Julia Sweeney’s Do you know an FFRF’s guide to religious American Indian Winter Solstice movies atheist? celebration! PAGES 10-12 PAGES 13-14 PAGE 24

Vol. 35 No. 1 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. January / February 2018

‘A’ is for awesome (and atheist and agnostic)! FFRF blocks giveaway for church repairs An Alaska city wisely chose not to dole out money to a local church after the FFRF raised objections to the proposed move. The Sitka City Assembly was prepared to allocate $5,000 from the city’s Visitor’s Enhancement Fund to help repair St. Michael’s Cathedral. City Attorney Bri- an Hanson had reviewed concerns that funding this church would violate the First Amendment and initially (and er- roneously) concluded that the grant would be permissible. FFRF challenged this assessment. Han- Photo by Kimberley Haas/Union Leader Correspondent son failed to properly After getting approval from the city of Somersworth, N.H., FFRF Member Richard Gagnon raises the ‘A’ apply the Supreme flag next to a Ten Commandments monument on city property on Jan. 2. See story on page 7. Court’s 1971 Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) test. Other cases have shown that Lemon’s second prong (that a Most productive year ever for FFRF! governmental action’s Legal Department scholars across the country for tal consisted of letters warning 350 principal or primary effect must neither ad- legal advice. school districts across the United Shutterstock photo earns more than vance nor inhibit reli- States against allowing the Todd St. Michael’s Cathedral in gion) does not allow 300 victories State/church complaints Becker Foundation into public Sitka, Alaska, will not be grants that support re- Over the past year, FFRF schools to convert students. The receiving public funds to help ligious activities, FFRF By Rebecca Markert earned more than 300 victories to letter included a special report, repair the church after FFRF Staff Attorney Ryan keep religion out of government “Closing the Doors: Why the Todd got involved. after sending out more than 1,500 Becker Foundation Must Not be Jayne asserted. Two FRF’s legal department in letters of complaint. The number Allowed in Public Schools,” draft- subsequent cases, Tilton v. Richardson (1971) and Com- 2017 had its most produc- of victories will continue to grow, ed by Senior Counsel Patrick El- munity House, Inc. v. City of Boise (2007), in particular tive year to date. Not only as many complaints lodged last liott and Patrick O’Reiley Legal affirm this. F The city’s potential funding of St. Michael’s Ca- were FFRF’s nine in-house at- year will still have responses roll Fellow Christopher Line. The torneys busy protecting the in this year. FFRF attorneys wrote Todd Becker Foundation targets thedral advanced religion even more obviously than wall of separation, but they to government officials in 47 high school students, seeking to the unconstitutional actions in Tilton v. Richardson also demonstrated the promi- states (all but Vermont, Rhode Is- convert them to fundamental- and Community House, FFRF contended. Repairing a nence and stature of the staff, land and Hawaii) and the District ist Christianity. The foundation building that is used for religious worship, and that as they were routinely called on of Columbia. by attorneys and constitutional A significant portion of that to- See FFRF on page 17 See Alaska on page 9 Strategic Response Team hits the ground running The Freedom From Religion helping protect FFRF had even faced off against Ma- idel and FFRF Legal Director Rebec- Foundation’s newly created Strategic the Johnson teer in court, besting him in our law- ca Markert traveled to Capitol Hill in Response Team has wasted no time Amendment suit removing a Jesus portrait from early November, speaking with Senate fighting for your rights — with two suc- as debate over public schools in Jackson, Ohio. At Judiciary Committee staffers about cessful outcomes already in the books. the tax package that time, Mateer represented First Mateer and the report. While the behind-the-scenes legal began. Liberty Institute, a theocratic law firm “We’ve tangled with Mateer before work has been happening for years at Seidel identi- seeking to tear down the wall of separa- and knew he would be a disaster for FFRF, the Strategic Response Team is fied one judicial tion that FFRF guards. First Liberty, Se- the federal bench,” explains Seidel, a formalization of the framework of nominee who idel quips, “is basically the anti-FFRF.” who put in countless hours watch- FFRF’s ongoing “rapid response team,” stood out as par- Of the many groups opposing Ma- ing Mateer’s talks and reviewing his combined with a revved-up legislative Photo by Brent Nicastro ticularly unquali- teer’s nomination, FFRF was the only written record. “We pulled out all the agenda as part of FFRF’s ongoing Edu- Andrew Seidel fied: Jeff Mateer. one to compile a definitive record of stops to end his hopes of a lifetime cate Congress Campaign. Mateer garnered his unfitness for office. Seidel and appointment.” Mateer’s nomination As the new director of strategic re- notoriety when his comments about FFRF Staff Attorney Ryan Jayne au- was ended late last year. sponse, FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel trans kids being part of “Satan’s plan” thored and submitted a full report to The Strategic Response Team also oversaw two big issues: helping defeat surfaced. He’s a long-time nemesis of Senate Judiciary Committee members some Trump judicial nominees and FFRF and state/church separation. cataloging Mateer’s many “sins.” Se- See Team on page 12 Page 2 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018 Guertin proves that deafness is no obstacle

MEET A MEMBER A quotation I like: “The one who says it cannot be done should not Name: Ralph Francis Guertin. interrupt the one who is doing it.” Where I live: Green Valley, Ariz. — Chinese proverb. I included it in Where and when I was born: Staf- a speech I gave at a Clarke School ford, Conn., in 1938. My parents were graduation that included a criti- living in Indian Orchard, Mass. (a sub- cism of those who claim that deaf urb of Springfield), and that is where children cannot communicate well I grew up. via speech and that they should be Family: My wife, Nu Nu Mae, died educated with sign language. last year. She was a native of Myan- These are a few of my favorite mar (Burma) and was teaching the things: Physics and advanced math- Burmese language at Yale when I met ematics, baseball (I’m a Boston her. We were married for 50 years. My Red Sox fan), basketball, which was daughter and granddaughter live in founded in my home city of Spring- Massachusetts. field, Mass., and chess. Education: Clarke School for the These are not: People who say Deaf (now Clarke Schools for Hearing I’m headed for hell and try to get and Speech) in Northampton, Mass.; me to adopt their religion. By the Classical High School in Springfield, way, my parents raised me as a Cath- Ralph Guertin, who lost his hearing at age 7, became a renowned physicist Mass.; B.S. in physics from Worcester olic and were shocked when I told and engineer who developed a mathematical formula that improves the Polytechnic Institute; Ph.D. in physics them that God was a fiction and I ability of a missile to hit its target. He is shown in this photo from 2012 with his from Yale University. was not going to church any more. granddaughter. Occupation: Retired as a physicist/ My doubts about religion start- engineer. Last worked for Raytheon mathematical formula I developed Person in history I admire and ed: While I was at Worcester Poly- in Arizona. Company was awarded which can improve the ability of a why: Albert Einstein, due to his technic and became firm after a a patent that includes an advanced missile to hit its target. theory of relativity. few months at Yale University. Clarke alumnus, engineer and physicist gives back Ralph Guertin was profiled in the the corporate world, including posi- “I loved the high-quality academic wife, Nu Nu Mae, Ralph’s generous 2012 issue of Clarke Speaks magazine, tions at the University of Nijmegen, programs, particularly science, math, annual contributions are a way of giv- the publication of the Clarke Schools for the Middle East Technical Universi- and history, which prepared me well ing back to the school. Hearing and Speech. It is reprinted with ty, Rice University, the University of for a challenging academic career “I believe strongly in providing permission: California at Berkeley, Raytheon and learning alongside hearing students. deaf children with the opportunity to Ralph Guertin, ’53, has led a life Lockheed Martin. I remember enjoying the many active attend Clarke and benefit from its ex- of extraordinary accomplishment. Among his numerous professional discussions we used to have about na- ceptional teaching staff,” said Ralph. After losing his hearing at the age achievements is a mathematical algo- tional and world events, both inside “Clarke makes it possible for individ- of 7 due to meningitis and measles, rithm that is a key component of a and outside of the classroom. I was uals who are deaf to realize their po- Ralph graduated from Clarke and patent associated with a sophisticated also inspired by the achievements of tential in a society where most peo- went on to the Worcester Polytechnic defense system. An inveterate travel- Clarke School’s alumni.” ple can hear. I want other children Institute, where he graduated with a er, Ralph has visited England, Portu- Ralph served on Clarke’s Board of to benefit from Clarke by learning to 4.0 GPA, and Yale University, where gal, France, Turkey and the Straits of Trustees from 1984 to 2004 and was communicate via spoken language, he earned a Ph.D. in physics. His dis- Gibraltar on his many trips around the speaker at Clarke’s 1984 gradua- as well as to benefit from the knowl- tinguished career has encompassed the globe — but Clarke Northamp- tion ceremony. edgeable Clarke teaching staff who work in academia, government, and ton holds a special place in his heart. Now settled in Arizona with his encourage each child to succeed.”

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Published by Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. Photo by Barry LaMont P.O. Box 750 Madison WI 53701 Volunteers and Columbia Market owner Albert Choi, right, load up food for [email protected] FFRF.org transport to food bank freezers in Hood River County, Ore., on Dec. 1, 2017. P 608.256.8900 F 608.204.0422 FFRF’s Portland chapter, headed by Cheryl Kolbe, granted the local food bank $1,000 worth of meat. Chapter members went on a shopping trip to EDITOR PJ Slinger [email protected] Columbia Market to stock up on the requested donation of meat that will go EDITOR EMERITUS Bill Dunn to clients of the FISH (Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help) food bank. EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Annie Laurie Gaylor “It should last the food bank several months,” said Kolbe, who worked with GRAPHIC DESIGNER Roger Daleiden FISH’s Martha LaMont and Choi to complete the donation, which had been COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Amit Pal approved by the FFRF Board via FFRF’s Nonbelief Relief fund. CONTRIBUTORS Kolbe told the Hood River News that the donation wasn’t timed for the holiday season, but rather to help people after a three-month fire that Mohammad Alkhadra, Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, Philip Appleman, consumed 50,000 acres in Oregon and Washington. “We particularly wanted Brent Michael Davids, Molly Hanson, Ingrid Laas, Chris Line, to help out as a result of the Eagle Creek fire,” Kolbe said. “We knew there Rebecca Markert, Andrew Seidel, Julia Sweeney, Jake Swenson The only freethought newspaper in the United States are still many needs.” January / February 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 3 DOJ admits Johnson Amendment still in force

Despite false assertion The admission is significant since it means that if churches politick from by Trump, FFRF prevails the pulpit they cannot claim that and dismisses lawsuit Trump’s order allows them to do so. President Trump has failed to fulfill FFRF filed a complaint with the IRS in his misguided promise to “get rid of early December against the Alabama and totally destroy the Johnson Amend- church that endorsed senatorial can- ment,” according to documents filed in didate Roy Moore, who is accused of court by his own lawyers. sexual assault. The Department of Justice filed two The Becket Fund, which has brought motions in response to FFRF’s lawsuit a host of bad suits in an attempt to re- challenging Trump’s executive order define religious liberty to allow discrim- on religious freedom that torpedo the ination, was miffed at the government’s president’s claims. response to FFRF’s lawsuit. David Lane, As The Washington Post, Politico a Christian nationalist who runs the and others reported, Trump’s attorneys American Renewal Project, “said the admitted that, despite Trump’s asser- court filing shows the limitations of tion that churches could ignore the Trump’s executive order. ‘In the long Johnson Amendment, “The order does run, it doesn’t do anything for us,’” ac- not exempt religious organization from cording to The Hill. the restrictions on political campaign From the beginning, FFRF predict- activity applicable to all tax-exempt Photo by Associated Press ed that the lawsuit might end once the organizations.” President Trump presents the “religious freedom” executive order he signed government admitted the president In response, FFRF voluntarily dis- on May 4. However, the Department of Justice says the order does not exempt cannot overturn an act of Congress by missed its federal lawsuit on Dec. 11. religious organizations from political campaign activity. fiat: “If Trump’s lawyers want to march FFRF sued Trump and the IRS on into that courtroom and tell the world May 4, the day he signed the high-pro- room, because that was a big deal and Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “We and President Trump that this order file order announced from the Rose it was a very important thing for me to did not accept that the government was doesn’t do anything, we would consid- Garden with nuns and other religious do for you.” saying one thing, while Trump was say- er that a win,” FFRF’s Director of Stra- figures looking on. FFRF pointed out But according to his own lawyers, the ing another. We’re pleased we got the tegic Response Andrew Seidel, an at- the disconnect between the impotent order was a whole lot of nothing. FFRF DOJ to reiterate its position twice in a torney who worked on the complaint, language in the or- Co-President Dan court of law.” The DOJ argued in its fil- explained to the Daily Beast shortly der regarding the Barker points out ings that FFRF “misunderstood the ex- after the suit was filed. Johnson Amend- We did not accept that “essentially, ecutive order,” but, notes Gaylor, “clear- There is substantial value in being ment and Trump’s that the government was the Department ly it is Trump who misunderstands both able to point to DOJ court filings to ex- inflated claims saying“ one thing, while of Justice called the order and the extent of his power.” pose Trump’s lies, Gaylor said. about the order’s Trump was saying another. the president a liar effect. Trump re- — FFRF Co-President and explained to peatedly boasted the court that ev- that he was getting Annie Laurie Gaylor erything the presi- Johnson Amendment remains intact rid of the John- dent has said about FFRF is celebrating a huge victo- bill gutted the Johnson Amend- son Amendment and that doing so the Johnson Amendment is nonsense. ry for state/church separation. The ment while the Senate version left it would be his “greatest contribution to His religious freedom order as it related new tax bill leaves intact the wise untouched. Christianity.” to that safeguard against politicking by ban on church electioneering: the Mobilizing its 30,000 members, Trump claimed continually that his 501(c)(3) nonprofits was all pomp and Johnson Amendment. FFRF sent out a number of alerts executive order invalidated the John- no substance — an admission we now The Johnson Amendment keeps on the tax reform bill to save the son Amendment as it applies to church have in multiple court filings.” nonprofits nonpartisan. Under it, Johnson Amendment. Members politicking. As FFRF’s amended com- The filings by Trump’s DOJ attorneys churches and tax-exempt 501(c)(3) inundated their legislators with plaint filed on Sept. 19 documented, prove that Trump’s executive order did nonprofits may not endorse or op- one message: Protect the Johnson one such instance occurred on June not deliver on his destructive campaign pose political candidates. They may Amendment. 8, when Trump told the evangelicals promise designed to reward white evan- discuss and advocate on issues; they An influx of dark money flowing in the crowd at the Faith and Freedom gelicals, 81 percent of whom voted for may not come out for or against spe- through churches into politics could Coalition: Trump. This voting bloc disproportion- cific candidates. The second-highest have led to heavy government reg- “That executive order also followed ately approves of ending the Johnson court in the United States decided ulation of houses of worship. The on one of my campaign promises to Amendment. nearly 20 years ago that the rule churches actually dodged a bullet, so many of you, to stop the Johnson “By filing an amended complaint we does not infringe free speech rights clarifies FFRF’s Andrew Seidel, not- Amendment from interfering with your were able to get into the record Trump’s or religious freedom. ing that where money goes, regula- First Amendment Rights. . . . So, I just continuing and misleading braggadocio The House version of the tax tion follows. want to congratulate everybody in this over the effect of the order,” says FFRF OVERHEARD

It has historical significance to me as to Roy Moore campaign spokesman The usual fallacies: How did you spend Sundays growing a Jew, but not so much that I wouldn’t Ted Crockett, who said without a hint 1.“Rationalists must up? “Going to church . . . with dad.” be willing to share it with other peo- or irony, “You have to swear on a bible have faith in rea- How do you spend Sundays now? ple to whom it also has a historical sig- to be an elected official in the United son” (no, we don’t “Breakfasting, and trips to farmers’ nificance. But to point to a holy book States of America.” *believe in* reason; markets.” and use that as proof — it’s not proof CNN, 12-12-17 we *use* reason). Molly Shannon, actress, being inter- of any kind that a city belongs to one Fallacy 2: “Reason viewing by Parade Magazine. people or another. Religion should be Most deniers know full well that glob- can’t get me to love Parade Magazine, 12-31-17 kept out of it. I would prefer to sepa- al warming is real, that it is caused by Photo by Ingrid Laas my wife.” That’s rate religion from the state. humans, and that it will continue. Why Steven Pinker a preference (de- Those seeking to breach the wall be- Debby, 66, a dual citizen of the U.S. take a personal risk with actual money sire), not a proposi- tween church and state fail to under- and Israel who lives in Jerusalem, when it is easier and less expensive just tion (belief), so neither faith nor rea- stand that the separation protects commenting on President Trump’s to continue denying, blogging and ha- son is relevant. them. If the church is allowed to announcement that the U.S. would rassing scientists? . . . The blogging and Fallacy 3: “We must act short of cer- formally seek to influence matters formally recognize Jerusalem as the posturing are just for show. I look for- tainty.” Best action under uncertainty of the state, the state will eventual- capital of Israel. ward to this year’s excuses, insults and is not faith. ly seek greater influence over them. New York Times, 12-18-17 hand-wringing. Worst of all: “Faith is OK, so believe It’s axiomatic. Indeed, that pressure is Mark Boslough, physicist, skeptic and the dogmas of *my* tribe!” bound to increase once taxpayers are You don’t actually have to swear on a science communicator, after offering Cognitive scientist Steven Pinker (and called upon to support religious orga- Christian bible. You can swear on any- for the fourth straight year $25,000 to FFRF honorary president who spoke nizations via their tax-exempt status, thing, really. I don’t know if you knew anyone who thinks a record high tem- at FFRF’s convention) tweeting about even as those organizations seek to that. . . . The law is not that you have to perature will not be set in the coming a New York Times op-ed “How can influence public policy through overt swear on a Christian bible. That is not year (2018 for this specific bet). I possibly believe that faith is better political activity. the law. You didn’t know that? Huffington Post, 12-28-17 than doubt?” by Peter Wehner. Newspaper editorial. CNN anchor Jake Tapper, responding Twitter, 12-25-17 The Buffalo (N.Y.) News, 11-27-17 Page 4 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018 HEADS UP Teaching (legal) doctrine at Monroe A Poetry Column By Philip Appleman INTELLIGENT? DESIGN? (To the tune of “Battle Hymn of the Republic”) Your eyes have seen a blurry scene That’s only known to man: Your optic nerves are backward and Have been since time began. That’s what the preachers tell you is God’s very special plan: Intelligent Design! Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Making-do will have to do ya. Beware the swindlers who voodoo ya With Intelligent Design! FFRF Staff Attorney Ryan Jayne taught constitutional law, “know your rights,” and Bill of Rights law (with emphasis on state/church separation) to You wish a guy’s urethra did five high school classes (about 150 total students) at Monroe High School in The jobs that were proposed: Monroe, Wis., on Jan. 4. Both lover’s clout and waterspout Is what you had supposed. Alas, the Great Designer squeezed A prostate ’round your hose: Intelligent Design! FFRF welcomes its new Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Nowhere does the Bible clue ya Life, After-Life Members That your glands would soon subdue ya: Intelligent Design! FFRF is proud to announce and Michele Koch, Ryan Langford, Rob- Your breasts get lumps, your heart goes thump, welcome our 77 newest Life Members, ert Larson, Ann Larson (a gift from Your hips are giving in. three After-Life Members, one Beyond Robert Larson), James Ledwell, Mor- Childbirth is a horror ’cause After-Life Member and four Immortals. gan Leibrandt, Wynne LeGrow, Mi- Your pelvis is too thin. The After-Life Members are John chelle Lewis, David Lindes, Ramsay And osteoporosis is Calvin, Julia Roberts and Wayne A. MacMullen, Mike Markot, Marilyn E. Your Maker’s little whim: Hensler (posthumous gift from Nich- Morgan (a gift from Larry W. Allen), Intelligent Design! olas Schwartz), who put up FFRF bill- Janet Murphy, Andrea Natalie, Mark boards saying “Enjoy life now. There Nicholson, Lee Oeth, Richard Ot- Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! is no afterlife.” After-Life Membership ter, Christopher Pawlak, Beth Perry, The Great Designer knows what’s due ya. is a tongue-in-cheek-named donation Michael Personette, Samuel Pollard, Nothing else can stick it to ya. category of $5,000 for those who want Bob Ralston, Mary Ray, Jonathan Reel, Like Intelligent Design! their donation to “live on” after them. Douglas Reynolds, Ross Rubenstein, The Beyond After-Life Member is Andrew Schwam, Richard Simon, From Karma, Dharma, Pudding & Pie Adam R. Rose. This newly created do- Duane Slicker, Sarina Sogel, Jill J. Sor- © Philip Appleman. nation category is “for those seeking den, Steven D. Sorden, R.T. Sorensen, Philip Appleman is a Dis­tinguished Pro­fessor Emeri­tus atheist nirvana” and requires a dona- Merle Strong, Trevor Stroup, Stan Ul- at In­dia­na Uni­ver­si­ty. He is editor of the Norton Critical tion of $10,000 (or more), designated rich, James Unger, Betty Waterhouse, Edition of Darwin. He and his playwright wife, Marjorie as a membership. Rick Weiss, David D. Weldon, Ted Wil- Appleman, are both “After-Life” Members of FFRF. Phil’s The 77 newest Life Members are liams, John Wilson, Paul Winkeller, books: ffrf.org/shop. Edward J. Allan, W. Allen, Richard W. Jonathan Zadra (a gift from Robert Andersen (a gift from Larry W. Allen), Zadra), Joe Zemel and one who wish- Rick Barnard, Shivarama Bhat, Doug- es to remain anonymous. las Burg, Becky Carter, Richard Chris- Individual Life Memberships are tensen, Cal Davidson, Michael Delman, $1,000, designated as membership or Freethought Today caption contest! Sally Dorst, Robert Dufek, Gregg Fei- membership renewal, and are deduct- ertag, Robert Feingold, Steven Gilbert, ible for income-tax purposes, as are all Wilson Greaton Jr., Ralph Guertin, donations. Beckham Haile, Alison Hamilton (a The newest Life Members hail gift from Jo Ann Kremers), Rick Harp- from 28 states and Washington D.C.: er, Richard Lee Hefner, Lynne Hills, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Con- Dennis Hunt, Charles James, Greg Jar- necticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, rell, Katherine Johansen, Andy John- Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachu- son (a gift from Ben Johnson), Ayden setts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Oxley-Johnson (a gift from Ben John- North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, son), Kathy Johnson, Russell Keating New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, (an anonymous gift), Donald Kielich, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. John O’Hara, Ron Taggart, Janet MOVING? Thew and Mark Welty are our latest Don’t miss your copy of Immortals, a donation designation for those members who have contact- Freethought Today ed FFRF to report they have made provisions for FFRF in their estate planning. Notify Us of Your Address Change Losing Faith in Faith: Promptly! From Preacher to Atheist

