault and risk of injury to a child. Ireland, has been awarded state benefits for a between Dicken’s plea bargain and his refusal to Tapley served as a deacon at Fox Valley Source: New Haven Register, 12-26-18 series of health complaints and lingering trau- admit guilt. “You want me to find you guilty of a Christian Reformed Church after he was barred The Archdiocese of Atlanta, Archbishop ma from the abuse. Kate Walmsley, 62, a mem- crime, but punish you like you didn’t do it, and I from Sts. Peter and Paul. Source: Northwest Wilton Gregory and St. Joseph’s Catholic ber of the Survivors and Victims of Institutional can’t do that,” he said. “This is not just about in- Herald, 1-4-19 Church in Dalton, GA, are defendants in a suit Abuse group, says she was molested starting appropriate text messages.” Source: Winchester filed by “Phillip Doe,” who alleges he wasmo- when she was 12 by 2 priests and older girls at Star, 1-26-19 Civil Lawsuits Filed lested starting when he was 12 by priest John D. the Catholic facility. Hafiz A. Pirzada, 76, Northolt, UK: 8 years in Edwards from 1976-78. Edwards died in 1997. At a historical abuse inquiry in 2014, Walms- prison after a court found him guilty of 7 counts The Diocese of Pittsburgh, Bishop David The church suppressed abuse allegations, there- ley testified she was also “mentally and physical- of sexual assault of a child and 2 counts of caus- Zubik and his predecessor, Cardinal Donald by endangering the public, the complaint states. ly abused by nuns.” She described being beaten ing a child to engage in sexual activity. The par- Wuerl, are being sued by “Jane Doe,” who al- Source: AP, 12-20-18 and force-fed her own vomit by nuns and scalded ents of girls ages 9 and 11 had hired the imam leges she was molested in 1982 by Paul E. Pin- Our Lady of Health Parish, Las Cruces, NM, with hot water. Source: Belfast Telegraph, 1-6-19 to teach the sisters about the Quran. Incidents del, pastor of St. Genevieve Catholic Church in and the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, TX, are ac- The Religious Sisters of Mercy, an order were alleged between 2007-09 but not reported Canonsburg. He died in 1991 at age 65. cused of negligence in a suit filed by “Jane Doe of Catholic nuns founded in Ireland, settled to police until 2015. Source: The News Interna- Doe alleges she sought counseling about N,” who alleges she was raped several times with 6 clergy sex abuse plaintiffs who attended tional, 1-26-19 getting married while pregnant at age 15 or 16. when she was 10 in 1978-79 by pastor Joaquin schools operated by the nuns on Guam. Set- Aryeh L. Cohen, 44, St. Louis Park, MN: 30 She claims he asked if she had engaged in oral Resma, who died in 1983. The parish was part of tlement terms weren’t disclosed but the suits days in jail, suspended, 150 hours of community or anal sex. the Diocese of El Paso at the time. Three others sought total damages of $30 million. Source: service, undergo mental health counseling and “Father Pindel then placed her hand on his have accused Resma of abuse. His name is not Pacific Daily News, 1-4-19 register as a sex offender. Cohen, rabbi and erect penis and requested for her to show him on a recent list of credibly accused clergy, which The Catholic Diocese of Burlington, VT, director of youth outreach for the Minneapolis how she became pregnant,” the lawsuit says. attorneys called an insult to his victims. Source: settled for undisclosed terms a suit that alleged Community Kollel, pleaded guilty to engaging in A state grand jury said the diocese has re- Sun-News, 12-19-18 sexual abuse by former priest Alfred Willis at St. electronic communication describing sexual con- ceived multiple allegations since 2002 of abuse The Salesians of Don Bosco, the Catholic Ann’s Parish in Milton in the late 1970s and early duct with a child. by Pindel dating back to 1957. The suit alleges Archdiocese of New Orleans and Archbishop 1980s when the plaintiff, who now lives in Texas, He was arrested in February 2018 after re- the diocese ignored complaints about Pindel Gregory Aymond are being sued by a man was an altar boy. sponding to an undercover agent’s online profile made by Doe’s father and instead transferred alleging he was raped in 1979 when he was The diocese has settled about 50 abuse that said he was a male turning 16 that August. him. 17 by Salvatore Isgro, a Salesian priest who cases, paying out over $31 million. Bishop Cohen then sent an explicit photo of himself and The same defendants are accused in another died in 1990. He alleges Isgro held something Christopher Coyne said a lot of the money was arrested when he arrived at an apartment to suit of covering up “sexual interest in male chil- under his nose that smelled like ammonia be- came from the sale of property in Burlington have sex. Source: Pioneer Press, 1-16-19 dren” by former priest William Yockey and re- fore raping him and afterward told him to sit in and that much of