EMAIL [email protected] By Dan Barker How Dan “threw out the bathwater The Post Office does not This month’s caption contest picture is the painting of Leonardo da Vinci’s and discovered forward third-class mail. “Salvator Mundi” (Savior of the World), which sold at auction for a record there is no $450.3 million in November. To enter, please write a humorous or witty caption FFRF cannot be responsible for replacing baby there.” to go along with this picture. Email your response to [email protected] by Feb. 9. back issues if we have not been notified prior to your move. The winner, chosen by FFRF staff, will receive an “Unabashed Atheist” T-shirt! Buy it from FFRF online We will announce the winner and top runners-up in the March issue. shop.ff rf.org January / February 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 5 IN THE NEWS FEMA broadens churches’ “Nearly every Lakeside school event Appeals court rules bakers did discriminate features an official prayer,” the report access to disaster funds continues. “Graduation services are Less than four months after Presi- held in churches and often resemble dent Trump suggested churches should religious services.” be able to receive federal disaster relief Christy Cole, the mother of K.C., funds, officials have changed federal an agnostic Lakeside student, said that policies to make it easier for religious when her husband confronted Row- institutions to qualify for such aid. land, he was immediately rebuffed. With lawsuits pending in Texas and “I’ll stop when someone makes me Florida from churches and synagogues stop,” Rowland reportedly said. challenging the limits, the Federal The Coles’ complaint claims that Emergency Management Agency an- “when K.C. started to stay seated during nounced Jan. 2 that it is removing lan- morning prayer, other students rid- guage in its rules that often disqualified iculed her.” Later, “when K.C.’s par- religious groups from aid available to ents stayed seated during graduation other nonprofits. prayers, other parents hissed in disap- “Private nonprofit houses of worship proval. One of K.C.’s teachers also im- will not be singled out for disfavored plied to the class that the bible must be treatment within the community cen- taken literally and mocked her when ters subcategory of nonprofit appli- she questioned him.” cants,” FEMA Recovery Directorate Assistant Administrator Alex Amparo wrote in a new manual. Kentucky state rep. dies FEMA said religious institutions The Oregon Court of Appeals on opposition to same-sex marriage,” in apparent suicide could now qualify as “community cen- Dec. 28 upheld a ruling of illegal Judge Chris Garrett wrote in the ters” eligible for disaster grants, al- discrimination and a $135,000 fine opinion. “But those with sincere though facilities primarily used for levied by Labor Commissioner Brad religious objections to marriage be- “political, athletic . . . recreational, voca- Avakian against the owners of a bak- tween people of different races, eth- tional, or academic training” will still be ery who refused to make a wedding nicities or faiths could just as readily barred from receiving support. cake for a gay couple in 2013. demand the same exemption.” The appeals court rejected the The ruling came as the U.S. Su- contention from Aaron and Melis- preme Court is considering a sim- New Commandments sa Klein, the bakers, that being re- ilar case out of Colorado. During monument moves forward quired to make that wedding cake arguments in early December, the Dan Johnson violated their constitutional free- justices appeared closely divided on An Arkansas commission cleared the dom of speech or religion. the issue, with observers predicting Kentucky state Rep. Dan Johnson way for the installation of another Ten “The Kleins seek an exemption that Justice Anthony Kennedy could died from a “probable suicide” two Commandments monument outside based on their sincere religious cast the deciding vote in a 5-4 split. days after allegations arose that he the state Capitol, after a prior marker had sexually abused a teenage girl was shattered when a man crashed his at the church where he was a pastor. car into the stone less than 24 hours af- should be allowed on government OGOD made the application against Johnson was found with a single gun- ter it was put in place. property. six predominantly Christian public shot wound to the head. The Arkansas Capitol Arts and There has been a noticeable decline schools to prevent them from taking Johnson was accused by a woman of Grounds Commission signed off on in the percentage of U.S. adults who part in 71 instances of religious conduct. molesting her when she was 17 after a the final design, which will include four say they believe that biblical elements While the court did not grant the re- New Year’s party in 2012, according to concrete posts for the monument’s of the Christmas story reflect historical straining order, it ruled the schools had the Kentucky Center for Investigative protection. events that actually occurred. breached a section of the Schools Act Reporting. That was followed by calls Chief Deputy Secretary of State Kel- Currently, 55 percent of U.S. adults making it an offence to promote one for Johnson’s resignation from lead- ly Boyd said the commission will review say they celebrate Christmas as a reli- religion and exclude others. ers of both parties. the security of all monuments on Capi- gious holiday. In 2013, 59 percent of In a since-deleted post on Face- tol grounds, which also include displays Americans stated the same. book, Johnson wrote “GOD knows honoring firefighters, veterans and the About 90 percent of adults say they British want religion the truth, nothing is the way they nine students who desegregated Little celebrate the holiday, which is nearly kept out of politics make it out to be. I cannot handle it Rock’s Central High School. The Little identical to the share who said this in any longer . . . BUT HEAVEN IS MY Rock Nine monument already includes 2013. Politics and religion should not mix, HOME.” concrete posts similar to the ones that according to the British public, who will be placed with the Ten Command- want politicians to keep their personal ments monument. South Africa outlaws faith to themselves. 100 largest churches The American Civil Liberties Union single-religion schools A majority of British people believe mostly led by white men of Arkansas said it plans to sue over the that religion should also play a less monument. Single-religion schools have been prominent role in parliament, with Church Clarity, a group that seeks outlawed in South Africa after a ruling bishops losing their automatic seats in to get churches to publicly disclose at the Johannesburg High Court. the House of Lords, a YouGov survey their stances on all manner of topics, Religious aspects of Government-run schools may no found. recently published a detailed analy- Christmas declining longer promote themselves as subscrib- The prime minister, a vicar’s sis of America’s 100 largest churches, ing to a single particular religion at the daughter, said that “faith guides me based on information from Outreach A Pew Research Center survey has exclusion of others, the court ruled. in everything I do,” while Tim Farron, Magazine, a Christian publication. found that most U.S. adults believe the The Organisasie vir Godsdien- a committed Christian, faced a bar- The study shows that 93 percent of religious aspects of Christmas are em- ste-Onderrig en Demokrasie (Or- rage of questions over whether he be- America’s 100 largest churches are led phasized less now than in the past, and ganization for Religious Education lieved gay sex to be sinful, as a result by a white pastor. Only 7 out of the that relatively few Americans are both- and Democracy), or OGOD, which of which he felt he had to resign as 100 of the churches on Outreach’s list ered by this trend. fights against religious indoctrination Liberal Democratic leader. are led by a person of color, yet nearly Also, a declining majority says reli- through public schools in South Africa, 40 percent of the U.S. population is gious displays such as nativity scenes welcomed the judgment. made up of people of color. Superintendent sued for Another statistic shows that only preaching to students one of America’s 100 largest churches American Infidel: JUST PRETEND has a female pastor. Robert G. Ingersoll A freethought book for children A superintendent in Louisiana’s Nicole Crank of Faith Church in Webster Parish has refused to stop pro- West Palm Beach, Fla., is the only By Dan Barker moting Christianity at Lakeside Junior/ woman, and she is listed as a co-pastor By Orvin Larsen A fun, illustrated book Senior High School, so he is being sued alongside her husband, David. Prof. Larsen writes allowing children of all by the American Civil Liberties Union. The study also found that there with a ection and ages to explore myths On Dec. 18, the ACLU said it was are no LGBTQ-affirming churches respect of this like Santa Claus and illustrious 19th compare them with suing Webster Parish Schools and Su- among the 100 largest churches in century freethinker. ideas like the perintendent Johnny Rowland. As the America. According to the analysis, existence of God. ACLU reports, the school day at Lake- just 35 percent of megachurches have Buy it from FFRF online Buy it from FFRF online side starts with a morning prayer over clear LGBTQ+ policies, and 54 per- shop.ff rf.org shop.ff rf.org the PA, read either by teachers or by cent actually hide their positions deep student “volunteers.” inside their websites. Page 6 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018 FFRF NEWS FFRF’s ‘Freethought Matters’ TV show debuts FFRF has launched a new TV program for a local For those who are not in the Madison area, you — and a national — audience. will be able to view the timely interviews the day after On Jan. 7, FFRF unveiled its newest project: a the shows air by visiting FFRF’s YouTube channel. weekly television show, in its hometown of Madison, “We want to reach the unmassed masses with the Wis. “Freethought Matters,” a half-hour talk-show truly ‘good news’ of freethought,” says Barker. format generally hosted by FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Other upcoming guests include Iranian-born sec- Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, airs on CBS affiliate ular London-based activist Maryam Namazie, science Channel 3 Sundays at 11 p.m. journalist and Los Angeles-based TV host Cara Santa “We consider ‘Freethought Matters’ partly as an Maria, Chicago black atheist activist Kimberly Veal, well- antidote to the Sunday morning church hour,” Gay- known atheist blogger Greta Christina of San Francis- lor says. “But, mostly, we want to acquaint the com- co, renowned sculptor Zenos Frudakis, and American munity with the range of fascinating nonreligious Indian composer Brent Michael Davids, who lives on authors and activists.” Photo by Chris Line the Stockbridge-Munsee reservation in Wisconsin. The guests include heavyweights such as Harvard FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker, left, and Annie Upcoming guest hosts include Amit Pal, FFRF’s evolutionary psychologist and best-seller Steven Pinker, Laurie Gaylor sit on set with photojournalist Chris director of communications, formerly a longtime FFRF’s honorary president, The New York Times’ new- Johnson during filming of the first episode of editorial staffer at The Progressive. The director est columnist Michelle Goldberg, comedian Julia Swee- “Freethought Matters,” FFRF’s new TV show. of the show is Bruce Johnson, who recently joined ney and Nation columnist Katha Pollitt, each of whom with a film version of the same name. His upbeat in- FFRF’s staff after years at public television, and the spoke at FFRF’s most recent convention in Madison. terview acquaints viewers not only with nonbelieving producer is Lauryn Seering, FFRF’s communica- Pinker’s interview will air shortly after his much-awaited celebrities, but the global diversity of atheists. Today, tions coordinator. FFRF extends thanks for camera book, Enlightenment Now, comes out in February. “Nones” (those identifying as atheists, agnostics and help to FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line, and pinch-hit- The debut guest was Chris Johnson, a photojour- not with any religion) are outpacing denominations ters Marian Herzog, Mike Remington, Mike Foley nalist who produced the book, A Better Life: 100 Athe- such as Catholicism at nearly a quarter of the overall and Veronica Plum. ists Speak Out on Joy & Meaning in a World Without God, population and more than a third of Millennials.

FFRF’s NY Times ad Today arrived in. Judge sides with FFRF The ad is partly a response to Trump’s tweaks Trump “Merry Christmas” campaign. “There’s against Texas AG no ‘war on Christmas,’” remarks Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-founder. “That’s A district judge on Dec. 13 rejected Fox News’ phony construct. But there the Texas attorney general’s attempt to most definitely is a concerted war on the meddle in an FFRF lawsuit against an First Amendment’s cherished principle overly prayerful judicial official. of separation between government and In March 2017, FFRF and three in- religion.” dividuals filed a federal lawsuit to stop FFRF Co-President Dan Barker says, a Texas justice of the peace from im- “While we kept the tone of our message posing prayers at light, we don’t minimize the grave harm the start of each already inflicted on America’s wall of the district last year to avoid the illegal court session. separation between church and state.” classes, which FFRF’s lawsuit stopped for Texas Attor- Barker cites as an example Trump’s this year. ney General Ken executive order pertaining to so-called Senior U.S. District Judge David Paxton held a religious freedom, which Attorney A. Faber in November dismissed a press conference General Jeff Sessions has turned into a high-profile lawsuit filed by FFRF on on May 17 to an- weapon to use against civil liberties and the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked nounce his intent secular government. standing or brought claims that were to interfere with In the coming year, FFRF expects to not yet ripe. FFRF had filed the suit on the lawsuit against be battling campaigns to fund vouch- the behalf of four plaintiffs earlier this Ken Paxton Judge Wayne ers for religiously segregated schools year against Mercer County Schools, the Mack. FFRF called FFRF placed a full-page ad in The at the expense of secular public board of education, the superintendent out Paxton for New York Times on Dec. 21, chastising schools, resisting further attempts to and a school principal. Farber’s dismiss- his “hyperbolic President Trump for his all-out assault repeal the Johnson Amendment that al on jurisdictional grounds was without speculation” and on the First Amendment. bars church politicking and combat- prejudice, meaning that the case can set the record The light-hearted ad about Trump’s ing additional nominations of right- be refiled if the school system resumes straight on the at- war on secular rights ran on the day wing zealots to lifetime appointments any bible classes. The court did rule that torney general’s of the Winter Solstice. “President on the federal judiciary. “Jane Doe” (another parent of a current deliberate mis- Trump’s great big Christmas present to elementary student) and FFRF have characterization the Religious Right . . . is a great big FFRF appeals exclusion standing, but that the case was no longer of the issues raised war on the separation of church and in ‘Bible in Schools’ case “ripe,” since the classes were suspended. in FFRF’s lawsuit. state,” the ad states. Plaintiffs FFRF and Jane Doe have not Wayne Mack Now a judge has Pictured under that headline are A parent and child are appealing a appealed the decision as it pertains to affirmed the cor- four fat stockings, labeled “Religious ruling in November in FFRF’s case that “ripeness.” FFRF could bring suit against rectness of FFRF’s stance. Vouchers,” “Cabinet Zealots,” “Church seeks to put a full stop to blatantly un- the school system if the bible classes re- “The fact that FFRF in other cases Politicking” and “Stacked Judiciary,” constitutional “Bible in the Schools” turn to elementary and middle schools. has brought Establishment Clause stuffed with cash, crosses and gifts. Un- classes in a West Virginia county. FFRF Senior Counsel Patrick Elliott, challenges to different practices by derneath them are miniature stockings, Plaintiffs Elizabeth Deal and her serving as co-counsel, notes FFRF has different Texas officials does not each with a piece of coal, with greeting child, Jessica Roe, are appealing to the accomplished a great victory in halting transform this case into a statewide cards addressed to “Women’s Rights,” 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals a dis- the classes, but remains concerned that attack on all Texas officials such that “LGBT,” “Planned Parenthood,” “Mus- trict court’s unjust ruling that they did the school district may try to resume the any state agency may intervene as lim Immigrants” and “Civil Liberties.” not have standing to sue the school inappropriate indoctrination. of right,” U.S. District Judge Ewing To view a larger version of the ad, see system. Jessica attended schools within Bible indoctrination classes were Werlein Jr. wrote. Previously, before the wrap that this issue of Freethought Mercer County, but was moved out of taught in Mercer County Schools for starting each of his court sessions, more than 75 years until the FFRF law- Mack introduced a “visiting pastor,” suit. FFRF’s legal complaint lists exam- outlining his credentials, advertising ples of the proselytizing curriculum. the church he is from and where it Lesson 2 promotes creationism by claim- is located. The guest chaplain often ing humans and dinosaurs co-existed. read or sermonized from the Christian Students are asked to “picture Adam bible, then asked attendees to bow being able to crawl up on the back of a their heads and pray. By spring 2015, dinosaur! He and Eve could have their Mack inaugurated changes, having the own personal water slide! Wouldn’t that bailiff introduce the prayer prior to be so wild!” Mack entering the courtroom. Notably, Elizabeth Deal and her daughter are Mack chose to lock the courtroom asking to have their injury recognized, doors prior to the chaplain-led prayers. nominal damages and assurances the In July, FFRF filed a response to deny Make your own nontheistic cyber billboard at ffrf.org/unabashed. classes will not resume. Mack’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. January / February 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 7

FFRF historic victory Housing allowance enforcement enjoined A federal judge who recently ruled to claim. Another option was to nullify in favor of FFRF’s challenge of the the entire statute, which both FFRF and clergy housing privilege ordered the the federal government endorsed — suspension of the IRS regulation gov- and that is the option Crabb ultimately erning the giveaway (pending appeal). chose. Barker and Gaylor, who, as athe- “This is a decision ultimately affecting istic heads of a nonreligious group, are all clergy and retired clergy nationwide similarly situated to members of clergy, who’ve received this unconstitutional tax charged that the statute is discriminato- privilege,” notes ry and violates the Establishment Clause FFRF Co-President of the First Amendment barring gov- Dan Barker, one of ernmental preference for religion. Gaylor v. Mnuchin case part of H&R Block tutorials the plaintiffs. The housing allowance was passed The nation’s most famous tax as part of Anne Gaylor’s retirement, In the same or- in 1954 to reward “ministers of the gos- preparation service now features a the IRS refused to allow them to de- der, U.S. District pel” for carrying on “a courageous fight recent FFRF legal triumph as part of duct the allowances. Judge Barbara B. against [a godless and anti-religious its tutorials. The trio first sued in 2013, win- Crabb then im- world movement].” The statute allows H&R Block’s class required for its ning at the district level, which cre- mediately stayed housing allowances paid as part of cler- tax professionals in 2018 includes ated a national outcry by the clergy. her injunction gy salary to be subtracted outright from a section on FFRF’s historic federal When the case was appealed, with pending an ex- taxable income. Clergy may exempt up court victory that declared uncon- virtually every denomination chim- Dan Barker pected appeal. If to the fair market rental value of their stitutional the clergy housing allow- ing in against the ruling, the 7th Crabb’s decision home. The housing allowance may pay ance. (See accompanying story.) U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw is upheld, her or- not just rent or mortgage, but also for The briefing appears under “Mod- the case out on standing, saying the der mandates that such things as home improvements, ule 4: Hot Topics.” plaintiffs had failed to request a re- her injunction will maintenance, repairs, dishwashers, ca- The plaintiffs in the case are FFRF fund. Taking the cue, they requested become effective ble TV, phone fees and bank fees. Co-Presidents Annie Laurie Gaylor refunds, and when they were denied, 180 days after the The congressional Joint Committee and Dan Barker, and Ian Gaylor rep- went back to court. appeal process on Taxation has reported that the ex- resenting the estate of Anne Nicol “We’re flattered our historic chal- is completed in emption amounts to more than $700 Gaylor, FFRF president emerita. The lenge of this inequity is a hot topic order to allow an million a year in lost revenue. The Re- co-presidents argued that as leaders with tax professionals,” says Annie orderly transition. ligion News Service calculated that the of a freethought organization they Laurie Gaylor. Crabb had on allowance increases the take-home pay are similarly situated to clergy. Yet FFRF is delighted to be of educa- Barbara Crabb Oct. 6 declared of some pastors by up to 10 percent. when FFRF designated a housing tional value — for tax preparers and unconstitutional Christianity Today found that 84 per- allowance for the co-presidents and everyone else. a provision in the tax code that cent of senior pastors receive a hous- excludes from gross income a housing ing allowance of $20,000 to $38,000 in allowance paid to a “minister of the added (but not reported) compensa- Council for Financial Accountability, and when denied, went back to court. gospel.” But she held off on final action tion to their base salary. A growing sub- which bitterly fought the ruling, along Sued are Steve Mnuchin, U.S. secre- until FFRF, the federal government set of highly paid ministers who live in with just about every religious denom- tary of the treasury, and John Koskin- and religious intervenors each had a multimillion dollar mansions are able ination in the country. In November en, IRS commissioner at the time. The chance to weigh in on the remedy. to exclude hundreds of thousands of 2014, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of case also had religious intervenors as One option included an injunction dollars from income taxation. Appeals threw out that victory — not defendants. requiring the IRS to extend the benefits In 2013, Judge Crabb first ruled in on the merits, but on the question of A third plaintiff is Ian Gaylor, rep- to the plaintiffs, including Barker and FFRF’s favor in its original challenge. standing — arguing that Barker and resenting the estate of FFRF President FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gay- Crabb’s original finding sent “shock- Gaylor hadn’t yet sought a refund of Emerita Anne Nicol Gaylor, whose re- lor, who were designated a housing al- waves through the religious commu- their housing allowance from the IRS. tirement was paid in part as a housing lowance by FFRF they were not allowed nity,” according to the Evangelical Accordingly, they sought the refund allowance she was not allowed to claim. FFRF member gets ‘atheist’ flag up in N.H. FFRF has proudly raised its unique knocked down in August 2016, setting flag to honor freethought and to pro- off a new round of discussions as to test a New Hampshire town’s Ten Com- whether or not the religious symbol mandments monument. violates the constitutional provision On Jan. 2, FFRF Member Richard of separation of church and state,” Gagnon hoisted the “A” flag in Somer- the local paper reports. “In deter- sworth, N.H. The flag mining whether the remained up in the Ten Commandments “Citizen’s Place” traf- monument should be fic island through the restored, Mayor Dana end of January. The Hilliard offered a plan red “A” was adopted to create a citizen’s by Richard Dawkins park, adding two flag- as a symbol of atheism poles which could be and agnosticism. used by civic groups “Let us all come to- to celebrate important gether as believers and events.” nonbelievers. Judge FFRF’s flag was ini- us not by who we are. tially meant to go up Judge us by how we on Dec. 4. Due to an treat one another,” anticipated backlash Gagnon said. to a December display, In 2017, the city installed two flag- Hilliard suggested a postponement, poles near a contentious Ten Com- and Gagnon agreed to the move. Hil- mandments monument for commu- liard declared January as “Diversity and nity groups to celebrate events. The Tolerance Month.” addition of something other than a FFRF has asked for several years Judeo-Christian symbol is an attempt- that the Ten Commandments monu- ed gesture by the city to get around le- ment be removed. In the meantime, Photo by Kimberley Haas/Union Leader Correspondent gal precedent against stand-alone Ten FFRF hopes the flag will provide Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard, left, and FFRF Member Richard Gagnon show Commandments markers on public some balance, albeit temporarily, to off the freethinking atheist flag in front of a portrait of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. property. Somersworth’s blatantly Christian Both the flag and the portrait were on display in Somersworth during the month “The 3,000-pound monolith was endorsement. of January. Page 8 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018 FFRF VICTORIES FFRF stops unconstitutional prayers

By Molly Hanson of the school to ensure that the teach- er stops praying and that the district n the past month or so, FFRF has re- makes lawful movie choices in the corded several victories in six states future. against schools or cities regarding I Minnesota unconstitutional prayer. (FFRF’s other recent victories are on page 9.) It was brought to FFRF’s attention that the Little Falls City Council in Alabama Minnesota was opening each year’s After it was reported to FFRF that first meeting with a Christian prayer. a second-grade teacher at Ashford El- Members of the Franciscan Sisters ementary School in Alabama was lead- have given the opening invocation in ing her students in daily prayer before 2016 and 2017, and have been exclu- lunch, FFRF took action. sively been given the opportunity to FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line wrote do so. to Houston County Schools Super- On June 26, 2017, FFRF Senior intendent David Sewell on Dec. 4 to Counsel Patrick Elliott wrote to May- remind the district that public school or Greg Zylaka informing him that the teachers may not lead their students in city must end the practice of having a prayer or otherwise endorse religion Franciscan Sister give the yearly invo- to students. cation because it creates the unlawful A response was received on Dec. appearance that the city endorses Ca- 6 from Sewell informing FFRF that tholicism above other beliefs. Elliott employees had been notified of their noted that the nonreligious and mem- obligation to abide by federal and bers of minority religions should be state laws regarding the separation of permitted to deliver invocations. FFRF church and state. sent a follow-up letter on Dec. 15. The city administrator responded and the mayor’s office from the event. tucky public elementary school was on Dec. 28 informing FFRF that the The city attorney responded on promoting religion to its students, city council would no longer place an Dec. 22 indicating that Buena Park FFRF got involved. It was brought to invocation on the agenda for future would be handing over more respon- FFRF’s attention that a teacher at Val- council meetings. sibility to the nonprofit organization ley Elementary School in Pikeville, Ky., and discontinuing the city promotion was requiring students to say a prayer Utah and ticket sales. The city also plans to while they lined up for lunch: “God is On Aug. 17, FFRF wrote to the change the name of the event. great. God is good. Let us thank him Tooele County School District in Utah for our food. By his grace we are fed. over unconstitutional promotion of Kansas Thank him for our daily bread.” religion by the district superintendent. A concerned parent reported to Additionally, another parent re- It was brought to FFRF’s attention California FFRF that the principal of Oskaloosa ported to FFRF that as part of a Christ- that at the 2017 annual and mandato- Junior/Senior High School in Kansas mas party, the school planned to take ry meeting the district has at the begin- FFRF got involved after being in- had led students, parents and faculty its second-grade students to see “The ning of its school year, Superintendent formed that the city of Buena Park, in a prayer at the 2017 Fall Athletic Star,” a Christian adventure comedy Scott Rogers talked about the impor- Calif., was hosting an annual Mayor’s Banquet, which was held to recognize retelling the nativity of Jesus. The plot tance of prayer and how it is necessary Prayer Breakfast. all of the students who were in sports of the film follows the biblical account in education. Although a nonprofit organization and activities for the fall semester. of the birth of Jesus. He then invited a pastor up on was promoted as presenting the prayer Additionally, it was reported that the FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line wrote to the podium to deliver a Christian breakfast, the city’s website was adver- school’s Veterans Day event included to an attorney representing Pike prayer. FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line tising the event and instructing the prayer. County Schools on Dec. 14, informing wrote to Rogers warning him against public to send RSVPs and payments In a letter sent on Dec. 15 to Oska- him that public school teachers may the unconstitutional endorsement of for tickets to Buena Park City Hall and loosa Public Schools Superintendent not lead their students in prayer, en- Christianity. to call the Office of the City Manager Jon Pfau, FFRF Legal Fellow Chris courage prayer or otherwise endorse An attorney representing the phone number for more information Line informed the district that it is un- religion to students. Line also warned school district responded on Dec. 20 about the religious event. lawful for any school-sponsored event the district that bringing public school informing FFRF that Rogers had been FFRF Staff Attorney Elizabeth to include prayer. students on a field trip to a Christian advised against having prayer at future Cavell wrote to the city clerk on Nov. Pfau called Line on Dec. 18 assur- movie as part of a Christmas party is meetings. 10, informing the city that the hosting ing FFRF that there will be no more a blatant and unconstitutional promo- FFRF was assured that Rogers in- of the prayer breakfast posed serious school-sponsored prayer in the future. tion of Christianity. dicated he would comply with the First Amendment violation concerns. An attorney informed FFRF in a district policy and constitutional man- Cavell asked that the city cease all Kentucky Dec. 19 phone call that he would dis- date against promoting prayer. sponsorship and organization of the After receiving multiple reports cuss the violations with the principal event, and to disassociate Buena Park from concerned parents that a Ken-

Include FFRF NOTHING FAILS LIKE PRAYER In Your Estate Planning CONTEST

Our goal is to see secular citizens flood government meetings with Arrange a bequest in your will or trust, or make the Freedom secular invocations that demonstrate why government prayers From Religion Foundation are unnecessary, ineff ective, embarrassing, exclusionary, divisive the bene ciary of an insurance FFRF Memberships: or just plain silly. policy, bank account or IRA. $40 single; $50 household; The person who gives the best secular invocation will be invited It’s easy to do. $100 gung-ho; $250 sustaining to open FFRF’s annual convention in 2018, receiving an all- For related information (or to Memberships are tax deductible! expenses-paid trip to San Francisco Nov. 2-4, along with a plaque request a bequest brochure), please contact Annie Laurie Freethought Today is and an honorarium of $500. Gaylor at (608) 256-8900, published 10 times a year. info@ rf.org MORE INFO AT: ff rf.org/outreach/nothing-fails-like-prayer Freedom depends on freethinkers P.O. Box 750 • Madison, WI 53701 ffrf.org/donate January / February 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 9 Gideons blocked from schools in Michigan

A concerned parent informed FFRF professional men who are members of boards, advising their members to that on Oct. 20, members of Gideons Protestant/evangelical churches. (The seek permission at the lowest level of International were passing out New organization doesn’t allow women to authority. Testaments to all students of reading be full-fledged members.) Its website The superintendent confirmed age outside of Fennville Elementary states that it is “dedicated to telling FFRF’s suspicions and informed it that School in Fennville, Mich., while they people about Jesus through sharing this sort of incident would not recur. waited to be picked up after school. personally and by providing bibles and “I have investigated the incident This distribution reportedly took place New Testaments.” The Gideon website and have found that there was indeed on school property, just 20 feet from openly refers to public schools as a a violation of district policies by those the school door. prime target. responsible for the distribution,” Grey- It is unconstitutional for public Public schools have a constitutional danus wrote back. “Those responsible school districts to permit Gideons In- obligation to remain neutral toward re- did not seek, nor receive, my permis- ternational to distribute bibles as part ligion and to protect the rights of con- sion to distribute materials on campus of the public school day on school ed, ‘the Gideon Bible is unabashedly science of young and impressionable as required by policy.” property, FFRF informed Fennville Christian. In permitting distribution of students, FFRF contended. In allowing FFRF is glad to be of assistance Public Schools. ‘The New Testament of Our Lord and Gideons to distribute bibles to elementa- and appreciates the superintendent’s “Courts have uniformly held that Savior Jesus Christ’ along with limited ry school students, the district was imper- assurances. the distribution of bibles to students at excerpts from the Old Testament, the missibly endorsing religion by placing “We have taken complaints over ag- public schools during the school day is schools affront not only nonreligious its “stamp of approval” on the religious gressive Gideon tactics for four decades,” prohibited,” FFRF Legal Fellow Chris people but all those whose faiths, or messages contained in the bible. says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Line wrote to Fennville Public Schools lack of faith, does not encompass the In contacting the superintendent, Gaylor. “ We teach our children not to ac- Superintendent Jim Greydanus. “In New Testament.’” FFRF noted he may have had no pri- cept gifts from strangers. Then there are striking down a school district’s policy The Gideons International is self-de- or knowledge of the bible distribution. these grown men preying on a captive au- permitting Gideons to distribute bi- scribed as an interdenominational Gideons often operate by deliberately dience of young students. The Gideons bles in classrooms, the 7th Circuit stat- association of Christian business and avoiding superintendents and school should be ashamed of themselves.”

By Molly Hanson See You at the Pole is a Christian-ori- would brainstorm new options for the from Senn, in which he wrote that the ented prayer rally organized each year future to ensure they would be compli- Bibles and Badges group was no lon- Colorado town ends around a bible verse. FFRF Legal Di- ant with constitutional obligations to ger meeting and that the city Facebook rector Rebecca Markert wrote to Su- keep religion out of school. site will no longer list meeting notices worship event support perintendent Mary Ann Gemmill on of the group. FFRF has ended an annual uncon- Nov. 7, informing her that by advertis- Bible study no longer stitutional religious event put on by a ing the event, the high school created sponsored by S.C. city FFRF quiets worship Colorado town. the appearance that the district uncon- music at Indiana school Each year, the town of Gypsum stitutionally endorses the event’s Chris- was hosting a community worship tian message. FFRF was informed that a choir di- event called “Praise in the Park” Furthermore, Markert informed rector for Loogootee middle and high as part of its summer celebration, Gemmill that it is illegal for a teach- schools in Indiana had been using her “Gypsum Daze.” The event included er to proselytize to students. Public position to promote religion to stu- live performances of worship music schools have a duty to ensure that their dents in the school’s choir program. from local area churches. The town’s teachers are not encouraging religion The program had been perform- website was advertising “Praise in the in their classrooms and must not pro- ing overwhelmingly Christian music Park.” mote a particular religious viewpoint and choir students were being re- In a letter sent on July 18, FFRF with their curriculum. quired to sing in various churches. Legal Fellow Chris Line informed A legal representative of the district FFRF Legal Fellow Chris Line wrote Gypsum Town Manager Jeff Shroll responded on Dec. 5 assuring FFRF to Loogootee Community Schools that the town has a constitutional that the violation had been discussed Superintendent Chip Mehaffey on obligation to remain neutral toward with the principal of the school and Nov. 10, requesting that the school religion, and that by organizing and the teacher and would not occur again. district begin an immediate investi- promoting a worship event, Gypsum It was brought to FFRF’s attention gation into the violation. unlawfully entangles itself with reli- Religious project that the city of Newberry, S.C., was reg- Line informed Mehaffey that it was gion. An attorney representing the stopped in Ohio school ularly sponsoring a Christian “Bibles inappropriate for a public school teach- town responded on Dec. 26, notify- and Badges” bible study. The studies er to teach songs of Christian worship ing FFRF that the town will not be An Ohio public school will not be were being held in city facilities and and devotion in a public school setting. participating in any future Praise in promoting religion in the future after the city was listed on social media as Additionally, Line noted, taking public the Park programs. a concerned parent reported to FFRF the meeting host. The city’s official school students to church strongly sig- that Big Walnut High School was par- Facebook page was promoting the bi- nals an unconstitutional endorsement Kentucky school ends ticipating in “Operation Christmas ble studies, which repeatedly includ- of Christianity. religious violations Child,” a Christian ministry the school ed calls for members of the public to On Nov. 10, a legal representa- had been participating in for 25 years. attend. tive of the district informed FFRF A concerned student contacted FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow On Nov. 22, FFRF Senior Counsel that the district will not make ar- FFRF to report that students and staff Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Patrick Elliott wrote to Mayor Foster rangements for students to perform at Christian County High School in Angela Pollock on Nov. 2, informing Senn, informing him that hosting and at churches in the future and will Kentucky had participated in a See her that the school district violated the promoting a Christian bible study fails ensure that outside performances You at the Pole event on school prop- constitution by taking part in a chari- to respect the First Amendment’s man- arranged by the school will be per- erty in September 2017, during which ty project sponsored by Samaritan’s date that the government remain reli- formed in nonreligious venues. FFRF staff led students in prayer. Additional- Purse — a religious organization. giously neutral by endorsing Christian- was also informed that the choir in- ly, FFRF learned that a teacher at the On Dec. 3, Pollock informed FFRF ity over all other faiths and no faith. structor had been told to make secu- school had been preaching Christiani- that, while the program had already FFRF received a letter on Dec. 5 lar song choices. ty to his students. concluded, the students and staff Alaska Yip Harburg, Continued from page 1 from his book: Rhymes for the Irreverent has the sole stated mission of winning originally presented to the assembly on converts to a particular religion, uncon- Nov. 7, continued to stir up debate over Yip Harburg wrote the lyrics for ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ stitutionally supports both that religious the separation of church and state.” ‘April in Paris’ & ‘Brother Can You Spare a Dime?’ worship and that religious mission. A Sitka Assembly member who voted The Sitka City Assembly eventually the right way understood the implica- Do Unto Others? paid heed to FFRF’s counsel. tions of giving the church the city grant. “Love thy neighbor as thyself?” “After deliberation that spanned sev- “It’s pretty clear that by doing this, Hide that motto on the shelf! eral meetings, St. Michael’s Cathedral you will be advancing the church’s Let it lie there, keep it idle will not receive $5,000 from the city for goal,” Aaron Bean said. “Any money Especially if you’re suicidal. exterior work,” a local radio station re- that they wouldn’t have to otherwise ported. “At a short meeting on Tuesday, pay a contractor to do the work that Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation the Sitka Assembly voted 4-3 against do- they’ve been neglecting for years Buy it from FFRF online - shop.ff rf.org nating the money for renovations to is going to end up furthering their the historic building. The ordinance, agenda.” Page 10 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018 Julia’s guide to religious-themed movies