that money is now gone. Allan J. Mithen, 80, a retired Australian peatedly failing “to take any action to investigate, a warm bath when he got home. Source: The Source: WCAX, 12-21-18 Catholic priest, pleaded guilty to 2 counts of in- discipline or report Yockey as a sexual predator.” Advocate, 12-12-18 decently assaulting a girl when she 15 and 16 Plaintiff Richard Bieranowski, now 53, al- Finances in 1965 and was sentenced to 13 months in jail, leges abuse by Yockey on numerous occasions Civil Lawsuits Settled all suspended. At the time, he was in charge of in 1981-82 when he was pastor at St. Bernadette Guam’s Catholic Church filed for Chapter a home for Aboriginal children taken from their Parish in Monroeville. Yockey was withdrawn Fairfield University in Connecticut, the So- 11 bankruptcy, a move that will let the archdio- families. The girl was told by another priest after from active ministry in 1991. Bieranowski report- ciety of Jesus of New England, the Order of cese avoid trial in dozens of sex abuse suits and the abuse that she had committed a mortal sin ed the abuse to his parents and a congregation Malta and Haiti Fund Inc. will pay $60 million enter settlement negotiations with nearly 200 and would “burn in hell.” member in 1985, the complaint says. Source: to over 130 plaintiffs who allege sexual abuse accusers. Church attorney Ford Elsaesser said Curtin University senior Hannah McGlade Post-Gazette/Tribune Review, 1-18-19 as students at a charity school in Cap-Haitien, assets are valued at $22.9 million with liabilities told reporters Mithen should serve jail time. “We The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Haiti, from about 1999 to 2009. Fairfield graduate of $45.6 million. The church plans to sell nones- all came out today to say black lives matter, Ab- Saints is being sued in Navajo Nation tribal court Douglas Perlitz is serving a nearly 20-year pris- sential real estate and add the proceeds to the original lives matter. There should have been jus- in Utah by “LB,” who alleges he was molested 3 on sentence for molesting Haitian boys as young settlement fund. tice. This is a stain on Western Australia, what’s times in the 1980s by an unidentified church as 11. Fairfield is a Jesuit school. Notice will be given to potential claimants, happened.” Source: ABC, 1-15-19 bishop who lived across the street from his Mor- Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian repre- with the estimated deadline to file in May or June. David L. Poulson, 65, Oil City, PA: 2½ to 14 mon foster family. He was one of thousands of sented plaintiffs in the class-action suit, which is A trust fund will also be established for future years in prison after pleading guilty to corruption Native Americans in the church’s Indian Student expect to be approved by a federal judge. The claimants who did not file within the bankruptcy of minors and child endangerment as a Catho- Placement Program, which started in the late defendants agreed to a $12 million settlement in deadline. Source: AP, 1-15-19 lic priest. Allegations included abuse between 1940s and ended in about 2000. 2013 with 24 other plaintiffs. Source: AP, 1-25-19 2002-10 involving at least 2 underage boys. “For LB alleges he told his foster mother but she Daniel Cronin, 91, retired Catholic archbish- Legal Developments more than 7 years, the Diocese of Erie allowed accused him of lying and says his foster father op of Hartford, CT, and previously bishop of the Poulson to remain a priest, even though they spanked him for reporting his abuse to a case Diocese of Fall River, MA, settled a suit filed in Phra Sorasak Siripattho, 61, Bang Bua knew he was a predator,” state Attorney General worker. The church didn’t report the abuse to law 2015 by 2 Massachusetts men. They each will Thong, Thailand: Siripattho, a Buddhist monk, Josh Shapiro said in a statement after sentenc- enforcement or the plaintiff’s biological family, the get $200,000 for alleged sexual abuse as altar was arrested after 11 years on the run after being ing. Source: AP, 1-11-19 suit asserts. Source: AP, 1-9-19 boys in the late 1970s and early 1980s by priest charged in 2008 for having sex with a 14-year-old Danny Wooten, 55, Montclair, CA: 14 years The First Presbyterian Church of Plym- Maurice Souza, who died in 1996 at age 83. student. The girl lived near the temple with her in prison and restitution of $3.7 million for con- outh, MI, and former church employees Victo- Source: AP, 1-24-19 grandmother and reportedly climbed through the victions on 53 felony counts, including embez- ria Barkoff and Lisa Williams are accused of The Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to window to sleep with him several times. Her fam- zlement, conflict of interest and misappropria- negligence in a suit alleging an “adult man wear- settle for undisclosed terms a 2015 sexual abuse ily eventually filed a complaint. Source: Bangkok Page 26 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019