Here is an edited version of the speech that to me?” And then she suddenly Julia Sweeney gave on Sept. 16 at comes out of her dementia (you know, FFRF’s 40th annual convention in how demented people just suddenly Madison, Wis. She was introduced click back in?) for this one moment by FFRF Co-President Dan Barker: to reply, “Sometimes, the devil allows You’ve seen Julia Sweeney on “Sat- people to live a life of trouble because urday Night Live” for many years. he doesn’t want them turning to God. You’ve seen her in the movies and Your sin is like a jail cell, except it’s you’ve seen her on “Sex in The City,” nice and comfy and they leave the where she played a nun. Julia is also doors wide open. Then time runs out, an author of a number of books, in- the cell door slams shut and it’s too cluding If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Your late.” Then she turns to him and says, Mother and God Said, ‘Ha!’ Julia is also “Excuse me, who are you anyway?” a playwright and she’s written several This movie was made for $2 million one-woman monologues, including and has made $140 million. The over- “In the Family Way,” “God Said, ‘Ha!’” all point of all these Pure Flix films is and “Letting Go of God.” not even about Christianity. No one Please welcome Julia Sweeney. ever really talks about what it means to be a Christian or have any difficul- By Julia Sweeney ty being a Christian besides saying, “I love Jesus,” and that’s the end of it. migod, I’m having so much Their life’s great. Pure Flix is really all fun, I love this convention. I about vilifying secularists and portray- Oreally am vowing never to miss Photo by Ingrid Laas ing them as terrible people. That’s the it again, ever! It’s so important and so Comedian and actress Julia Sweeney, an FFRF honorary director, regaled the whole point of the movie. great. FFRF convention audience with humorous takes on religious movies. This was the assignment I gave my- ‘God’s Not Dead 2’ self: I’m going to watch financially screen, can inspire them toward great- have seen the first one they released Because that was so popular, they successful religious movies that were er faithfulness. Conversely, it can lead called “God’s Not Dead.” had to make “God’s Not Dead 2.” At released in the last year and give you them into the sordid world of the oc- least it could be “T-O-O” or something my opinion of them. I’m a huge mov- cult, even opening them to demonic ‘God’s Not Dead’ like that. No, it’s just “God’s Not Dead ie person. It’s my hobby and my love, possession. — Father Robert, a priest If you want to be depressed/totally 2,” which was made for $5 million my everything. But I had to stop my for more than 10 years and an experi- entertained, you should rent “God’s and took in $23 million; not as much movie-going love affair to watch these enced exorcist.” So, I’m just reading Not Dead.” In the movie, there is this as the first, but still a pretty good re- Christian movies — which was a real this going, “What? He knows firsthand professor who’s sort of like a Richard turn on that money. Annie Laurie and sacrifice, people, but I did it for you! the unintended consequences when Dawkins, except he’s not at all. The Dan, you might be in the wrong busi- I had to think about what that children or adults open the door to film begins with this young kid who ness, right? means — religious movies. It is a real- demonic activity?” Remember, this is a goes to college and takes Philosophy “God’s Not Dead 2” stars Melissa ly interesting thing to think about be- mainstream Catholic publication. 101. On the first day, the professor Joan Hart as a history teacher in a cause the “horror” genre is enormous. Let’s get back to religious movies. tells his students they must sign a pa- public school. She tries to keep her I found that, like religious movies, you Mel Gibson’s mov- per saying that Christianity to herself and cares for really had to buy into a lot of stuff in ie “The Passion of God is dead. He’s her father, played by Pat Boone. And those films to try to understand them. the Christ” made I had to stop my movie- not even going in class, they’re talking about nonvi- And I hate horror films, so I just so much more going love affair to watch to teach the class olent resistance, and she uses MLK thought I’m ruling out horror films, money than any- these“ Christian movies — unless they accept and Gandhi as examples. A girl in but then there is a film that came out one ever thought. that God is dead. the class, whose parents are atheists called “Annabelle: Creation.” It cost But the thing is, which was a real sacrifice, Everyone in the (which means that their son died and $15 million to make and it’s earned it’s really just a people, but I did it for you! class sheepish- they have no feelings about it, and $100 million, so it’s hugely successful violent porn film. — Julia Sweeney ly writes “God is that’s how you can tell that they are and it’s all about a demonically pos- Christians should dead,” except for atheists!) raises her hand and asks, sessed doll. hate this movie; this one kid, who “Wasn’t Jesus a pacifist?” But because And there was another, which was a it’s like watching two hours of Jesus says “I can’t sign that paper.” He also the teacher knows she’s not supposed prequel called “Annabelle” in 2014. I being scourged. There’s one minute tells the professor that not only is he to mention Jesus’ name in the public was thinking that the Catholic Church of Jesus saying, “Turn the other cheek” going to debate him in three debates, school, she replies that, according to must be so embarrassed about these or something and two hours of just but that he will prove to the professor the writers of the bible, Jesus did say horror films that take their ideology out-and-out violence. Yet it became that God is not dead. “Love your enemies.” to the most ridiculous extent. this huge popular movie at churches. Of course, the three main athe- But now, of course, she’s broken But what does the Catholic Church That’s what started the movement of ists in the film are portrayed as crazy, the rule by mentioning Jesus and really have to say about these horror churches and Hollywood coming to- God-hating villains. It’s like every sin- she’s hauled before the school board, films? I immediately found an article gether and making these films. gle one of them isn’t really an atheist, where they tell her that she can’t men- dated Aug. 20, 2017, in the National There are basically two big produc- they’re just mad at God. For exam- tion Jesus in a public school. She re- Catholic Register, a mainstream Cath- ers in Hollywood of Christian films. ple, at one point, the student asks the plies that she was asked a question and olic publication featuring an interview One produces down-and-dirty cheap professor why he hates God so much, she was just teaching history and he’s with a priest about what he thought films and the other produces the and the professor says, “Because he historical. The school board tells her about “Annabelle Creation.” I want to main studio big ones. The down-and- took everything away from me that I that she will need to sign a statement read part of it to you: “What children dirty ones are all made by this compa- loved!” Oh, omigod! saying that she made a horrible mis- read, what they see on the , an FFRF ny called Pure Flix. Many of you may The movie portrays another atheist take. And she says something to the ef- as only caring about making money. fect of, “I’d rather be with God against This character is mean to his girl- the world than be with the world and friend, and when she tells him that she against God!” has cancer, he dumps her right during Then the parents of the girl com- the same dinner, because he’s an athe- plain that they can’t believe the teach- ist and that’s what they do. Plus, his er said the word “Jesus” in history mother, who is a Christian, suffers class, and that they’re going to get the from Alzheimer’s and he doesn’t take ACLU on the case and sue the school care of her. And there’s this great scene and make millions of dollars doing where he visits his mother and she is it! And you’re going to get into an just blankly watching the static on the Ivy League school, daughter, because TV screen. He says to her, “Mom, I’m you’re going to be a famous girl who an atheist and you know I just love to had that horrible teacher who men- make money. You prayed and believed tioned Jesus in class. So, Melissa Joan your whole life and you’ve never done Hart goes home to her father, who anything wrong. You’re the nicest says, “That’s the thing about atheism person I know and I’m the meanest, — they don’t take away the pain. angriest person I know.” (You know, They don’t take away all the hope. how mean and angry people are al- They just take away the soul of God, Photo by Ingrid Laas ways making that announcement?) and seem to forget that the most basic Julia Sweeney has been a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” and has authored “But now you have dementia, and my human right of all is the right to know several books and written and performed several one-woman monologues. life is perfect. Why don’t you explain Jesus.” Is it really? That’s the most ba- January / February 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 11 sic human right? I’m all for you guys, because this is what we’re up against. ‘Old Fashioned’ The next flick is called “Old Fash- ioned.” It’s about a Christian carpen- ter who runs an antique shop, but he used to be wild in college. In fact, he made those “Girls Gone Wild” videos, but now he’s just the town carpenter who has accepted Jesus into his heart. And then there is this free-spirited girl who just gets in her car and drives until she runs out of gas, and that’s how many rules she has in her life! She stays wherever, until she can save enough money to buy another tank of gas and then she moves on to the next town. Her name is Elizabeth and she runs out of gas near his store. The attrac- tion between the two is immediately obvious and he tells her that she can rent the apartment above his antique store. But when she needs something fixed, he tells her that he’s sorry and can’t come in because he has a per- sonal rule to never be alone in a room with a woman he’s not married to. She Photo by Ingrid Laas responds, “Oh, so you’re only alone in FFRF Legal Director Rebecca Markert, left, stands with Julia Sweeney and Julia’s daughter, Mulan, for a quick photo a room with your wife?” He responds during the convention. that he’s not married. That begins the romance between them, where he re- will all fall like a house of cards. and they said, “Well, then, go be with try to fix by putting tubes in her low- veals himself to be the most screwed Strobel begins investigating the your God.” But then later that same er intestines, but it doesn’t work. But up, controlling person in the world! resurrection, trying to prove it didn’t guy said that he didn’t know if that’s then, one day, her daughter plays in a He takes her to a preacher, who makes happen. But he keeps finding out it actually what was said. tree and falls down the middle of this them do workbooks that will suppos- did, by going to people like Faye Dun- dead tree, hits her head and suddenly edly reveal if they will be compatible away, who plays an important psychol- ‘Heaven Is for Real’ her intestines start working again. It’s together before they can go on a date. ogist at a university. He asks her how Let’s move on to the big-money a miracle! It’s so insufferable. the gospels can be true when the four movies. Sony now has a division called Then it’s so great, at the end, we see This movie opened against “Fifty gospels so obviously contradict them- “Affirm Films,” where they make the mother is crying because she was Shades of Grey,” which, I have to say, is selves. Her answer was that when wit- big-budget movies with big stars, or re- going to lose her faith, too. But when kind of smart. It’s true. I mean Holly- nesses give testimony, they are always ligious movies such as “Heaven Is for her daughter gets well, she believes in wood comes out with a lot of crass, sex- contradicting each other. (So the very Real,” about the guy whose 4-year-old God again. It becomes pretty obvious ual stuff that really isn’t for everyone. fact that the gospels contradict each son went to heaven after his appendix that the filmmakers are targeting both Not just because people are Christian other proves that they’re true?) Then, burst. But before they were operating a religious and a slightly skeptical au- or prudish about it, but for me “Fifty as he is turning to leave, she asks him a on him, the 4-year-old was completely dience. They want to get everybody. Shades of Grey” is a horrific film. It question: “Do you have daddy issues?” primed and coached with all this re- The movie ends with Garner say- just breaks my heart that there aren’t To which he responds, “It’s true. I do ligious imagery. After he came out of ing, “God loves my daughter and me better options than those, like it’s re- hate my father, so it must mean that I surgery, they asked him very leading because we prayed so hard and now ally got to be “Fifty Shades of Grey” or hate God!” questions, like: “Did you talk to God? she’s going to live.” And then she says, this crazy wacko Christian movie? I just keep wondering why are they Did God have wings? Were there rain- “You know, Einstein once said . . .” trying to convince people with facts at bows around?” Todd Burpo and Lynn (By the way, if Einstein ever came back ‘The Case for Christ’ all. I mean, why don’t they just say, “Be- Vincent wrote the book about it, and and heard of all the times he was mis- Next I watched “The Case for lieve it on faith”? That’s what I find so it sold 20 million copies. The movie, quoted, he would never stop throwing Christ,” that Lee Strobel story. I had interesting. My theory is that people based on the book, stars Greg Kinnear, up!) “Einstein said, ‘There are only read the book when I was actually go- who don’t have good critical-thinking whom I’ve never met but I feel a little two ways to live your life — as though ing through my personal faith jour- skills are kind of wandering around “peery” with him, since he is more of a nothing is a miracle or as if everything ney. The Case for Christ book by Lee in the Christian world thinking that if comedian. And I just feel like, “What? is a miracle.’” Strobel, which sold a zillion copies, is you really looked into it, it could be Why, why would you think it’s real?” It So Garner’s character says that and about a Chicago reporter who’s trying proven that it was true, so you don’t cost $10 million to make and earned realizes that everything is a miracle. to prove God doesn’t exist, but then have to prove it’s true. You can just say over $100 million. The sun came up; it’s a miracle! The realized that God does exist! that it’s on faith, but if you did look grass is growing; it’s a miracle! My hus- Now it has been made into a movie into it, you would find out it was in- ‘Miracles from Heaven’ band’s faith, my house, my car; it’s a which didn’t do as well, costing $3 mil- deed true. So these movies are being I think that might be why they then miracle! But that, too, has been de- lion and only made $17 million at the made where people kind of sound like made “Miracles from Heaven,” star- bunked. Einstein didn’t even say that. box office. The character who plays they’re saying facts and they sort of ring Jennifer Garner. The film is about I love these quotes from famous Strobel has great ’80s longish hair and sound like they’re good critical think- a woman whose daughter has an intes- is a rising star at the Chicago Tribune. ers, except that it’s completely absurd tinal problem that all these doctors See Sweeney on page 12 One day, his daughter chokes on and ridiculous. But they wrap it up something at a restaurant, and a wom- nicely with “all is right,” and they can an who knows how to do the Heimlich even prove the resurrection. maneuver (which is a miracle that someone in a restaurant would know ‘I’m Not Ashamed’ how to do the Heimlich maneuver!) This next movie is a hard one. It’s then saves his daughter’s life. When one of the most ridiculous films. It’s Strobel thanks the woman, she tells called “I’m Not Ashamed,” and it’s him that Jesus sent her there. “I was about a girl who was killed in Colum- going to go to Applebee’s, but came bine, where they retroactively went here and saved your daughter because back and made her a much, much big- Jesus knew I had to.” ger Christian than she ever was. Sup- This inspires his wife to become a posedly, right before she was killed in Christian. Strobel becomes very upset Columbine, she went up to about 10 by his wife’s new-found faith and de- different people and told them that cides to write a story for the Chicago God loved them. She wanted to date Tribune proving there is no God so guys with Down syndrome and other that his wife will read his article and guys who were just horrible, but she she’ll realize that there is no God. But told them that everything was going to first he gets some great advice from work out OK. After she was killed, the his managing editor on what angle he story grew, but since then has been should use to prove there is no God. disproved. According to a witness, one Photo by Ingrid Laas His editor tells him all he needs to do of the Columbine killers asked her if FFRF Honorary President Steven Pinker bends over to give Julia Sweeney a hug is debunk the resurrection story and it she believed in God. She said, “Yes,” following Pinker’s speech at the convention on Sept. 16. Page 12 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018 Sweeney Continued from page 11 people that turned out to be debunked. montage of her cleaning out her closet My favorite one is the George Eliot to put up signs of Jesus and the sayings quote: “It’s never too late to become of Jesus. Her husband, meanwhile, is in whoever you are meant to be.” She nev- another city courting another woman, er said that, and the majority of George about to have an affair. She finds out Eliot’s book’s themes are basically that about it and prays to God to do some- sometimes you’re too old to be any- thing. And the film cuts back and forth thing. Really. Her theme is the opposite between her, in her war room praying of that quote. Yet I have seen that saying to not let her husband cheat on her, on refrigerators at least 10 times. and then back to the husband who is flirting with the young woman. Then, ‘Risen’ all of a sudden, the husband starts gag- Then there is the film “Risen,” about ging from terrible indigestion and he a Roman centurion in 33 A.D., who is throws up. That’s what God did to stop sent to investigate whether this guy him from having the affair. named Jesus has risen from the dead. He is part of a Roman tribune and ba- Glad it’s over sically becomes Columbo, investigating OK. I just want to say my family is this crazy guy Jesus. The Roman tribune going to be so happy for this to be over goes out and interviews all the apostles because it’s so depressing watching and, let me get this straight, Columbo these movies. At first it was funny, investigates the resurrection? like “God’s Not Dead.” Whoa, this My favorite thing is that the centuri- is ridiculous! And then by like the on has seen Jesus die, so he knows what Photo by Ingrid Laas tenth movie, I was on my side in the he looks like and goes into this room Julia Sweeney hams it up for the camera at FFRF’s convention. fetal position and my daughter came where the apostles are, and there is home from school and asked, “What’s Jesus. Jesus says something like, “Hey, for the weekend and that’s where he lake. Jesus then gets out of the boat and the matter?” And I told her that I that’s right, it’s me!” So Columbo meets God, who is, I kid you not, Octa- Mack is like, “What? I can’t believe it!” just watched “The Case For Christ,” thinks, “I guess I have to believe, too, via Spencer. Yes, it’s God as a character and then Jesus says, “Come on, you can the whole thing! My daughter says, because I am so confused.” actress. She invites him in the cabin and do it, too!” So Mack stands on the wa- “When does this end?” I said, “When The apostles ask him to join them confirms the she is, indeed, God. And ter and Jesus says, “Let’s run!” And then we go to the Freedom From Religion and they all go out to a desert area that says she is there with two other gods they run across the water! Foundation convention!” has some water. Several of the apostles — her son Jesus, a Jewish-looking guy That movie was made for $20 million All right. Now, I know you’re de- and the centurion get on a boat and who’s a carpenter who literally comes and earned $100 million. pressed about it. Part of me the whole they go out to fish. The apostles throw out holding a hammer, and the holy time was thinking I have to stop my out a fishing net on the left side of the spirit, who is this Asian chick who looks ‘The War Room’ life and write atheist movies, I guess. boat and when they pull it back in they like she’s taken Quaaludes. She says, OK, I’m just doing one more: “The But, you know, atheist movies are just have caught nothing; there’s no fish. “Hey, man, yeah, I’m the holy spirit.” War Room.” movies! Seemingly out of nowhere, Jesus ap- And then Mack hangs out at the shack The great thing about it is that is has I think it’s right to think that we’re pears on the sand and tells them to try with God, Jesus and the holy spirit. an all-African-American cast. This one going to come up with some. I can’t the right side of the boat. Then they And it’s so Oprah-esque God stuff. cost $3 million and made $12 million. decide if these films are a terrible sign of throw the net over the right side of the Like Max says to Octavia Spencer, “God, There’s a woman who’s a real estate the future, or is this kind of a last gasp? boat and there’s lots of fish! Then the wait a minute. I thought you’re sup- agent and has a really awful husband. When you go online and you read the Roman throws off his robe yelling, “I be- posed to punish people; you’re a mean Omigod, he’s so terrible. And at the comments section about these movies, lieve! I believe!” God!” And Spencer says, “Who told you beginning, she was using a lot of Chris- half the people hate them because that? Having to live with the fact that tian kind of words, like she says to her they’re secularists like us who just hate ‘The Shack’ you know you sinned is punishment friend, “My husband is so difficult. Sub- the world, and the other half of them Omigod, you guys! I kid you not, this enough.” — which I personally find so mission is hard.” — That’s such a creepy are really conservative Christians who is the plot of “The Shack”: A guy named heinous. I mean, the truth is there’s a thing to say! think that they’ve misinterpreted the Mack has three daughters and one of lot of people who’ve sinned and have And then her friend says, “You know, bible in some way. them is killed, so he loses his faith in done terrible things, who don’t really submission is ducking, so God can kick It’s not like it’s universally accepted, God. (Can I just say here that I’m so care that they’ve done terrible things. your husband.” — How creepy is that? although they have made a lot of money tired of people who believe in God un- That is one of the things that I hate — And then she goes to this woman’s and now Pure Flix has about five movies til their own child dies or get sick and about the kind of Oprahfied view of house and she’s going to sell her house coming, including one called, “Same then, they question their faith? Do they God, where it’s like, “Hey, everybody’s and it’s Miss Clara, and Miss Clara has Kind of Different As Me,” starring Greg not look around at the world or know just on a journey and they’re just in a taken a closet in her house and put Kinnear again. anyone who has ever had trouble with different place.” It’s like, well, actually all of these biblical sayings on it. And And I know I was supposed to get anyone? OK, back to “The Shack.”) So some people do need to be punished she goes in there and that’s her “war up here and just be funny only. I’m so this guy gets a letter in the mail, telling and kept away from other people. — room,” where she tells God how to fix sorry about that, but I do hope that I him to meet Papa at the shack. Now, Oh, this is my favorite thing: the son, the world. And she convinces the real have educated you a little bit about the that’s interesting because Papa is the the carpenter, takes Mack on a boat estate agent that she should do that. horrendous Christian film landscape name that he, his wife and his daugh- ride. There’s a boat ride with Jesus as And the real estate agent cleans out a out there. ters called God. He goes to the shack he takes you out in the middle of the closet and then there’s a big, hilarious Thank you for having me. Team Continued from page 1 stepped up FFRF’s ongoing work to the country to contact their senators four basic duties: is assigned to the response team for help protect the Johnson Amendment, and representatives, arming them with • Representing freethinkers with that purpose. Prior to September, which keeps nonprofits nonpartisan. the tools and talking points needed to elected officials. FFRF Junior Counsel Sam Grover Under it, churches and tax-exempt make an impact. The team oversees FFRF’s Educate ably tracked legislation, also testi- 501(c)(3) nonprofits may not endorse Other state/church separation Congress Campaign. Unveiled in 2017, fying before Wisconsin legislative or oppose polit- groups and nonprofits also worked to the campaign involves FFRF attorneys committees. ical candidates. keep the amendment intact. The fi- taking turns lobbying in Congress and • Overseeing rapid response. They may discuss nal bill left the Johnson Amendment in state legislatures. Three week-long “We keep our finger on the pulse and advocate on alone. lobbying campaigns involving six attor- of secularism and work to quickly issues; they may “This win for secularism is proba- neys took place in 2017. respond to any challenges,” explains not use tax-ex- bly bigger than most people realize. It • Overseeing FFRF action alerts, a Seidel. empt resourc- keeps billions of dollars in dark mon- thankless task that Editorial Assistant This includes writing letters about es for political ey out of churches and stops a desper- Molly Hanson handles with aplomb. potential violations; drafting FFRF purposes. ate religious power grab,” explained In 2017, more than 100 alerts, many statements in response to important The House Seidel. at the federal level, went out, utilizing legal developments or current version of the tax “FFRF has done more than our mem- Engage software, making it a matter of affairs; and writing op-eds, letters reform bill gut- Jeff Mateer bers know,” said FFRF Co-President seconds for members to easily contact to the editor, blogs and articles to ted the Johnson Dan Barker, when discussing the John- members of Congress over timely educate the public on these issues. Amendment. The Senate version left son Amendment victory. “We’ve had 30 legislation. Also involved in the team are Barker it untouched. meetings with legislators about this issue • Following legislation that impacts and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Markert and The team tracked every attempt to and did a lot of behind-the-scenes work state/church separation, for good or ill. Director of Communications Amit Pal. repeal the Johnson Amendment and to protect this important rule.” “We tracked about 75 pieces of All staff attorneys participate in the mobilized FFRF members from across The Strategic Response Team has legislation in 2017,” said Jayne, who Educate Congress Campaign. January / February 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 13

Convention speech Do you know an American Indian atheist?