Post, 1-15-19 Removed / Resigned pedophiles, called gays “scum of the earth” with a teen girl about 35 years ago when Jend- Nine Jewish yeshivas in Ramapo, NY, and applauded the 2016 mass murder of gay rysik was a seminarian serving a summer intern- were fined a combined $70,200 for failure to Mark Milatz, Brighton, MI, resigned as se- people at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub. In another ship. “On behalf of the Diocese of Joliet, Bishop provide student measles vaccination records. nior pastor at Shepherd of the Lakes Luther- video posted later, he said went to a Jackson- Conlon expresses his deepest regrets and apol- The schools were ordered to submit the records an Church in Brighton, MI, and as a Missouri ville casino and drank alcohol. “And there were ogy to the victim. The reporting of such incidents during a measles outbreak in which there are Synod Lutheran minister. A December letter to girls there that were prostitutes and I commit- is emotionally difficult, and the victim in this case nearly 100 confirmed cases in Rockland Coun- parishioners said church officials would contact ted adultery on my wife multiple times. I drank has shown great courage in coming forward,” a ty. Brooklyn health officials said there are over the Michigan State Police for the “purposes of and gambled multiple times. ... I even smoked statement said. Source: WLS, 12-9-18 40 cases in the Orthodox Jewish community. exploring possible financial improprieties.” weed.” He hasn’t been charged with any crime. Juan Cano, 35, Encino, CA, associate pas- Source: Journal News, 12-19-18 According to reports about what took place Source: NY Daily News, 1-10-19 tor at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, was The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of at meetings before his resignation, it was stated Donald G. Timone, a Catholic priest who removed from ministry by the Archdiocese of New York has to pay a $4 million judgment for that Milatz had been treating staff in a “hostile retired from the Church of St. Joseph in Middle- Los Angeles due to reports of inappropriate con- refusing to hand over documents it received in and erratic manner” and had been asked by the town, NY, was suspended from ministry during tact with “several females” in the parish, which response to a 1997 letter sent to Jehovah’s Wit- board to seek counseling. While the board was reinvestigation of 15-year-old claims he mo- was his first assignment as a priest. In an inter- nesses congregations about known molesters in mulling what action to take, a “series of financial lested a male minor. “There is potentially new view with the archdiocese on Facebook, Cano, the church, a California appeals court ruled 3-0. issues” were uncovered. Source: WHMJ, 1-28- information ... that has come to light,” said Joe a Mexico native, said he decided to become a The lower court awarded plaintiff “J.W.” the mon- 19 Zwilling, spokesman for the Archdiocese of New priest after a miracle cured a congenital tumor ey. She accused church elder Gilbert Simental David Crabtree, Raleigh, NC, was perma- York. Source: Times Herald-Record, 12-26-18 in his head. of Mountain View of abuse in 2006 at a slumber nently deposed (removed) as an ordained dea- Jesuit priests Frank Case and Pat Lee re- Although Cano will not be charged in these party at his home. He was eventually convicted con by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina signed as vice presidents at Gonzaga Universi- cases and new accusers could come forward, of molesting her and 2 other girls. Source: NY after it investigated an allegation of sexual mis- ty, Spokane, WA, after criticism of their handling the Catholic Church is removing Cano from the Law Journal, 12-10-18 conduct and conduct unbecoming a member of of clergy sexual abuse allegations. A news re- ministry, said Adrian Marquez, archdiocese di- the clergy. Crabtree, lead anchor at WRAL-TV, port recently revealed Case, 80, recommended rector of media relations. Although law enforce- Allegations told viewers that he had a relationship “years pedophile priest James Poole for a chaplain’s ment has determined Cano won’t be criminally ago” with an adult woman. He’s now divorced. job in 1989 at St. Joseph Medical Center in charged, he’s being removed and has no right of The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, WI, Source: News & Observer, 1-26-19 Tacoma, although Poole had been accused of appeal, Marquez said. “It’s not his choice. He is released the names of 46 clergy with substanti- William Sprigler, New Ulm, MN, was per- abusing Alaska Native women and girls as early not going to be allowed to be a priest anymore.” ated allegations of sexual abuse of minors. Fif- manently removed from public ministry by the as 1960. Source: L.A. Daily News, 12-7-18 teen are still alive. At a press conference, Bish- Catholic Diocese of New Ulm. Sprigler retired It wasn’t clear what prompted Lee’s res- Murrough C. Wallace, 82, S. Lake Tahoe, op David Ricken apologized to the 98 known in 2016 but has since filled in for pastors in New ignation as vice president of mission and CA, a retired priest and native of Ireland who victims since 1906 and called for other victims Ulm and Orlando and ministry. A Gonzaga last served as an active pastor at St. There- to come forward. “We believe you,” he said. Venice, Fl. spokesman declined sa Catholic Parish in 2003, was directed “to Ricken said the names would be posted on the According to a to explain the reasons withdraw from ministry until more facts can be diocese’s website at noon. It appeared that the statement from Bish- for the departures, gathered” about an allegation of assault by a website crashed less than a minute after noon. op John LeVoir, the Cano said he decided to become saying he couldn’t 17-year-old boy in 1985 at a camp where Wal- The next day, the Survivors Network of those diocese was informed a priest after a miracle cured a discuss personnel lace was director, the Diocese of Sacramento Abused by Priests called the list “partial, biased in December by the congenital tumor in his head. matters. Source: said in a statement. Source: KCRA, 12-6-18 and incomplete” and sent a letter to state Attor- Archdiocese of San Spokesman-Review, ney General Josh Kaul to ask for a statewide Antonio, TX, that it 12-21-18 Other investigation. The letter claimed that former had discovered allega- David R. Gaeta, Bishop David Zubik destroyed files in 2007. tions of sexual abuse American Fork, UT, re- Paul S. Wakefield, 62, Gilcrest, CO, pas- SNAP also alleged 16 names were left off the of 2 minors in 1976 while preparing a clergy tired as pastor at St. Peter Catholic Parish and tor at Gilcrest Baptist Church was struck and list. Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm abuse disclosure report. The archdiocese has will not be allowed to return to public ministry. killed by a train at a U.S. 85 crossing 8 days has also called for a probe. determined that the allegations were credible. He was placed on leave in August amid allega- after he was charged with misdemeanor un- Diocese Chancellor Tammy Basten said Source: New Ulm Journal, 1-26-19 tions of sexual misconduct in Ogden in 1982. lawful sexual contact and suspicion of com- those 16 priests aren’t under Ricken’s authority. John P. Smyth, 84, Des Plaines, IL, was re- The Diocese of Salt Lake City said Gae- mitting a crime against an at-risk person, a “Priests who are part of religious orders, such moved from ministry due to allegations of sexual ta was accused of sharing a bed with a minor felony. He was on foot and his death remains as the Norbertines or Franciscans, are account- abuse of minors in 2002-03 at Maryville Acade- and, in a separate incident, offering 4 minors under investigation. able to their religious superior within the order,” my, a facility for children with special emotional alcohol and asking them to undress. No crim- The charges stemmed from a Jan. 3 inci- Basten said. Source: Press-Gazette, 1-17-19 and medical needs. Smyth is retired but until re- inal charges were filed. Source: Daily Herald, dent when a nurse at an assisted living facility Richard McGrath, 72, Chicago, the former cently was still living in the rectory of the Shrine 12-18-18 in Windsor noticed the door to a patient’s room president of Providence Catholic High School of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the Maryville Joseph Metzger II, Norfolk, VA, has taken was closed. She told police she entered the being investigated for allegedly molesting a grounds. Source: Sun-Times, 1-17-19 a leave of absence as pastor of Blessed Sac- room and found Wakefield kneeling in front of male student at the New Lenox school in the John F. Meyers and Raymond W. Smart rament Catholic Church, Diocese of Arlington the woman, who has cognitive communication mid-1990s, has gone AWOL from his religious are unsuitable for ministry and have been re- Bishop Barry Knestout wrote in a letter to pa- deficit, with his hands up her blouse and his order. Anthony Pizzo, prior provincial of the Mid- moved, according to the Catholic Archdiocese rishioners. Metzger’s interactions with young head on her chest, according to an affidavit. west Augustinians, said McGrath was “illegiti- of Philadelphia. Meyers, 64, was put on admin- people were not “in keeping with the Code of Wakefield stood up and told her he was listening mately” absent from the Hyde Park friary. istrative leave in late 2018 due to a substanti- Conduct with Minors set forth in the Diocesan to the woman’s heart. Police were alerted in December 2017 after ated abuse allegation from the early 1980s. Safe Environment Regulations,” the bishop Court records said the woman’s son walked a female student reported seeing an image of a Smart, 74, is accused of abuse of a minor in the wrote, adding that “no allegations of child