Here is an edited version of the there are Christians. I reasoned that speech given by Brent Michael Da- a singular Christianity doesn’t exit, vids at FFRF’s 40th annual conven- and therefore the claims to know- tion in Madison, Wis., on Sept. 16, ing the “one true religion” are a 2017. falsehood. I came to realize that the FFRF Co-President Dan Barker in- church was being run by old white troduced him: men in the back of the sanctuary, I’ve known Brent Michael Davids for basically making things up as they quite a while. If I can use the word in went along. The cornstalk girl dream a nonreligious sense, we’re kind of like returned. brothers. He is a member of the Mohican Around that time, I started com- tribe of Indians, and I’m a member be- posing music. I also eventually went cause of my great-grandmother of the Del- on to study religion, and worked aware Lenape tribe. They are somewhat toward both music and religion de- related tribes. grees simultaneously. I finished the Brent Michael Davids is an inter- master of music degree, but not the nationally acclaimed multi-award-win- master of religious studies. My music ning composer. He’s composed orchestral career took off, but I had gained what pieces, done a lot of film composing and I wanted from the religious studies. composed for the Kronos Quartet and the I wanted to get the same training Chanticleers. He was named by the Ken- as those two priests. I suppose one nedy Center as one of 25 top American ge- could say I lost my faith, but for me it nius composers, he’s toured internation- was more like remembering my non- ally, the Rockefeller Foundation gave him belief. In the end, I recaptured the an award and the National Endowment memory of my inquisitive, creative, for the Arts has named him among the little boy self who had confidence in most-celebrated choral composers. He in- his own intuition. tegrates his vast knowledge of American Indian culture and traditions, including Invisible Indians his ability to play flute, with Eurocentric Today there are 567 federally rec- orchestration. ognized Indian nations. The cur- Welcome, Brent Michael Davids. rent Indian population in America stands at 0.9 percent, where it was By Brent Michael Davids once closer to 100 percent. America was founded on a systemic genocide ’m slightly intimidated because to obtain rich land and resources. I’m sure the audience is brilliant, But, America moreover identifies Iand I don’t usually speak in front itself with Gov. John Winthrop of of people. I’m usually behind the the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who scenes writing the music, and some- paraphrased from the Sermon on one else is doing the performing. Photo by Ingrid Laas the Mount, saying that the colonists Yes, I’m a composer of concert music In his speech to the FFRF convention audience, Brent Michael Davids said, “I would create “a city upon a hill.” and film scores. And I’m a citizen of came to realize that the church was being run by old white men in the back of the Seeing America as a beacon for the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the sanctuary, basically making things up as they went along.” the rest of the world is a more palat- Mohican Nation. I live on my reser- able alternative to the darker truth. vation here in Wisconsin, but we’re But one day I wondered, “How is either to admonish someone for do- Today, America’s genocide is ignored not originally from here. this possible?” There are no wires, ing wrong, or to talk about advanc- — effectively rendered invisible. We’ve had our own “trail of tears” and thoughts carried by the wind ing one’s service into the priesthood. Equally so, America’s living re- several times, removed from our orig- don’t make sense. The wind is flow- My folks and I thought perhaps the minders also are ignored. The indig- inal territory in New York and Massa- ing in only one direction, and our church was grooming me to become enous history of America is not far chusetts, from what’s now called the communication is two ways. And, a deacon, after my successful coordi- from the minds of the tribes, howev- Hudson River. The original name of we’re talking much faster than the nation of the offertory. er, and it also shapes Indian attitudes the river is “Mahheconnituck.” “Mo- air would allow (the reasoning of my Two priests came one evening and toward belief and nonbelief. hican” means the “People of the ev- 4-year-old self). whisked me off to a nearby restaurant The first colonial encounters led er-moving waters” and refers to the What was interesting is that I had for a talk. They admonished me for to murderous land grabs, in what I Mahheconnituck, which rises and a fleeting intuition that the cornstalk doing something against the church, think of as the “Extermination” peri- falls with the ocean tides. Our pop- girl’s thoughts were actually my own, and threatened to revoke my mem- od. The idea was to satiate the hun- ulation in the 1600s was 22,000, and “Ah, she’s me!” I’d invented an imag- bership if I didn’t repent. Apparent- ger for land and resources by com- our current population is 1,500. inary friend. ly, I was not supposed to ask a girl to pelling the signing of exploitative If you’re familiar with the fiction- Later, I was baptized into a church, assist in the offertory. I simply nod- treaties and killing the inhabitants. al book by James Fenimore Cooper, I grew up in it, and forgot my former ded, giving assurances that I did not The myth of Christopher Colum- often say I’m the “next to the last of daydream completely. I accepted all know I had done anything wrong. bus in 1492 stains our textbooks the Mohicans”! Our tribe is younger the beliefs and practices of Christi- The girl I had asked to assist me was because he was really a murderous than Dan Barker’s tribe, the Lenni anity as normal, without questioning a friend from camp. At camp, friends slave trader who didn’t even set foot Lenape; we refer to his people as the them, and tried my best to be good. would always ask others to help out in America. He funded his trips with “grandfather” nation, but we belong One summer, I went to a church with everything. I was shocked that I the promise of a return in gold and to the same Algonquian language camp and had a great time. Of all the had done anything wrong. It was also spices, which he would take from family. church activities, summer camp was shaming, because word spread and whomever he conquered. my all-time favorite. After a wonder- rumors started about my possible In 1609, Hendrick Hudson first Cornstalk girl ful time at camp, I came back to nor- transgressions. sailed into the Mahheconnituck on a My first self-awareness of nonbe- mal church life in Chicago. I was treated as a sinner who had ship called the Half Moon, and met lief came by way of a recurrent day- Our priest asked me if I might or- wronged God, and I had no idea why. two Mohicans on the shore. A retell- dream about a cornstalk girl across a ganize others to collect the offertory, I felt the opposite, in fact. If I had ing of the encounter in 1881 by John road that I was prohibited from ever as they were making an effort to in- done something so evil, why didn’t Heckewelder, an American mission- crossing as a 4-year-old boy. At that clude young people in church activi- I feel bad about it? I was imagining ary, describes Hudson’s lust for land. time, as a child, I felt that this corn- ties. I was 15. I agreed, and asked an- that people who are truly bad must “[Hudson’s men] asked only for stalk girl and I had a mental con- other person to help me collect the really enjoy their evil acts, so in my so much ground for a garden spot nection, so we could speak together donations. Our job was to walk up own lack of remorse, I thought I as, they said, the hide of a bullock without saying anything out loud. and down the aisle and pass a bowl must be really evil! would cover or encompass, which She was way across the road at sun- around to everyone. But then, I started to realize hide was spread before them. The In- set, in a corn field I could never vis- A few days later, my parents got a there’s a difference between what dians readily granted this apparently it, her tassel hair ablaze in gold and call from the church, and they had a church people think versus their reli- reasonable request; but the whites orange as the light went low over the concerned look on their faces. The gious claims. And I further reasoned, then took a knife, and beginning at horizon. Sometimes the field looked priest had phoned to schedule what if that were true, than there’s no sin- one end of the hide, cut it up to a like it was set on fire, and we mental- was called a “priesthood visit” with gle Christianity, because there must ly talked till sundown. me. These “visits” had two purposes, be as many different Christianities as See Davids on page 14 Page 14 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018

Davids Continued from page 13

ervation roundup period. history. And unlike the beacon of the Well, Indians could now sue the United States of Amnesia, we see it government, so the next idea was to face-to-face. indoctrinate the children. The first boarding school, Carlisle Indian In- Indian atheists dustrial School, was founded in 1879 So, do you know an American In- by Capt. Richard Henry Pratt. Pratt dian atheist? If you know Dan Barker got the idea for Carlisle from his and perhaps come to know me, then work at Hampton, a school for freed the answer is yes. And maybe you black slaves. Pratt’s motto was “Kill know others, too. Of course, all In- the Indian within him to save the dians are not alike. The cultures are man,” and the boarding school was a different, and so are the languages forced assimilation factory. and modern realities. The 0.9 per- Very young children were sent cent indigenous population suffers alone by train to Carlisle for peri- the greatest hardships per capita, ods of five years, prohibited from the highest rates of suicide, alcohol “I was going through old photos contacting their families. Not speak- abuse, fetal-alcohol syndrome, in- my grandmother had, and I found ing English, they often didn’t know carceration, unemployment — you one of me at age 4,” Brent Michael Davids writes. “And amazingly, in the Brent Michael Davids where they were going or why. When name it. But American Indians have they arrived, they were placed three a unique view of the world, one that background, is the very field I could long rope, not thicker than a child’s to a room, from differing tribes, so values extended kinship ties not only not reach, across the very road I was finger, ... they then took the rope at they would be forced to speak En- for humans, but for animals and prohibited from crossing, though it’s one end, and drew it gently along, glish as a common language. Their Earth, as well. not visible in this photo. Someone took carefully avoiding its breaking. It hair was chopped short, which to Not to call what Indians do “re- a photo of me at the time I still had my was drawn out into a circular form, them was a signifier of death. They ligion,” perhaps “life-way” is better, imaginary cornstalk friend.” and being closed at its ends, encom- were prohibited from their own cul- but whatever we call this, it’s not passed a large piece of ground. The tures and forced into Christianity, in- proselytizing, and it’s not hierarchi- America holds true for American Indians were surprised at the supe- cluding daily mealtime hymns. cal. Indian life-ways exist in systems Indian populations, too. I can’t find rior wit of the whites, but did not They were malnourished, fright- of cause-and-effect and of reciproc- any studies about that. But some of wish to contend with them about a ened, abused, and some even died ity, where the definition of person- the Indian stories already leave a little land, as they had still enough at the school. In 1914, the school hood may extend outside the human door open, if we wanted to troll the themselves.” came under federal investigation species, and Indian life-ways don’t Christian God story. for alleged misconduct. In 1918, the traditionally seek dominion over the The Yaqui creation story, for ex- Reservations school was closed. But many more Earth. They are life-and-death sys- ample, describes a time before God. The first official Indian reserva- schools, modeled on Carlisle, ap- tems of reciprocity where the nonhu- The Indians were already there, prior tions were established under Pres- peared in the West. man “others” are seen as extended to God, challenging the notion of an ident Grant in the 1870s, mostly in Through all of these periods, and kin — family. all-powerful creator of the universe. response to the discovery of gold in several others not mentioned, Amer- So, where a Western view might ad- One day, the Indians heard a tree Indian territory (though removal to ican Indians have suffered from abu- vocate saving an exotic species from start singing. No one understood. Af- lands later designated as reservations sive stereotyping. In Gov. Winthrop’s extinction (man vs. nature), an Indi- ter a special person arrived to trans- were set up under the 1830 Indian time, from writings in his journal, an view might wish to form a kinship late, they learned the singing tree is Removal Act, and the 1851 Indian we know that Indians were viewed relationship with a nonhuman “rela- God speaking about his coming ar- Appropriations Act). The desire for as “devils” who lived in a nature that tive” and find a balance for mutual rival. Some Indians chose to accept Indian land was at a fever pitch, and was considered heinously “evil.” benefit. It’s not a dominionist view, God and become Yaqui, while others Indians were being forcibly removed The first colonists faced harsh like time inching its way along a rul- decided not to accept him and be- all across the country. conditions and they viewed nature er. It’s cyclic and relational thinking. came ants who live underground. However, in 1879, a Ponca chief as malevolent. Indians were viewed I personally think it’s at this level So, God wasn’t around at the be- named Standing Bear faced the ex- as wild savages. Jump ahead to a lat- of Indian reciprocity — the life-and- ginning, and didn’t create the uni- tinction of his people in a forced er century, and writers like Henry death, barter-and-exchange, cause- verse or the Indians or the trees! removal. A third of his tribe had al- David Thoreau and Walt Whitman and-effect world of extended kinship But, for example, the scientif- ready died from it. With the help of a exemplified a modern change, with ties that extend beyond humans to ic method is cause-and-effect, and newspaper man, Standing Bear sued the idea of nature being inherently the Earth and everywhere — where I — minus the magical stories — the Gen. Crook and the U.S. Army for good. At this point, Indians had a see potential intersections with those American Indian life-ways are, as violating his civil rights. He won the benevolent nature, but, still plagued of us who are the “Nones.” well. What I’m suggesting is that case, and the court ruled that Indi- by the primitive stereotype, became Yes, there are magical stories in Indi- there may exist, at a basic level, a ans are “persons within the meaning “noble savages.” an life, a continent formed on the back ready-made meet-up for Indians and of the law” and could not be forced Even today, Christian Indians, of a giant turtle, animals changing into atheists. It would require more inter- onto reservations. traditional Indians, city Indians, people changing back into animals action, more understanding, and the So, in 1879, Indians were final- reservation Indians and nontheistic again, cannibal giants like Bigfoot and formation of genuine relationships. ly considered people, and Standing Indians all live under the shadow Sasquatch, abominable snow beasts The arts may be another way for Bear’s case effectively ended the res- of pervasive stereotypes and abusive roaming the land eating people, giant Indians and atheists to meet. Writer thunderbirds swooping down to snack Heid E. Erdrich is an atheist and a on your children, or hungry witches poet. She writes, “As an Ojibwe tribal that live inside the rocks. member, I come from deeply faithful There are Indians who take these people whose spiritual beliefs and magical stories as actual history, and practices infuse culture, language, some who see them as cultural or governance, medicine — everything. allegorical stories. Some American And yet, as I open my life to my in- Indians deny the fact of evolution by herited culture, I find . . . my belief natural selection, preferring that the or lack thereof does not matter to my first Indians were formed from clay, engagement of Ojibwe ways. or Christian Indians who believe “Still, it pains me that my poems, they descended from Adam and Eve. and most Native American writers’ But some Indians are also scien- poems, are inevitably read as spiritu- tists, like Fred Begay, a distinguished al, which means religious. nuclear scientist who worked at the “The idea of an American Indian Los Alamos labs. atheist is unusual at best, unthink- He had an interesting idea to use able at worst. . . And now I shall make the Navajo stories about “light” to a profession of faithlessness. It seems help inspire his research on lasers required. As an atheist, I am not sure to heat plasma. We also have Indi- I can satisfy. an atheists such as writer Sherman “I engage many Ojibwe practices Alexie, who tweeted, “Being athe- as part of my way of living a good ist means you’ll argue with grown- life, yet in my core understanding of ass adults who essentially believe in the way of creation, I do not believe Santa,” and Jimi Hendrix, who said, one all-powerful deity exists. To put Photo by Ingrid Laas “Music is my religion.” it more directly, I have faith in and Brent Michael Davids is a citizen of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican I wonder if the current 24 percent relation to creation itself rather than Nation. statistic of the number of Nones in faith in a creator.” January / February 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 15 No, Christians don’t face persecution in U.S.

This column originally ran in the Wash- stand that we must suspend our usual ington Post on Dec. 12 and is reprinted with judgment when writing about religion. permission. But evangelical Christians have long chafed at the strictures of that By Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian social contract. Now, with the election of Trump and the rise of Moore, they ne word explains why a record are in open rebellion against it. They number of white evangelical want their beliefs to extend outside the OChristians threw their support walls of their churches and into baker- behind a lewd, religiously illiterate ies, businesses, doctor’s offices, public presidential candidate last year. The bathrooms, Congress, the court system same word also explains why 65 per- and the presidency — and they don’t cent of white evangelicals in Alabama want these actions to be subjected to le- supported accused child molester Roy gal and social scrutiny. They take such Moore in his unsuccessful campaign scrutiny, and any resulting opposition, for the Senate. as persecution. It’s a powerful rallying That word is not “abortion.” It’s not cry that has now swelled into a force ca- “homosexuality.” It’s not even “racism.” pable of rewriting laws and oppressing The word is “persecution.” the truly vulnerable. According to a survey by the Public When Christians make factually un- Religion Research Institute, a majority Photo by Shutterstock true claims that then go on to influ- President Trump is supported by evangelicals because, in part, they view him as a of white evangelicals believe that Chris- ence elections, law-making and eventu- protector against Christian persecution. tians face discrimination in the United ally the lives of people outside the walls States and are more likely to say that electioneering or that being Christian The Benedict Option, journalists did not of the church, that social contract has Christians, rather than Muslims, expe- is such a boon to candidacy that most ask, “What is your evidence?” It doesn’t been violated. rience this. people claim to be Christian regard- seem that anyone has interviewed so- That means that journalists and Evangelicals supported first Don- less of their personal beliefs. Either of ciologists and political scientists, or public intellectuals can no longer give ald Trump and then these possibilities fully even quoted basic statistics, to see a pass to Christians who claim per- Moore because they precludes the possibil- whether this claim squared with reality. secution. We must fight falsehoods view both as protectors. ity that Christians as a New York Times columnist David with the full force of our professional Persecution refers group experience for- Brooks’ main criticism of the book training — logic, facts and research. to systematic religious mal marginalization was that Dreher “answers secular This does not mean attacking Chris- discrimination and or informal scorn that purism with religious purism” — not tian religious beliefs themselves, but marginalization. It is bars them from the that the fundamental claim of his rather, challenging inaccurate asser- the opposite of power. halls of power. The op- book was wildly inaccurate. A near- tions about the state of the world we A weak group can be posite is true. ly 8,000-word New Yorker profile all share. persecuted, but a pow- Meanwhile, athe- plumbed the depths of Dreher’s per- How will we know when American erful group cannot. ists and the religious- sonality and family life without ever Christians are genuinely under threat? Are Christians a ly unaffiliated — the addressing whether his book had any When they start changing their names weak and marginalized supposed perpetrators basis in reality. A recent Washington from the obviously biblical “Andrew” group? of anti-Christian per- Post article referred to Christians as and “Mary” to the more secular “Wil- Here are the facts. Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian secution — are vastly “beleaguered.” liam” or “Jennifer” in order to avoid Christians are vastly underrepresented in Why are we reluctant to challenge hiring discrimination. When Chris- over-represented in national politics, government. In fact, there is only one such claims? It’s the result of a tacit so- tians in Congress hide their faith and not underrepresented. While roughly religiously unaffiliated member of cial contract, an uneasy truce after the instead loudly claim to be atheists. 70 percent of the U.S. population iden- Congress, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz. 20th-century wars over science and the When Christians are regularly blocked tifies as Christian, 91 percent of Con- There are no open atheists. role of religion in the public sphere. from buying homes or renting apart- gress identifies as such — a percentage If someone writes a book claiming According to this social contract, in- ments in the good parts of town. When that has remained roughly the same that global warming is a hoax, we ask, stitutions outside the religious sphere the president of the United States since the 1960s. The proportion of “What is your evidence?” We do not pat will not use scientific methods to crit- calls for Christians to be banned from Christians in many state legislatures is them on their heads, express apprecia- icize religious beliefs, so long as those the country. Then we can start taking even higher. Every member of the Su- tion for how genuine their feelings are, beliefs are not combined with sweep- claims of religious discrimination at preme Court appears to be religiously and leave it at that. ing political claims that extend far be- face value. affiliated (though not all of them are But when someone published a book yond the walls of the church. But until such times, American Christian), and no atheist has ever sat claiming that American Christians face The reluctance to fact-check Dre- Christians who say they are being per- on that court. That overrepresenta- looming persecution and even extinc- her, or any other Christian claiming secuted are simply wrong. tion means that either Christians have tion, as influential Christian colum- persecution, is the social contract at Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian is a contrib- superior access to the mechanisms of nist Rod Dreher did in his best-seller work. We journalists inherently under- uting writer at Foreign Policy magazine. THEY SAID WHAT? Today, we no lon- happiness. . . . We have stopped prayer wildly successful. . . . I didn’t win, but Angèle Regnier, co-founder of Catho- ger recognize the in our schools. . . . We have even be- I moved the debate. So I didn’t shed a lic Christian Outreach, on St. Francis universal truth gun to recognize the right of a man to tear when I left the contest because I Xavier, whose right forearm, thought that God is the claim to be a woman, and vice versa. felt like, you know, I fulfilled the calling to have baptized tens of thousands of author of our life Immorality sweeps over our land. that God gave me. converts, will be “on tour” through and liberty. Abor- Roy Moore, in his “campaign state- So the question is, Canada. He died in 1552. tion, sodomy and ment” following his election loss to am I being called CBC News, 1-3-18 materialism have Doug Jones for the open Alabama to do this now? I taken the place Senate seat. don’t know. The reason is God lays claim to all firsts. of life, liberty and ABC News, 12-13-17 Michele Bach- So when you keep Roy Moore the pursuit of mann, former for yourself some- I’d gladly execute a convicted adulter- Congresswoman, thing that be- er, sodomite or bestialiter. Biblical law asserting that she longs to God, you Woe to the Women: is a blessin’. “was supposed are desecrating The Bible Tells Me So Larry Secede Kilgore, Republican chal- Michele Bachmann to run for presi- what is to be con- lenger to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, in a dent” in 2012 in secrated to God. tweet that has since been taken down. order to make the repeal of Obamacare Paula White, one By Annie Laurie Gaylor Twitter.com, 12-22-17 the central issue of the Republican of Trump’s “spir- A concise, easy-to-read platform, and is now thinking about itual advisers,” book that will challenge You can stay if you want because you running for the Minnesota U.S. Senate Paula White who wrote on her your concept of the need it more than we do. seat vacated by Al Franken. website that fol- bible as “a good book.” President Trump, telling reporters to The Jim Bakker Show, 12-27-17 lowers should send her donations of up Illustrated. 264 pages. stick around for the prayer before a to one month’s salary, and that those Buy it from FFRF online cabinet meeting. We admire him. He’s our hero. It’s who don’t could face “consequences” Buy itshop.ffrf.org from FFRF online USA Today, 12-20-17 like having the Stanley Cup come to from God, as he demands the money shop.ff rf.org your tournament. He’s so cool, so as a “first fruits” offering. I trust in a big God. I feel like I was identifiable. Huffington Post, 1-9-18 Page 16 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018 Atheist in Jordan finds safe haven in U.S. Nonbelief Relief But I soon realized how uneducated I run by Egyptian Ismail Mohamed, was, and the deeper I went, the more I made him the most well-known apos- aids Mohammad believed that the concept of God itself tate in Jordan. was unreasonable. We thought that Jordan, instead of Alkhadra to escape I thought I was the only guy in Jor- places like Pakistan or Saudi Arabia, dan who came up with this scary con- was a safe haven, but it wasn’t. We got potential death cept. I actually cried when I saw a two- him a safe place to stay and later got Nonbelief Relief gave Mohammad hour program on the history of the him out of Jordan. Alkhadra $5,000 to help get him safely out universe. How small are we in this uni- We are not Islamophobes, but we of Jordan and to Austin, Texas. He is an verse, and how important we think we are the ones who will be sent to jail for American citizen who grew up in Jordan are to imagine that everything has to blasphemy or be killed under Islamic and faced death threats because of his out- revolve around us. law. I chose to speak against this mad- spoken atheism. I later found a Facebook group for ness in July in London at the Inter- A Jordanian civil engineer and a hu- atheists in Jordan. It didn’t have much national Conference on Freedom of man rights activist, Alkhadra founded the activity, and had zero action outside Conscience and Expression, the larg- Jordanian Atheists Group in 2013. He later the realm of what we thought was the est gathering of ex-Muslims in history. organized help for endangered ex-Muslims safe internet. It was a lonely period, The moment I returned from Lon- Mohammad Alkhadra to leave the country. where everyone around you is differ- don to the airport in Amman, the po- After receiving the aid from Nonbelief five years of being an atheist, the fact of ent and you don’t know what would lice looked at me as if I were smuggling Relief, he messaged FFRF, writing, “Thank being born in a Muslim family strikes happen if you spoke about your ideas. something. Many people are detained you so much. I don’t know where I would be fear in me and fellow ex-Muslims. If everyone who thought like I did kept by the intelligence service upon arrival right now without your help.” It all began with my curiosity: Why it to themselves, I would probably be for all sorts of reasons. I was afraid it was Here is his story: would one follow the religion of his in some country preaching Islam. Or my turn. Once I was safe at home, I got family just because he was raised in worse, I might have joined those who notices from fellow atheists to delete all By Mohammad Alkhadra it? Isn’t it just like want to achieve messages linking me to them. Everyone the pagans who the caliphate. was then afraid to contact me because if I ordanian writer Nahid Hattar refused Islam be- I started com- got arrested, they thought I would bring killed outside the Supreme cause they thought menting on public down the whole community with me. “J Justice Court.” That 2016 they were right posts, and although I spent the last five years not know- headline did not just deliver the shock based on being I did get a few nega- ing whether every time I left the and sorrow of losing a prominent writ- raised pagans? tive reactions, some house would be the last time. After er and an atheist in Jordan, it felt that How do we know people contacted the speech in London, it was at every he could have been any of us. what we know? me and told me moment I wondered that. I then met On Sept. 25, 2016, Hattar was killed As my search into becoming a more they thought in a similar way. I added with a friend who got a message from by three bullets outside the court in the reasoned Muslim continued, I was them to that group and finally decided a U.K. number telling him that Hat- Jordanian capital of Amman, where he baffled by the ability of the faithful to that it was time to create a community tar is gone, and soon you will be gone, was standing trial on charges of insult- highlight only the peaceful and moral for us. We no longer had to be alone in too. If that was the case for him, what ing God after he shared on social me- aspect of their faith, while negating real life. awaits me? dia a cartoon depicting a bearded man what would be considered inhuman in There were 28 of us who showed up. Previously, I had received messages lying in bed with two women and smok- Islamic history and sharia. As I was on Men and women from all backgrounds, like “We will come cut your family in ing, asking God to bring him a drink. the path of learning how to convince from ages 16 to 45. It was fulfilling that front of you before we kill you,” but I thought about Hattar’s murder for people of Islam, I had to first figure out we could actually have a part of our lives that was a while ago. However, once a long time and I realized that as an how to convince them of Allah. where we had like-minded friends — a the video of me speaking at the confer- atheist in Jordan, just one social media But then I watched Richard Daw- family of those facing threats of death. ence was available, I knew it was only post that attracts local attention is what kins talking about evolution on You- Many of those gatherings happened a matter of time before it got shared could be the end. Tube. Evolution wasn’t something we before I received a call that one mem- around enough until someone carried I was given the Islamic name Mo- really studied in school. I really wanted ber, who had recently joined us, was in out my death sentence. hammad Alkhadra long before I knew to know why this evolution theory ex- danger. He used to be an imam and his And that is why I have sought refuge I was one. Now, at the age of 25 with isted, as it looked like rubbish to me. appearance on the “Black Ducks” show, in the United States. Egyptian committee seeks to criminalize atheism

The Committee on Religion in the freed. port by the International Humanist Egyptian Parliament has disclosed In recent years, atheist and secular and Ethical Union, Malaysia was giv- plans to pass into law a bill that makes The charge against him is that he voices have been targeted by Islamist en a score of 4.5, with 5 being the atheism a criminal offense. hurt religious feeling by mocking extremist groups, who have hacked worst possible score. Current law says atheists can be Prophet Mohammed and made to death a dozen bloggers, publish- Malaysia had scored 4 for the cat- prosecuted for expressing their dis- bad comments against Islam, ers and activists, and forced others to egories of “Constitution and govern- belief in public, but the committee’s the prophet and the Koran. flee overseas. ment” and “Education and children’s proposal would go further and crimi- rights,” but 5 for “Family, community, nalize disbelief itself. — Police Inspector In Malaysia, ‘active society” and “Freedom of expression, In 2014, shortly after Abdel-Fattah Mohammad Shahidullah persecution’ of atheists humanist values.” el-Sisi was sworn in as Egypt’s presi- “This country is found to be de- dent, the government announced Malaysia has been singled out and clining, with human rights including that it was preparing a national plan demonstrations against Noor in 2017 listed among seven countries world- freedom of thought and expression to crush atheism. after the head of an Islamic seminary wide that practice “active persecu- under serious assault,” the report A few months later, Al-Shabab, a filed a case against him. tion” of the nonreligious in a global said of Malaysia. government-linked newspaper, stated “The charge against him is that index released Dec. 5, following a so- Shahidan Kassim, minister in the that atheists were “the country’s sec- he hurt religious feeling by mocking called “hunt” against atheists starting Prime Minister’s Department, had ond enemy after the Muslim Broth- Prophet Mohammed and made bad earlier this year. said that in Malaysia, atheists should erhood” and quoted a psychologist comments against Islam, the prophet In 2017’s Freedom of Thought Re- be “hunted down” by authorities. saying that “atheism leads to mental and the Koran on Facebook and You- imbalances and paranoia.” Tube,” he said. Saudi Arabia adopted a similar Noor was charged under Bangla- Freedom from Religion Foundation position in 2014 when “promotion desh’s strict internet laws and could of atheist thought” became officially face up to 14 years in jail if found P.O. Box 750 • Madison, WI 53701 • (608) 256-8900 • FFRF.org classified as an act of terrorism. guilty. What is the Freedom From Religion Foundation? Rights groups have accused the Founded in 1978 as a national organization of freethinkers (atheists and agnostics), Bangladeshi social Bangladesh government of muzzling the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., works to keep state and church media activist detained dissent and targeting atheist blog- separate and to educate the public about the views of nontheists. FFRF has gers who have used social media to more than 31,000 members. FFRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofi t and donations are tax Bangladeshi immigration police criticize religion. deductible for income tax purposes. detained Asaduzzaman Noor, known In 2013, four Bangladeshi bloggers FFRF’s email address is info@ rf.org. Please include your name and physical as Asad Noor on his YouTube chan- were arrested after nationwide mailing address with all email correspondence. nel, at Dhaka airport on Dec. 25. protests in which Islamic groups FFRF members wishing to receive online news releases, “action alerts” and Inspector Mohammad Shahidul- demanded the execution of atheist “Freethought of the Day” should contact info@ rf.org. lah said hundreds of Muslims staged commentators. They were later January / February 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 17 FFRF prevails in record 9 lawsuits in 2017

By Rebecca Markert did not have standing and that the case was not yet “ripe” for review. Two of the FRF prevailed in nine lawsuits last plaintiffs filed an appeal to the 4th U.S. year, the most ever in a single year Circuit Court of Appeals. FFRF could Ffor FFRF, with three of those victo- refile the lawsuit should the school sys- ries occurring in the span of eight days. tem resume bible classes. FFRF also filed four new lawsuits in 2017. It won: FFRF files 3 new lawsuits FFRF v. City of Shelton FFRF, with member Jerome H. FFRF v. Judge Wayne Mack Bloom, filed suit March 22, 2016, in FFRF filed a lawsuit against Justice U.S. District Court, Conn., against the of the Peace Wayne Mack on March 21, city of Shelton and its mayor and parks 2017, due to his refusal to end the prac- director after their request to put up a Before and after photos show the cross has been removed from this park in Santa tice of opening each of his court sessions display in a city park was denied. In Feb- Clara, Calif. with chaplain-led prayer. FFRF is joined ruary 2017, FFRF reached a successful Santa Clara agreed to pay attorney fees. FFRF v. County of Lehigh by several local plaintiffs, including Jane settlement with Shelton in which the FFRF also won in the first round in FFRF and several of its local mem- Doe and John Roe, attorneys who reg- city agreed not to allow private unat- the following lawsuits: bers filed suit on Aug. 16, 2016, against ularly practice before Judge Mack, and tended displays in Constitution Park, Kondrat’yev v. City of Pensacola Lehigh County, Pa., to remove a Latin Jane Noe, a Montgomery County. the source of the original censorship. FFRF and the American Humanist cross from the official county seal and Hart v. Thomas FFRF v. New Kensington-Arnold School Association filed suit over a govern- flag. On Sept. 28, 2017, Judge Edward FFRF and the ACLU of Kentucky District ment-owned cross in the city of Pensac- Smith ruled that the Lehigh County seal filed suit on Nov. 22, 2016, on behalf FFRF and two parents filed suit on ola, Fla., on May 4, 2016. On June 19, and flag violate the Establishment Clause of Ben Hart, who was denied a per- Sept. 14, 2012, against the New Kensing- 2017, Senior U.S. District Judge Roger of the First Amendment. The county has sonalized license plate by the state of ton-Arnold School District in Pennsyl- Vinson ordered the cross in Bayview voted to appeal FFRF’s victory. Kentucky. Hart’s request for a person- vania in a challenge to a 6-foot-tall Ten Park removed within 30 days. The city Williamson, et. al. v. Brevard County alized license plate reading “IM GOD” Commandments monument in front of has retained the Becket Fund for its ap- FFRF, together with Americans Unit- was rejected by Kentucky DMV officials Valley High School. The federal lawsuit peal to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of ed for Separation of Church and State, who claimed the message was “obscene was victoriously settled on Feb. 15, 2017, Appeals and oral arguments are set to the American Civil Liberties Union, or vulgar,” but then later said that it when the school district agreed to re- be heard by the court in the spring. and the American Civil Liberties Union was because the plate was “not in good move the Ten Commandments marker FFRF v. Gov. Greg Abbott of Florida, filed a federal lawsuit on taste.” The lawsuit challenges certain and pay attorneys’ fees. FFRF filed a federal lawsuit on Feb. July 7, 2015, challenging censorship of portions of the regulations governing 25, 2016, challenging the removal of nontheists by Brevard County (Florida) personalized license plates as unlawful, its approved Bill of Rights display from Board of County Commissioners. On namely those that allow government the Texas State Capitol by Texas Gov. Sept. 30, 2017, U.S. District Judge John officials to deny plates based on vague Greg Abbott only three days after it was Antoon struck down the Brevard Coun- notions of “good taste” as well as those erected on Dec. 18, 2015, lambasting it ty, Fla., Board of County Commission- barring personalized plates from com- as indecent, mocking and contributing ers’ exclusion of nontheists from giving municating religious, anti-religious or to public immorality. On Oct. 13, 2017, pre-meeting invocations. The county political messages. U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks ruled has filed a notice of appeal. FFRF v. Trump that Abbott violated FFRF’s free speech FFRF v. Mercer County Board of On the National Day of Prayer (May rights. Abbott is appealing the ruling. Education 4, 2017), FFRF filed a lawsuit against FFRF filed a civil rights lawsuit President Trump, challenging his “re- Plaintiff Marie Schaub stands on the Gaylor v. Lew FFRF renewed its challenge against against Mercer County Schools on ligious liberty” executive order as it spot where a Ten Commandments the clergy housing allowance, which Jan. 18, 2017, over the school system’s pertains to church politicking. As ad- monument used to be. permits clergy to be paid partly through egregiously unconstitutional “Bible vertised by Trump, the executive order FFRF v. City of Santa Clara a housing allowance, which is subtract- in the Schools” classes for elementary effectively provided preferential treat- FFRF, with member Andrew DeFaria, ed from taxable income. FFRF Co-Pres- school students. The bible instruction, ment to churches and would result in sued the city of Santa Clara, Calif., on idents Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan taught by itinerant teachers who pos- obligations on secular nonprofits that April 20, 2016, to remove a large Lat- Barker’s request for a housing allow- sess “a degree in Bible,” begins in first are not imposed on churches. In mo- in cross from a city park. FFRF initially ance refund for the year 2012 was de- grade. Classes are held weekly and in- tions to dismiss filed in August and complained to the city about the un- nied by the IRS. On Oct. 6, 2017, U.S. clude creationism and other religious December, Trump’s lawyers admitted constitutional display in 2012. In Janu- District Judge Barbara Crabb issued a instruction. The district dropped the the religious liberty order does nothing ary 2017, the city removed the cross and declaration that the tax benefit is un- bible classes as a result of FFRF’s law- and that the current law is unchanged. donated it to Santa Clara University, a constitutional. In December 2017, she suit. So, on Nov. 14, 2017, Judge David In response, FFRF voluntarily dismissed Catholic institution. The settlement was issued an order to the IRS to stop en- Faber dismissed the case on jurisdic- its federal lawsuit in December. finalized in March 2017 and the city of forcing the exception. tional grounds, finding that one family Rebecca Markert is FFRF’s legal director. FFRF Continued from page 1