sexual in on Wakefield with his head on his mother’s nude boy on McGrath’s cell phone but closed same time period. abuse have been made.” chest and once with his hand under her blouse. the investigation with no charges after he re- Joseph Logrip, 73, was placed on adminis- The Diocesan Review Board will determine He told police he was examining her ribs be- fused to turn over the phone. It was reopened trative leave, also for an allegation of abuse in Metzger’s suitability to returning and in what ca- cause she told him she had fallen and hurt them. after the student, Robert Krankvich, filed a suit the early 1980s. He had been removed earlier pacity, Knestout said. Source: WVEC, 12-10-18 He’s survived by his wife of 35 years, 4 sons alleging McGrath molested him repeatedly be- but reinstated in 2014. Source: WHYY, 1-13-19 Ronald S. Escalante, Purcellville, VA, was and 6 siblings. Source: Greeley Tribune, 1-13- tween the ages of 13 and 15 in his office and Patrick J. Lee, 68, Chicago, head pastor at placed on leave as pastor at St. Francis de 19 at the friary. Source: Chicago Tribune, 12-29-18 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, was asked by Sales Catholic Church. A Diocese of Arlington Edward J. McKeown, 74, a pedophile Cath- Illinois’ 6 Catholic dioceses failed to dis- Cardinal Blase Cupich to “step aside” from min- statement said he’s accused of “boundary vi- olic priest accused of molesting at least 30 boys close sexual abuse allegations against at least istry due to an accusation of child sexual abuse olations involving a minor and adults” that go in Nashville and east Tennessee over 20 years, 500 priests and clergy members, according to in 1979 at St. Christopher Catholic Church in against its clergy code of conduct. Loudoun died in prison of natural causes. He was convict- preliminary findings, said state Attorney Gener- Midlothian. Source: Chicago Tribune, 1-12-19 County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kraig ed in 1999 of sexual assaults on a boy, starting al Lisa Madigan. The dioceses’ lists have 185 Mark Porterfield, pastor of St. Martin Cath- Troxell said an investigation concluded crim- when he was 12 and continuing for 3 years, and names. olic Church in St. Martins, MO, and judicial vicar inal charges aren’t warranted. Source: AP, was sentenced to 25 years. He was due to be In many cases, the accusations have “not for the Diocese of Jefferson City, was placed on 12-11-18 released May 1, 2020. been adequately investigated by the dioceses administrative leave. “While the allegation does Thomas J. Valenti and Erick Viloria were Edward Kmiec, named bishop of Nashville or not investigated at all,” Madigan said in a not involve a minor, it does fall within the pro- removed from public ministry by the Catholic Di- in 1992, had given assurances that the diocese statement, adding that the church often failed tocol of the diocese for clergy conduct and re- ocese of Rochester, NY, during investigations of had removed McKeown from “direct or unsuper- to notify law enforcement or the Department of quires further consultation and investigation,” a alleged misconduct. Valenti, pastor of Blessed vised contact with youth” after an initial molesta- Children and Family Services about allegations. statement said. Source: News Tribune, 1-11-19 Trinity/St. Patrick’s Parish in Owego, is among 8 tion complaint was lodged in 1986. But records Source: CNN, 12-19-18 Donnie Romero, Ft. Worth, TX, resigned as priests named by Boston attorney Mitchell Gar- unsealed in 2002 by the state Court of Appeals At least 412 allegations of sexual abuse of founding pastor at Stedfast Baptist Church after abedian as child abusers between 1950-78. in a civil suit filed by 2 victims showed McKeown minors by 187 independent fundamental Bap- admitting he has been “a terrible husband and Viloria, pastor at Our Lady of Peace Parish was allowed to teach youth classes, hear chil- tist churches and affiliated institutions in 40 father.” in Geneva, is the subject of an August 2018 dren’s confessions and participate in sleepovers U.S. states and Canada have been document- “I have not been ruling my house well,” complaint that he “engaged in objectionable with them. Source: The Tennessean, 1-1-19 ed by a Texas newspaper investigation. Victims Romero, who has a wife and 7 children, told his and inappropriate use of social media with an Email: [email protected] allege the number of abused is far greater be- congregation on Jan. 2. “I’m the one at fault in adult” that was unrelated to his parish ministry. cause many victims don’t ever come forward. this situation. I love Stedfast Baptist Church. I Source: Democrat & Chronicle, 12-10-18 The totals include 168 church leaders accused love my family. This is the best decision for my Mark Jendrysik, 60, Glendale Heights, IL, or convicted. family and this church to make.” was permanently removed as pastor of St. Mat- Include FFRF In Independent fundamental Baptists deem Romero has compared LGBTQ people to thew Catholic Parish due to an alleged incident Southern Baptists too liberal. Though they op- Your Estate Planning erate independently, many pastors are linked by the church-affiliated colleges they attended, such as Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. NOTHING FAILS LIKE PRAYER Arrange a bequest in your will Source: Star-Telegram, 12-9-18 or trust, or make the Freedom U.S. Catholic bishops have tallied 6,846 abusive priests who served in their parishes From Religion Foundation the since the 1950s, according to an analysis of CONTEST beneficiary of an insurance data from Bishop Accountability.org, the U.S. policy, bank account or IRA. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Vatican and Our goal is to see secular citizens flood government meetings with Jesuit statistics and reports from clinicians. secular invocations that demonstrate why government prayers Although the conference estimates about 6% IT’S EASY TO DO! of priests are abusive, the analysis from court are unnecessary, ineff ective, embarrassing, exclusionary, divisive cases, investigations, bankruptcy filings and di- or just plain silly. For related information ocese records shows the rate is about 10%, or (or to receive a bequest 11,700 clergy. The person who gives the best secular invocation will be invited brochure), please contact: Estimates are higher in some areas, such to open FFRF’s annual convention in 2019, receiving an expenses- as Fairbanks, Alaska, with a 19% rate. In addi- paid trip to Madison, Wis. Oct. 18-20, 2019, along with a plaque Annie Laurie Gaylor tion, Bishop Accountability founder Terry McK- at (608) 256-8900 iernan said 100 U.S. dioceses haven’t named and an honorarium of $500. any abusers. There’s also a year missing from info@ rf.org the church-funded John Jay College of Crimi- nal Justice study released in 2004 that doesn’t MORE INFO AT: Freedom depends include the 2003 numbers. Source: York Daily ffrf.org/nothing-fails-like-prayer Record, 12-7-18 on freethinkers March 2019 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 27

Former churches with better missions Loren Howerter Life Member sent us this photo David Nolley of Blondie’s Plate sent us this in Sequim, Wash. photo of a Originally constructed former church in 1896, the building that is now was formerly an a residence, Episcopalian church. set next to dirt “I can’t think of road about a better use for eight miles church buildings outside of than conversions Lapeer, Mich. into restaurants and pubs!” Loren writes.

Ed Sweeney, pictured, sent us this photo of the Bluestone concert hall in Columbus, Ohio, which was formerly a Baptist church built 115 years ago. Sweeney tells us that the Joan Reisman-Brill building also can be sent us this photo of rented for corporate the Limelight in New events, weddings York City. The site is and private parties. It a former Episcopal boasts three diverse Church of the Holy levels, seven bars, Communion, a Gothic soaring stained Revival brownstone glass windows, and building built in 1844- a gracious outdoor 1845. The building patio. has housed numerous businesses since then, including a drug rehab house in the 1970s, Pete Prunkl of North an infamous disco Carolina sent us a photo and rock club, and in the 1990s it became a prominent place to hear techno, of this former church, goth, and industrial music. In 2003, it reopened under the name “Avalon,” but and writes, “The first closed in 2007. The building became Limelight Marketplace in 2010, but in 2014 worship service at Faith it was converted into an outlet of the David Barton Gym chain. In June 2017, it Reformed Church in reopened as Limelight Fitness. Salisbury, N.C., was Nov. 18, 1898. Following the merger of the Reformed “Crystal Connection, and Evangelical churches which replaced a lovely in 1934, the local restaurant that was in congregation became this church, is kind of First Evangelical and a step backward since Reformed Church. When it’s a business rooted its new church was in superstition (but built in 1954, members the crystals are very marched about 100 yards across the street and up a hill to West Horah pretty),” writes Joan Street. That year, the congregation sold the old church building to the Reisman-Brill. The store Knights of Pythias, a religious-based fraternity and secret society, for is housed in what was $18,000. The Knights integrated the stained-glass windows and altar initially a Methodist into their lodge rituals. The Knights sold the building to Mona and Gianni church built in 1892 in Moscardini, and in 1994 Gianni transformed the church/lodge into La Cava Wurtsboro, N.Y. Italian Restaurant.”

Mark Welty sent us this photo of a former Episcopal church in Waterloo, Iowa, which is now being used by an advertising agency.

Mark Welty also sent us this photo of a former Lutheran church in Cedar Falls, Iowa, that has been remodeled into apartments.