is a Christian ministry that travels 2 Religious displays lim-majority countries. FFRF’s brief ar- ly redefine “religious freedom” as the throughout the Midwest putting on as- 3 Government prayer gued that the executive order on the trav- right to impose one’s religious beliefs semblies in public schools. 4. Government funding to religion el ban violates the Establishment Clause. on others. The number of total letters does not 5. Crosses on public property The administration was explicit in its first include the many follow-up letters sent 6. Holiday displays order that immigration policies should Legal staff news or the time FFRF’s legal staff spent re- 7. National Day of Prayer (tie) restrict Muslim refugees and favor Chris- FFRF hired Madeline Ziegler as a sponding to questions from FFRF mem- 7. Social media (tie) tian refugees. FFRF also made the novel full-time intake attorney, after her ten- bers and members of the general public. 9. Legislative prayer argument in its brief before the Court ure as the Cornelius Vanderbroek Legal More than 4,300 queries about potential 10. Miscellaneous that the executive order violates Article Fellow. Ryan Jayne also joined our legal violations were lodged with FFRF last VI of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits team as a staff attorney after his tenure year, mostly through our online form: Friend of the court briefs a religious test for office or public trust. as the Diane Uhl and Eric and Elaine Report a State/Church Violation. FFRF submitted seven amicus — or New iterations of the travel ban caused Stone Legal Fellow. The top 10 states (where FFRF sent friend of the court — briefs in religious the court to remove the case from its cal- Our legal fellowship program contin- the most letters of complaint): liberty cases around the country. Being endar and new lawsuits are wending their ued with the hiring of two new fellows: 1. Texas able to draft and submit more briefs in way through the courts. FFRF will submit Chris Line, who was an intern/extern 2. Florida federal courts around the country pro- another brief if necessary. with FFRF for the duration of his law 3. California vides FFRF a chance to weigh in on Es- FFRF also filed an amicus brief in the school career at the University of Wis- 4. Alabama tablishment Clause cases it’s not part of famous case, Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd. v. consin Law School, was awarded the 5. Ohio and gives FFRF the opportunity to offer Colorado Civil Rights Commission, heard Patrick O’Reiley legal fellowship; and 6. Tennessee its voice to cases that touch on religious before the U.S. Supreme Court in De- Colin McNamara started with FFRF in 7. Wisconsin liberty and rights of nonbelievers. Two cember 2017. A Colorado baker refused September as the Robert G. Ingersoll 8. Missouri (tie) of those briefs were filed before the U.S. to bake a cake for a gay marriage, con- legal fellow after graduating from the 8. North Carolina (tie) Supreme Court. tending his rights under the Free Exer- University of Richmond School of Law 10. Georgia (tie) FFRF submitted an amicus brief to the cise Clause of the First Amendment let in Richmond, Virginia. 10. Illinois (tie) U.S. Supreme Court in the Muslim trav- his place of public accommodation dis- FFRF also hosted seven law student Top 10 issue areas: el ban cases involving President Trump’s criminate against gay customers. FFRF interns, including two students from top 1. Public schools restrictions on travel from certain Mus- argued that the baker seeks to radical- 10 law schools. Page 18 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018 LETTERBOX women across the country to stand up Washington Post guilty and speak out against sexual violence in Hollywood, Congress and the me- of Christmas overkill dia. We honor the DACA youth, indig- I know it was the Christmas season, enous leaders and (un)documented but the Washington Post was guilty of immigrants who collectively resist. We dismal overkill on the subject, includ- so respect Colin Kaepernick and those ing treacly sermons from pundits such athletes who took a knee and we support as E.J. Dionne (“The radical Christ- queer and trans youth who demand dig- mas miracle”) and Michael Gerson nity and bathrooms. We stand in solidar- (“A season of hope, even in a time of ity with #blacklivesmatter and #metoo, grief”). Plus, there was stuff in the galvanizing a nation in resistance. paper about evangelicals who were And on our list of thanks, we are so gaga over a trip to the Bible Muse- grateful that your organization contin- um, and budding journalists from an ues to carve a vibrant, loving corner for evangelical school who think it’s OK peace, justice and imagination in deeply to twist reality and facts to suit their contentious times. bible-based beliefs. The Fine Family Foundation has This is not a Christian nation. Some, meager resources, but boundless appre- like myself, believe religions bear much ciation for what you do. In that spirit, we responsibility for the bigotry and hate send you a small contribution to honor in the world. (Evangelicals are taught No more worthy cause Anne Nicol Gaylor quote the light you keep lit even during these to despise LGBT people, for example. than being a Life Member “revolting” times. Why do we take their ugly beliefs seri- a rebuttal to Newton’s Thank you for the sweet slice of jus- ously?) How about greater respect for Thank you for all you do each and Here is the letter to the editor I wrote tice you create. reason and less for superstition? every day to protect our democracy and that appeared in the Concord Monitor: Board Members How about an interview with a scien- work to maintain the separation of state “Atheism is so senseless . . . this did Fine Family Foundation tist, atheist or humanist? How about a and church. Words cannot express my not happen by chance,” says Sir Isaac New York story about somebody who finds mean- profound gratitude and appreciation. I Newton, implying the existence of a di- ing in leading a good life without an am proud to be a member of this awe- vine planner. Trouble is, as great a sci- imaginary friend called God? Our ratio- some organization! entist as he was, science has marched FFRF gives me support nal voices should be heard, too. Becoming a Life Member of FFRF is on and we need not rely on the super- I had been missing Carolyn D. Lewis something I’ve been considering and natural to explain the operation of our Delaware wanting to do for a while. But then life solar system. Physics and astronomy do I’m a new member to FFRF as of happens, I get busy and just put it off. that quite nicely. Please allow a rebuttal March 2017. I want to thank you for all Not this year. Now, perhaps more than to his dubious insight about atheists with that y’all do up there in Wisconsin, as we Thanks for restoring ever in our nation’s history, I need to a quote from a freethinker. “There are say here in Arkansas. It’s quite challeng- Ingersoll statue become a Life Member. I can’t conceive no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven ing at times living here among all the of a more worthy cause. or hell. There is only our natural world. evangelical Christians, but you make it Kathy Johnson Religion is but myth and superstition much easier. California that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.” I felt at first that I had no support (as — Anne Nicol Gaylor, Freedom from in “support group”) from people, but Religion Foundation. I would dearly like now I feel like I have a specific support to see this quote posted as prominently system when watching “Ask an Atheist,” Young freethinker ran as Sir Isaac’s. I can provide more quotes listening to Freethought Radio, and from modern and historical freethink- reading Freethought Today. I‘m quite away from nightmares ers, if the Monitor is so inclined, to pro- thankful. I was pleased to see Ron Reagan’s TV vide a challenge to religious thinking. Richard M. Thomas ad. It has now been many months and Jack Shields Arkansas several editions of Freethought Today New Hampshire later. You have my thanks. I actually became aware of my free- Donation will help hold thinker self 50 years ago, when I was in Here’s a meaningful gift first grade. I was agnostic before I knew up wall of separation what it meant. for FFRF and my love Kindly accept my donation of $5,000 I’ve read testimonials, such as Jackie As a Lifetime Member and proud for 2017. This past year has been, and I Brown’s article in the December issue. sponsor of a paving stone at your head- do not doubt that future years are going I can empathize with her. Adults can quarters, I would like to sponsor a Life- to be, profoundly challenging for Amer- place guilt and doubt inside a kid’s time Membership for my best friend, ican nonbelievers. I hope my donation head. I have a narrative of my own. love of my life and wife (all one person!) will serve as an adequate expression of When I was young, I attended Sab- who I was very fortunate to meet in this my confidence in you as defenders of the bath School. One morning, the teacher one and only life. wall of separation of state and church and Here is a photo of us from our tested me. Thank you for all that you do legally will materially help you in that regard. visit to the restored Robert G. Inger- “Do you love Jesus?” she asked. “Yes, and for your monthly publication. Both James Wood Bailey soll statute in Peoria, Ill. Thank you I love Jesus,” I answered. She asked if I are greatly appreciated. New Jersey to FFRF for spearheading the resto- love my mom and dad. “Yes, I love my Unfortunately, imaginary friends and ration of freethinker Ingersoll and mom and dad.” Then she asked if I love imaginary lines are the greatest threat keeping his proud heritage alive and Jesus more than mom and dad. I said, that we can, hopefully, survive. Are we not drawn remembered. “No. I love my mom.” As Carl Sagan said, make it Steve Petersen and Shirley Moll She then told me if I didn’t change meaningful. onward to new era? Minnesota my ways and put Jesus before everyone, Matthew J. Koch I have charitable donation money including my mom, I was on my way to Illinois burning a hole in my pocket this year and perdition. Guilt. That’s a heavy load to I thought of you. Thanks for all you do. FFRF desperately needed put on a 6-year-old. One of my hobbies is palindromes, I started having a recurring dream. A FFRF provides light and I hereby volunteer to be your offi- in our country now booming voice would come down and cial palindromist whenever the “spirit” Once again, please accept the en- say, “Rodney, I’m watching you!” I was in revolting times arises. closed $1,000 check as an unrestricted scared. What a year! As we drown in the un- This one is about a guy who slangi- gift to help further the courageous, In first grade, I got my first pair of dertow of relentless greed, corruption, ly tells his religious friend that there principled work of FFRF. tennis shoes. I could run so fast the deception, privatization of all things is one important issue to be aware of: I thought our country had reached wind would blow back my hair. The public and spikes in hate crimes, we find There is no all-seeing all-knowing de- a low point in 2016, but we have sunk dream came again that night. “Rod- ourselves incredulous that the perverse ity and the Freedom From Religion even lower, and our nation even more ney, I’m watching you!” I remember tax reform legislation will widen inequal- Foundation opens up one’s mind to desperately needs FFRF. As a Life I took off running. I yelled back over ity gaps and redistribute wealth up to the see this clearly: Member, I remain extremely grateful my shoulder, “Oh, yeah? Try and catch top 1 percent. Dog, one to note: No seer. FFRF frees one to to FFRF leadership, management and me!” And yet, in the midst of relentless note no god. staff members for their dedication and Brave words for a first-grader. I nev- political and (un)natural disasters, we Hope this brought a smile to your perseverance. er had the nightmare again. have been so inspired by the 98 percent face. Scribner Messenger Rod Lewis of black women in Alabama who saved Win Emmons Maryland Oregon democracy (again) and the courage of Texas January / February 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 19 CRANKMAIL