If you see or know of any former churches that now serve a secular purpose, please send us a photo (preferably with you in it!) and a brief description of the property. Send it to [email protected]. Page 28 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 Oct. 18-20 in Madison, Wis. Sign up now for FFRF’s 42nd annual convention You’re invited to join the Freedom Anthony B. Pinn, a professor of hu- Seidel also appears on FFRF’s podcasts The Humanist and From Religion Foundation at our 42nd manities and religion and shows, and has debated religion and Jet magazine, as well annual national convention on the at Rice University, is government on networks such as MSNBC as FFRF’s TV show, weekend of Friday, Oct. 18, through the founding director and Fox News. “Freethought Mat- Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Monona Terrace of the Center for En- Mandisa Thomas, the founder and ters.” Thomas cur- Community and Convention Center, 1 gaged Research and president of Black Nonbelievers (“Walk- rently serves on the John Nolen Drive, in Madison, Wis. Collaborative Learn- ing by Sight, Not Faith”), a 501(c)(3) board for American As always, it will be a weekend of ing at Rice. In addi- nonprofit founded in 2013 with 14 affili- Atheists and previous- great speakers, awesome people, good tion, he is director of ates around the nation. Black Nonbeliev- ly for Foundation Be- food, irreverent music and a chance to research for the In- ers connects with blacks (and allies) who Mandisa Thomas yond Belief and the Anthony B. Pinn recharge your secular and freethinking stitute for Humanist are living free of religion, and who might Secular Coalition for America. Addition- battery. You won’t want to miss it! Please Studies. He earned the African American otherwise be shunned by family and ally, she was named the Unitarian Univer- make your hotel reservations early to Humanist Award from the Council for friends. She has a number of media ap- salist Humanist Association’s 2018 Person avoid disappointment. Secular Humanism; Unitarian Universal- pearances to her credit, including “CBS of the Year. Thomas will be named FFRF’s Early-bird confirmed speakers include: ist Humanist Association Humanist of the Sunday Morning,” CNN.com, Playboy, 2019 Freethought Heroine. Frederick Clarkson is a senior re- Year (2017), and the Harvard University search analyst at Po- Humanist Association Humanist of the litical Research Asso- Year (2006). He is the author/editor of FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION ciates, a progressive over 35 books, including many on free- think tank. He is the thought, humanism and the intersection author, co-author of race and religion. He will be receiving NATIONAL CONVENTION or editor of sever- FFRF’s Emperor Has No Clothes Award. MADISON | OCTOBER 18–20, 2019 al books, including Andrew L. Seidel, the director of stra- Eternal Hostility: The tegic response at FFRF, where he uses his Struggle Between The- law degree to challenge religious bullies. 2019 CONVENTION REGISTRATION FORM Frederick Clarkson ocracy and Democracy Andrew’s first bookThe Founding Myth: Or register online: ffrf.org/convention2019 and Dispatches from the Religious Left: The Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American Future of Faith and Politics in America. He features a foreword by REGISTRATION FEES Number Registering Cost has written about politics and religion author Susan Jacoby for a wide range of publications for more and a preface by FFRF Member ___$60 $_____ than three decades, from Mother Jones, Co-President Dan Spouse or Companion (Non-member accompanying member) ___$65 $_____ Church & State, and Ms. Magazine to The Barker. The Founding Christian Science Monitor and Salon. Myth, published by Child (Under 18 Accompanying Registrant) ___Free $_____ com. Last year in Religion Dispatches, Sterling Press, comes Student with ID (Over 18) ___$10 $_____ he broke the story about Project Blitz, a out in May and is ☐ I am interested in hotel, meal or travel scholarship Christian Right state legislative campaign highly anticipated Non-member ___$115 $_____ with long range theocratic intentions. Andrew L. Seidel with positive reviews. Or join for $40 and save $15 ___$100 $_____ OPTIONAL MEALS / EVENTS Convention-al wisdom Friday, October 18 Freethought Hall Open House 9:30–11 AM / Must register to attend ___Free $_____ General Schedule Hall in downtown Madison, enjoy light pastries, Mimosas, coffee and tea in the Charlie Brooks Friday Welcome Party (Buffet) 5–6:30 PM ___$35 $_____ The pre-convention open house is Friday, Oct. Auditorium, get your photo by the life-like model of 18, at Freethought Hall, FFRF’s national office. Registrant 1 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free Charles Darwin in the Joel B. Landon and Wanda Y. The official starting time of the convention, at the Registrant 2 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free Beers Freethought Library, and socialize with other Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center Registrant 3 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free members and staff. Please RSVP. (1 John Nolen Drive, Madison) is 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18, continuing through Saturday night. FFRF’s Food! Saturday, October 19 Please select each meal you will attend membership and state representative meetings take Complimentary receptions include light place Sunday morning, ending by noon. brunch fare at the Freethought Hall Open House, Non-Prayer Breakfast ___$20 $_____ The schedule includes irreverent music, FFRF ice cream and hot beverages Friday afternoon Registrant 1 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free book and merch sales tables and book signings. and dessert reception with cupcakes and hot Registrant 2 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free Plus, there is the always-popular drawing for “clean” beverages at the conclusion of Friday night. (pre-“In God We Trust”) currency on Saturday night. Registrant 3 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free Optional meals (veggie/vegan/gluten-free Return the handy registration form or sign up at substitutes available) include: “Grab and Go” Box Lunch ___$25 $_____ ffrf.org/convention2019. Registrant 1 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free Hotels Friday Dinner Buffet, $35: Bucky’s Tailgate Buffet includes Wisconsin Waldorf salad, home- Registrant 2 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free Please reserve your hotel rooms now to avoid style potato salad, fresh vegetable and relish disappointment! Registrant 3 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free tray, beer-boiled Johnsonville bratwurst with FFRF is using three Madison hotels. The Hilton sauerkraut and chopped fresh onion, grilled Saturday Dinner ___$50 $_____ Madison, attached to the site of the convention, boneless chicken breast, black bean burgers, Registrant 1 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free is the main hotel venue. The other two hotels fresh sliced tomato and lettuce, vegetarian baked offer overflow roooms, and require either a three- Registrant 2 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free beans, buns and coffee, tea and milk. block walk or driving or taking a free shuttle to the Registrant 3 ☐ Regular ☐ Vegetarian ☐ Vegan ☐ Gluten Free , $20: Cheese convention site. All hotels have blocs Thursday Saturday Nonprayer Breakfast ⊲ Total $______through Saturday nights, with a few more limited & chive scrambled eggs, apple smoked bacon, rooms Wednesday and Sunday nights. rosemary wedge potatoes, ketchup, petite muffin ☐ I am adding a donation to sponsor student convention scholarships $______Hilton Madison Monona Terrace, 9 E. Wilson St., assortment, chilled juice, coffee, tea and milk. Please tell us about any ADA accommodations you need in order to fully participate in this convention: Madison, WI 53703. Call 1-877-510-7465 or 414-935- Saturday ‘Grab and Go’ Box Lunch, $25. 5941, or visit bit.ly/2SPTPlz and mention “Freedom For your convenience, we offer a box lunch From Religion Foundation.” Rates are $185 (1-4 containing deli-sliced turkey on fresh Kaiser roll, (Make checks payable to FFRF) Return with payment to: people), plus tax. Valet parking: $20/day. fresh sliced tomato and lettuce with condiments, FFRF, Attn: Convention | P.O. Box 750 | Madison, WI 53701 Sheraton Madison Hotel, 706 John Nolen piece of whole fruit, home-baked cookie and Drive, Madison, WI 53713. Call 866-716-8134 or 608- chips. Vegetarian option is marinated grilled 251-2300 or visit: reservations.com/hotel/sheraton- tempeh sandwich. Kaiser is replaced with gluten- Name of Registrant 1 madison-hotel, mentioning “Freedom From Religion free roll upon request. Foundation.” Rates are $156 (1-4 people), plus local Note: There is a two-hour lunch and sightseeing Name of Registrant 2 taxes of 14.5 percent and fees. Parking is free and so break Saturday. There are many lunch spots open is the shuttle to Monona Terrace, a 3-mile walk or on the nearby Capitol Square and on State Street 8-minute drive. Name of Registrant 3 (about five blocks away). Park Hotel Madison, 22 S. Carroll St., Madison, WI 53703 (3 blocks from Monona Terrace). Call 800- Saturday Dinner, $50: Roasted airline chicken Address 279-8811 or 608-285-8000 or visit reservations@ breast with truffle butter glaze, potatoes, fresh parkhotelmadison.com, mentioning “Freedom seasonal vegetable blend, house salad, bakery- City State / ZIP From Religion Foundation.” Rates are $194 (1-2 fresh hard rolls & butter, plated dessert trio people, one bed); $214 (1-4 people, 2 beds); (strawberry pistacio tart, flourless chocolate $254 (suite). Two-night minimum length of stay. diamond cake, and white chocolate passionfruit Phone* Email* Guaranteed parking for one vehicle for overnight mousse cup), coffee, tea and milk. Cash bar. guests ($15 per night, valet only). Meals are not a fundraiser for FFRF, but your Credit Card Number Expiration Date / Security Code participation enables FFRF to meet significant Freethought Hall Reception hotel room bloc and meal minimums, and provides Billing Name / Signature *Contact information for in-house use only On Friday, Oct. 18, from 9:30-11 a.m., you’re a chance to socialize. cordially invited to tour the four-story Freethought More details are at: ffrf.org/convention2019