Here is the latest batch of mail we received that ly, your organization is unconstitutional. — Ste- doesn’t quite cut it for our Letterbox section. Print- phen Johnson ed as received. Religion: I am no atheist or liberal. I detest Crossville, TN.: Get out of Crossville, Tennes- both and they are close minded and fucked up see and stay out. Your presence here offends me. in the head. Unlike you morons I think for myself I demand that you stop any and all action in Cum- and I oppose religion too but at least I know what berland County. We believe in God here and do I’m talking about. You idiots don’t think or speak not need any of your stupidity here. Our State law for me. I do that for myself. This is a totally clue- allows the Ten Commandments in our schools less organization — Richard Thorpe and the first Amendment to our Constitution does Perish: All of you perish in your total wicked- as well. I do not see what is so hard to understand ness!!! — Ron Witt about that. — William Ward Flag: Go to HELL!!!!! Oh wait a minute, you all Beaufort county schools: A heartfelt ‘screw are already headed there!!!!!!! BWAHHHHHHHHH! you’ for your organizations bullying tactics and — Don Antifall threats that caused Beaufort county schools to I’d like to donate: It must suck to be on the halt a VOLUNTARY mentoring program. I could wrong side of everything. I’m sure if you ever have understand if it was FORCED. What a sack of nuts, a horrendous accident and are near death you will worse than the Spanish during the inquisition. I be begging God to save you or spare your child. guess this is what happens when micro-penises What a bunch of useless douchebags. — Billy unite. This organization is nothing more than a Johnson collective of angry, disaffected, loser adults with Pathetic: If the bible is “so bad” then go write nothing else worth doing. — Lucion Depot your own bible and then try to get people build Education: your groups views are ill-advised, !!! Pussies — Duncan Joyns death bed, and who are you going to pray to? — their lives around it. I’ll be happy to read the inev- unfounded, Unconstitutional. Your ignorance has itable shitty writings that you’ll come up with. The You: Shows what fucking morons and haters David Poole no shame--most Americans are ignorant of their only good thing atheists do, is to unite religious you are. Karma coming for you! PRAYING for you!! VIOLATION: ACCORDING to the FOUNDING history. Can I volunteer to travel to your group people in their hatred of the pathetic, useless NOT! Karma is coming...your mama sick? Karma! FATHERS of the U.S. YOU ARE a VIOLATION of the and teach AMERICAN HISTORY? — Steve Cordell atheists. — Whitney Deangelo Dog die? Karma! Fuck off!! — Barbara Theisen Constitution go to Washington D.C. and try to find Recent Cowardice: 1. Go to hell 2. Take your THIS IS OUR TIME: Freedom From Religion I see in a building in that city that DOESN’T HAVE SOME- colleagues with you. 3. Mind your local issues. 4. Small orgination files lawmsuit: Foundation is the rebirth of the Communist Party. In conclusion go to HELL! You represent the scum Evansville you are protesting a coach of a football THING about GOD and the BIBLE in it or on it.... Do Social Haters, Sicko Perverts. America, let’s start of the scum of the earth. — David McLendon team praying with his players. Can you say Adolph YOURSELVES and this COUNTRY a favor and GET identifying these animals by name and address. Senator Logan: You fucking people make me Hitler? Your little organization is no better than OUT and TAKE ALL of the LIBERAL POLITICIANS It is time to start cleaning these vial animals from sick. Nothing better to do but complain about a him. Communists! — Jay Beier with you Because NONE of you BELONG HERE you our towns, let’s send them back to hell. We have State Senator, not even in your State, volunteering God Loves you: God forgives you all, and God are NOT AMERICAN CITIZENS. — Paul Chandler cleaned our town, and other towns are starting. for a charity. Fucking liberals. — Brian Koskelowski still loves you. it is not to late to change... one day The First Amendment: The first amendment Put a name and face on the Haters. Seek out this School prayer: You bullies suck ass !! GO GOD one of your kids or family is going to be on their gives us Freedom of religion(not from it). Basical- Vile Animal and Destroy it. — Abner Lansing IT PAYS TO COMPLAIN New mayor Letter to mayor ends invocation gets results at city meetings By Dianne Centa live in Portage County, Ohio, and had By Justin Scott heard that there was a nativity scene Ion the courthouse lawn — from com- n the morning of Jan. 8, ex- ments in the anonymous “Sound off” actly 280 days after I first column of the local paper. Then the O complained, the new mayor paper ran a photo and story about it. I of Waverly, Iowa, announced that responded with a letter and promptly there would no longer be contro- received a reply from the mayor. What versial and divisive prayer at council a pleasant surprise! Here was my letter: meetings. Mr. Mayor, It This came after the city experi- seems from the ar- enced two consecutive years of pre- ticle in the Record dominantly Christian prayers led by Courier that you Mayor Charles Infelt, a former long- are supportive of time pastor, who violated the Lemon the presence of a test and Establishment Clause by nativity scene on changing the previous prayer pro- Justin Scott speaks at FFRF’s annual convention in 2016 in Pittsburgh after the courthouse cess with no secular purpose. (The receiving FFRF’s Freethinker of the Year award. lawn. Let me re- previous practice included the may- mind you: it is or inviting various religious leaders the whole prayer practice reeked of agreed the best and only way for- impermissible for Dianne Centa to the council chambers to offer a “Christian arrogance and Christian ward for the city was without prayer. the government prayer.) privilege.” Despite the fact that I never got (city and county included) to promote I first challenged Infelt to provide Believe it or not, Infelt did end the chance to deliver an invocation a religion or to promote religion over a more inclusive prayer practice on up allowing a non-Christian to de- and despite the fact that it wasn’t nonreligion. the night of April liver an invoca- Infelt ending the prayer practice You say “it’s representative of large 3, 2017. It was tion, inviting a that he wrongly implemented, I am numbers of folks in Portage County” met with hostility A few weeks after the election, Muslim college still overjoyed with the result, as it’s and “it’s been accepted by the majority by the mayor. At Mayor Soash reached out to student to deliver more than I was initially asking for. of people.” This is irrelevant. Many of one point, I was me and we agreed the best an Islamic prayer To know that I played a part in get- our laws, including the First Amend- told that if athe- and only way forward for the to open the first ting another city in Iowa to ditch a ment, exist to protect the minority from ists don’t like his city was without prayer. June 2017 meet- practice that left atheist and nonre- the tyranny of the majority. religious invoca- ing. Unfortunate- ligious citizens feeling unwelcome Remember that little phrase “separa- tions, they should ly, the next five and like second-class citizens in tion of state and church.” (Before you just “be tolerant” of his “theistic” meetings in a row all featured Chris- their own city is very rewarding. It object, I know that those words are not prayers. I refused to be fazed or tian prayers. truly does pay to complain. in the Constitution, but we all know back down. This all came to an end in Decem- I want to thank Mayor Soash for that the meaning is there.) The nativity Month after month, I’d speak up ber 2017, when a runoff election was sticking to his word of reaching out scene should be removed, or, if you want during public comments and de- held between Infelt and Dean Soash, to me after being sworn in as the to create a mess, you could open up the mand a change in the prayer prac- thanks to a very small margin of vic- new mayor, listening to my concerns courthouse lawn as an open forum. tice. Some council members joined tory by Infelt in the November 2018 and taking bold action by discontin- Let us, please, consider policy for in verbalizing their discomfort with election. To the surprise of many in uing prayer. I also want to thank all next year and not repeat this violation. prayer before meetings, but never Waverly, Soash won in a landslide, of the support I received from citi- — Sincerely, Dianne Centa pushed the mayor to change the winning outright in all of Waverly’s zens of Waverly — both atheist and Here was his rely: process. Eventually, I was able to get five wards, as well as the absentee religious — as well as the ongoing Dianne, I have no argument with the mayor to implement a formal- ballot total. support from FFRF. your position. This will not be a prob- ized prayer policy, but only after I A few weeks after the election, Justin Scott is an FFRF member from lem next year. Thank you for your com- was quoted in the media as saying Soash reached out to me and we Iowa. ments. — Frank Seman Page 20 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018 BLACK COLLAR CRIME Compiled by Bill Dunn charged with shooting his wife Jeanett Gattis, 58, knowingly or recklessly, criminal restraint, criminal spitting in his wife’s face, grabbing her by the jaw her daughter Candice Kunze, 30, and Kunze’s boy- trespass of a dwelling, criminal mischief and theft and slamming her head into the kitchen counter. friend, Andrew Buthorn, 36, on Thanksgiving Day. of less than $500. Leon, pastor of Wells Branch According to the arrest report, she defended Arrested / Charged They all lived together. Baptist Church, is accused of trying to take over the herself with kitchen tongs and threw brownies in The women’s bodies were found in the kitch- finances of a wheelchair-bound elderly resident at his face before fleeing their home. Source: WJXT, Harry L. Thomas, 74, Medford, NJ: Aggra- en and Buthorn’s was in the front yard. Source: an assisted living facility where he volunteered as 10-30-17 vated sexual assault, 3 counts of sexual assault Times-Dispatch, 11-24-17 pastor. Martin Ramos, 43, Madera, CA: Oral copula- and 4 counts of endangering the welfare of mi- : 8 Leon allegedly took the woman without per- tion, possession and distribution of child pornogra- nors. Thomas, pastor at Come Alive Church, is Romello Leach, 22, Colorado Springs, CO counts of sex assault on a child under age 15/pat- mission to her bank to withdraw money, although phy and misdemeanor child molestation. Ramos, a charged with assaults against 4 minors between tern of abuse and sex assault on a child/position of a conservator is in charge of her affairs, and Jehovah’s Witness elder at McKinley West Kingdom 1999 and 2015. trust. Leach, a licensed Protestant pastor associat- changed the locks on her unoccupied former home Hall, is accused of molesting a 17-year-old girl he He’s also co-founder of Creation Festival, said ed with several churches that meet at the Satellite to prevent it from being shown and sold. Source: mentored. He worked as a police dispatcher and to be the largest Christian rock festival in the U.S. Hotel, admitted to his ex-wife that “it happened,” Press Herald, 11-9-17 had known the family for about 3 years. Source: Source: Courier-Post, 12-7-17 the arrest affidavit said. Gregory Bolusan, Henderson, NV: Burglary, Fresno Bee, 10-26-17 Renato C. Bosi, 57, Barrigada, Guam: Child According to the complaint, the girl called attempted robbery and robbery. Bolusan, pastor abuse and 4 counts of criminal sexual conduct. Leach with deputies present and he admitted he’d at Grace Bible Church, is accused of taking about Pleaded / Convicted Bosi, pastor of Living Lighthouse Church, a Baptist had sex with her “on at least four occasions and $64,000 in 3 incidents in August, September and congregation, allegedly touched a teen girl’s pri- Laurence Soper, 74, Rome: Guilty by jury of [was] the father of her child.” She gave birth on October at the M Resort Casino, where his wife is vate parts at his home in 2016. She told police that 19 counts of indecent and serious sexual assault. Sept. 15, about 2 months after turning 15. Source: a shift manager. Bosi sent her inappropriate messages, including Soper, a Benedictine priest, was accused of abus- KMGH, 11-23-17 According to an online post, “Pastor Greg be- one that said, “Pastors get tempted, too.” Source: ing 10 boys at a Catholic school in London in the Michael G. Rich, 56, Birmingham, AL: 3 counts lieves that the city of Las Vegas, also known as the Pacific Daily News, 12-6-17 1970s and 1980s. He moved to Rome in 2000 and of possession of child pornography. Rich, pastor of city of sin, needs people who will take time to build Mark W. Miller, 48, Sand Springs, OK: 2 counts fled to Kosovo with £182,000 from the Vatican St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, was arrested after authentic relationships by winning the lost into a of obtaining money by false pretenses over $500. bank after allegations were made in 2004. Source: police got a tip about his internet activity. During relationship with Jesus.” Source: KTNV, 11-6-17 Miller, lead pastor at Broadway Baptist Church, is BBC, 12-6-17 a 5-day sting operation, investigators identified 22 Larry J. Zeitzmann, 56, Washington, MO: accused of scamming 7 parishioners out of about Robert Gamel, 67, Merced, CA: Pleaded no children who had been sexually exploited. Sexual misconduct and 3rd-degree assault. Zeitz- $46,000 by borrowing money and refusing to pay contest to possessing child pornography and guilty More than 2 dozen men were arrested, includ- mann, board president at Crosspoint Christian it back. Sources said he has a gambling addiction. to violating probation. Gamel, lead priest at St. Jo- ing 7 Alabamians who traveled to Columbus, GA, School, is accused of misconduct involving a Source: Sand Springs Leader, 12-5-17 seph Catholic Church in Los Banos from 2009-14, is with the expectation of having sex with a minor. 14-year-old female student. “We believe that there Pablo C. Cartagena, Panorama City, CA: Multi- accused of possessing the same nude images of a Source: ABC News, 11-21-17 are more victims,” said prosecutor Bob Parks. ple sexual assault counts. Cartagena, youth pastor teenage parishioner for which he was convicted in Timothy Simon, 33, Stephenville, TX: Posses- Zeitzmann allegedly told the girl he would leave at an unidentified church on Van Nuys Blvd. from 2016 and served 6 months in jail. sion of or promoting child his wife to marry her and 2007-12, is charged with assaulting his 3 stepchil- During an April probation search at his home, pornography. Simon is that he “loved her very dren and a 10-year-old family friend. Alleged vic- the images from the 2016 conviction were found, youth minister at Graham much,” the complaint tims are a girl between 6 and 12 years old in 2005- printed on recycled church-related papers. Gamel Street Church of Christ. The complaint alleged Van said. Zeitzmann retired as 06, a teen girl assaulted twice in 2008-09 in the told authorities “they were old photographs that Stephenville Police Dam had an 11-year-old fire chief in 2015. Source: shower, a developmentally disabled girl assaulted he meant to get rid of but he had not gotten to.” Chief Jason King said Missourian, 11-4-17 in her bedroom in 2008-09, and the 10-year-old, disrobe and ‘urinate in a Source: Los Banos Enterprise, 11-29-17 the investigation began Richard E. Jacklin, assaulted in connection with a church function. Joseph L. Niemeyer Jr., 56, Independence, several weeks ago and bottle’ while he watched. 65, Goodrich, IL: Ag- Source: KABC, 12-2-17 KY: Pleaded guilty to 1st-degree sodomy and 4 is ongoing but declined gravated sexual assault, Manuel Mora, 52, South Brunswick, NJ: En- counts of 1st-degree sexual abuse, all involving further comment. Source: criminal sexual assault dangering the welfare of a child and criminal sex- a girl younger than 12. Niemeyer, who with his Empire-Tribune, 11-18-17 and sexual misconduct. Jacklin, pastor at Sacred ual contact. Mora, pastor at All Nations Church, is wife was a youth ministry leader at New Banklick Felix Bamfo, Adidogomé, Togo: Murder. Heart Catholic Church, is accused of assaulting a accused of having “ongoing sexual contact” with a Baptist Church, also volunteered with the Fel- Bamfo, pastor of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Shapiro Developmental Center resident, a 39-year- 17-year-old girl. Source: nj.com, 12-1-17 lowship of Christian Athletes club at Twenhofel Star Church, is accused of killing and dismember- old man with an IQ of 47 who is partially paralyzed. : Misdemeanor Middle School. Ricardo Bauza, Hobbs, NM ing the body of Evelyn Homawu near his home. Jacklin has provided written and verbal con- criminal sexual contact. Bauza, pastor of St. Hel- Assaults occurred at the Niemeyer home and Homawu’s husband told police she had gone to fessions, Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim ena Catholic Church, has not been seen in Hobbs not at the school or church, prosecutors said. visit Bamfo on Nov. 12 and never returned. Bamfo’s Rowe said at a hearing. Rowe said a Shapiro Source: Cincinnati Enquirer, 11-20-17 since August but an arrest warrant has been issued. wife and his son, Kindness Mba, 24, were also ar- employee discovered Jacklin on his knees while Jason M. Gorski, 44, Fort Mill, SC: Pleaded According to the complaint, Bauza is accused of rested. Source: Ghana News Agency, 11-17-17 performing a sex act on the resident. Source: Daily guilty to 2 counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a getting in the shower at the rectory with a 24-year- : 9 counts of Journal, 11-3-17 Lee P. Wiegand, 63, Canby, OR minor under 14. At the time of the assaults in 2007- old church member who had asked to use Bauza’s 2nd-degree sex abuse involving an underage fe- Elliot J. Wickboldt, 30, McAllen, TX: Sexu- 08, Gorski was an elder of a Jehovah’s Witnesses shower because his wasn’t working and then wash- male in 2011-12 when Wiegand was pastor at First al assault and indecency with a child with sexual congregation in Cypress, CA. ing the man’s genitals with a loofah and his hand. Baptist Church and School. Police said the alleged contact. Wickboldt, pastor of Awaken Church, is In 2009, 13-year-old “John Doe” reported The incident was first reported to the Diocese abuse doesn’t involve the church or school. Source: accused of having a sexual relationship with a teen the abuse to the congregation and Gorski was of Las Cruces, the complaint said. Bauza is dioce- KOIN, 11-16-17 girl from July 2015 to Oct. 12, 2017, according to a san co-director of vocations. removed as an elder. The next year he moved to The complaint also states a woman told police South Carolina and joined another Jehovah’s she saw Bauza standing naked in a hallway twice in Witnesses congregation. Source: Orange County 2016 with his back turned to her as she was clean- Breeze, 11-17-17 ing the rectory. She alleged she overheard him telling the man it was “okay” to shower with him, Sentenced likening it to a “boy’s locker room.” Source: News- John B. Feit, 85, Scottsdale, AZ: Life in prison Sun, 11-30-17 after a Texas jury found him guilty of raping and Todd S. Tomko, 54, Quincy, IL: Felony cruelty strangling Irene Garza, 25, a 2nd-grade teacher to children and 3 counts each of aggravated sexual in 1960 in McAllen, Texas, where he was pastor at battery and indecent liberties with a child. Tomko, Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Feit, then 27, was pastor of Parkview Church since his retirement as a implicated early on but was never charged due to U.S. Marine colonel in 2016, is accused of incidents the influence of the Catholic Church, especially with 3 alleged victims in Virginia starting in 2002. when John Kennedy was running for president, Tomko was sentenced to 60 days’ confinement prosecutors said. and fined $10,000 in May 2016 in Virginia after A month before Garza disappeared, a female pleading guilty to conduct unbecoming of an offi- college student reported a man attacked her cer and a gentleman for having an inappropriate from behind in church and tried to suffocate her. relationship with a female Marine corporal. He also Feit was charged with the attack, pleaded no pleaded guilty to possession of anabolic steroids contest and was sent to a treatment center for and unprescribed testosterone, violations of a mil- troubled priests in New Mexico, where he became itary protective order and drunkenness at a court a supervisor responsible for clearing priests for arraignment. Source: Herald-Whig, 11-29-17 parish assignments. Walter E. Brazington Jr., 55, Broken Arrow, Feit left the priesthood in 1972, married and OK: Procuring for prostitution and possession of a worked at a St. Vincent de Paul charity in Phoenix. firearm while in the commission of a felony. Braz- Source: AP, 12-8-17 ington, an “apostle and prophet” for the All Nations Joel M. Waltz, 47, Boone, IA: 4 years in prison Evangelistic Team, is accused of operating a mas- after pleading guilty to 2 counts of sexual exploita- sage parlor where prostitution occurred. tion of a minor while he was a youth pastor at Grace “Walt has been preaching the gospel since Timothy Cohen, 63, Clifton Hill, Australia: 32 criminal complaint: “Wickboldt would tell her not Community Church. Ames Police Cmdr. Geoff Huff 1981, and he isn’t stopping anytime soon! It is counts of indecent assault and gross indecency, to tell anyone or he would go to jail.” Source: KGBT, said the victim met Waltz when she was 11 and was time for the final harvest to begin,” the All Nations including sexual penetration of a child. Cohen, an 11-2-17 in foster care. She described him as a father figure website says. “In 1989, God completely and mirac- Anglican priest, is charged with incidents in the Michael S. Cruse, 46, Columbus, MS: Illegal before he told her he loved her when she turned 16 ulously healed Walt from three incurable diseases 1970s and 1980s. sex act/victim under 18 years of age and/or prohib- and started a sexual relationship with her. Source: — Leukemia, Mesothelioma and Cyclo Meglo Virus. He was convicted in 2015 of assaulting a ited use of an electronic communication system to Ames Tribune, 12-6-17 He was also healed of a sudden massive heart 12-year-old girl in 1978 and received a suspended procure sex from a minor. Cruse, pastor at Resto- James G. Crawford, 56, Redding, CA: 4 years’ attack on Dec. 22nd 2008. (With that came a visit 3-month sentence. Source: Herald Sun, 11-12-17 ration Life Church, was arrested in Danville, KY, by probation and payment of fees and fines after to heaven three days later on Christmas Day.)” Curtis Van Dam, 36, Sioux Center, IA: 101 fel- a detective participating in a sting in which Cruse pleading no contest to 3 misdemeanor counts of Source: Tulsa World, 11-29-17 ony counts and 39 misdemeanor counts related to thought he was meeting a 16-year-old boy. child endangerment not likely to produce great James F. Talbot, 80, Dittmer, MO: Gross sexual child molestation involving several alleged victims Cruse was reportedly in Kentucky performing bodily injury. Crawford, pastor of Westside Church assault and unlawful sexual contact. Talbot, a Je- under age 14. Van Dam taught 5th grade at Sioux in a singing competition at a church. A TV station of Redding, was originally charged with 31 crimi- suit Catholic priest who was defrocked after a 2011 Center Christian School but was fired after being reported Cruse won the competition but was un- nal counts, including 22 felonies, for inappropriate assault conviction in Massachusetts, is accused of arrested in October. He was also a youth sponsor able to perform in the grand finale that night due touching of 3 underage girls over a span of 7 years. molesting a preteen boy in 1997-98 when Talbot at a local church. to his arrest. Source: WTVA, 11-1-17 Source: Record Searchlight, 12-4-17 was pastor at St. Jude Parish in Freeport, Maine. The initial complaint alleged he had an 11-year- James Stangle II, Circleville, OH: Soliciting Shimen Liebowitz, 26, Kiryas Joel, NY: 2 years In 2003, 14 men reached a settlement of claims old disrobe and “urinate in a bottle” while he prostitution and loitering to engage in solicitation. in prison with 15 months’ credit for time served against Talbot totaling $5.2 million. Source: Press watched. Charges date from alleged incidents Stangle, lead elder at New Life Church, was arrest- after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit ex- Herald, 11-28-17 on school property starting in August 2014 and ed by undercover officers. Source: WSYX, 11-2-17 tortion. Co-defendants Aharon Goldberg, 56, an Christopher Gattis, 58, Chester, VA: 3 counts include mutual touching of genitals. Source: Des James Weldon, 55, Fleming Island, FL: Do- Israeli rabbi, and Binyamin Gottlieb, 34, received 3 each of 1st-degree murder and using a firearm Moines Register, 11-10-17 mestic battery. Weldon, pastor of Fleming Island years in prison and 1 year’s probation, respectively. in the commission of a felony. Gattis, Grace Lu- Peter W. Leon, 66, Wells, ME: Endangering Presbyterian Church until forced to resign last year They were found guilty of paying a private in- theran Church youth ministries coordinator, is the welfare of a dependent person intentionally, in the wake of financial problems, is accused of vestigator $73,000 to coerce a Brooklyn man into January / February 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 21 giving his estranged wife permission she needed made her perform a sex act. Another time a nun under Jewish law to divorce him, a consent known walked in during a similar incident: “She called me as a get. The investigator recorded his conversa- a whore, she took my left arm and yanked me out tions and turned them over to the FBI. Source: of his lap and flung me across to the wall.” Times Herald-Record, 11-30-17 Then, Tolmie-McGrane alleged, another nun Charlie M. Hamrick, 55, Pensacola, FL: 6 con- took her to the hospital and warned her not to tell secutive life sentences after a jury found him guilty anyone or she would break her other arm and that of 6 counts of capital sexual battery of a child un- “lying to protect a man of God” was OK. der the age of 12. Hamrick was accused of assaults, Sick children had their faces rubbed in vom- including oral sex, on the victim, now 28, when he it or told to eat it, she testified, and were beaten was his Sunday school teacher at Pine Forest Unit- by nuns, sometimes with the crosses they wore. ed Methodist Church and the boy was between the Tolmie-McGrane said she twice told police officers ages of 8 and 11. about the abuse, which only resulted in more beat- He still faces multiple related charges involv- ings. The answer she got in confession from other ing other alleged victims. One boy told police that priests was to pray for the abusers, she said. Hamrick pushed his hand down his pants while rid- After an attorney at the inquiry said a nun had ing with him on a 4-wheeler, saying the safest way denied the allegations, Tolmie-McGrane, who to ride was with his hand around Hamrick’s erect works as a psychologist in Norway, replied, “All I penis. Source: News Journal, 11-29-17 can say is I have no reason to lie, but she maybe An unidentified Ethiopian imam, 25, was giv- has a lot to lose.” Source: The Independent, 12-6-17 en a noncustodial sentence of 18 months and was Now-deceased Catholic priest Thaddeus Kotik banned from Switzerland for 10 years after being has been accused by 11 women of molesting them found guilty of inciting violence by calling for the on Caldey Island off the coast of Wales in the 1970s killing of Muslims who refused to join communal and 1980s. A letter made public shows Kotik’s al- prayers and posting execution photos online. 11-13-17 After the allegations in 1998, Sayasaya received leged abuse was reported to the Cistercian Order The imam made the comments during Friday The Mormon Church and several stake lead- permission to fly to the Philippines for Christmas of the Strict Observance (Trappists) in 1990 but not prayers at An’Nur Mosque in Winterthur in October ers are being sued in West Virginia by 12 plaintiffs and never returned to the U.S. Source: CBS News, to police. Kotik died in 1992. 2016. He was also found guilty of working with- alleging sexual abuse as minors by Michael Jen- 11-22-17 The abbey has already settled with 6 plaintiffs, out a permit. The mosque closed in June. Source: . He was sentenced to 35-75 years in prison in Jonathan Wehrle, 67, Williamston, MI, was after which 3 more women came forward. Kotik rt.com, 11-23-17 sen 2013 for sexual assault while in a position of lead- bound over for trial at the end of a 4-day prelim- befriended families who visited the island, the Sunia Ha’unga, 66, Gisborne, New Zealand: ership and counsel to young church members. inary hearing on 6 counts of embezzlement of suit claims. After gaining parents’ trust, he would Fined $4,500 after admitting to possession of Among the allegations are claims that Jensen $100,000 or more. It’s alleged Wehrle, pastor of babysit and sexually abuse children, plaintiffs al- excess crayfish and breaching the Fisheries Act. St. Martha’s Catholic Church in Okemos, used lege. Source: The Guardian, 11-21-17 Ha’unga, pastor of the Methodist-affiliated Gis- locked a 4-year-old girl in a room and forced her to parish funds to pay for work and materials at his Muslim madrassas in Pakistan are “infested” borne Tongan Church, had 130 crayfish hidden in- touch him sexually and that a 2-year-old boy had 11,000-square-foot home. Auditors have said with sexual abuse, according to an Associated side boxes of oranges. The daily limit is 6. Source: “abrasions or burns” on his upper thighs and geni- about $5 million is missing. Press investigation that found hundreds of cases Gisborne Herald, 11-20-17 tals after being babysat by Jensen. Wehrle claimed he’d arranged with a now-de- reported in the past decade in religious schools but Gary Spear, 46, Mitchell, IN: 18 months’ house The complaint said that instead of reporting al- ceased bishop to use the parish funds, but witness- not prosecuted. arrest and 18 months’ probation after pleading guilty leged abuse to authorities, the Hedgesville Ward of es said they had no knowledge of such an agree- “There are thousands of incidences of sexual to child seduction. Spear, youth pastor at Mitchell the Martinsburg Stake “did the opposite.” Source: ment. Source: State Journal, 11-17-17 abuse in the madrassas,” said a senior government Church of Christ, victimized Jocelyn Schlegel, now KSTU, 11-20-17 The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of official, speaking anonymously for fear of retribu- 22. “He manipulated me by using everything against Vincent Owens, pastor of Household Of Faith has been ordered by a California appeals tion. In 2004, another official disclosed more than me that I told him in counseling,” she testified. Empowerment Temple in Aurora, CO, and the New York court to continue paying $4,000 for each day it 500 complaints of sexual assaults against boys in She met Spear when she was 14. She told the owners of ViSalus, a Michigan company, are de- does not turn over documents related to Osbaldo court that Spear liked her to call him “daddy,” a word fendants in a class-action suit that calls ViSalus “a madrassas. He has since refused to talk, and there she finds hard to say anymore. “He controlled every failed pyramid scheme” to sell weight-loss shakes, Padron’s 2013 suit against the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been no significant arrests or prosecutions. aspect of my life by inserting himself whenever he vitamins and energy bars. for failing to warn congregants that alleged child Source: AP, 11-21-17 saw a need. I needed a father, and there he was. I Caprece Byrd, 51, Aurora, is a plaintiff. She al- abuser Gonzalo Campos was in their midst in San A former senior staff member at the Friends’ didn’t have a boyfriend, so he filled that void, too,” leges Owens, her former pastor, convinced her that Diego. A lower-court judge ordered the daily fine School in Hobart, Tasmania, is accused of sexual Schlegel said. “He’s the most dangerous predator. He selling ViSalus would be easy and that she and oth- last June. Watchtower hasn’t paid anything and abuse by students who attended the school de- is not out in the bushes. He’s befriending your mom.” er distributors were promised equity at seminars the total has now mounted to over $2 million. cades ago. The school adopts principles from the Source: Times-Mail, 11-17-17 held in the church basement. Padron, a former church member, alleges he Religious Society of Friends, commonly known Daniel P. Williams, 40, Huber Heights, OH: 60 According to the suit, “Stage-managed ‘get was 7 or 8 when Campos molested him. After at as Quakers. days in jail, all suspended, and 1 year probation after rich like me’ performances enticed innocent, un- least 7 more allegations were lodged about child The person accused “has not worked at the pleading guilty to loitering to engage in solicitation. sophisticated people to buy distributorships, only abuse occurring between 1982-95, Campos fled school for numerous decades,” said principal Nel- Williams, pastor at Arrowbrook Baptist Church in to learn that the only way to make money from to Mexico. son File. The matter has been referred to police. Xenia, was arrested in August and originally faced 2 the distributor rights was to recruit others. Almost The appellate judges called the Watchtower The school is also investigating independently. more related counts. He is married and has a daugh- 400,000 people in the United States, including over a “recalcitrant litigant who refuses to follow valid Source: abc.net/au, 11-13-17 ter. Source: WHIO, 11-17-17 200,000 just in 2012 paid money to become a dis- orders and merely reiterates losing arguments.” Nikolai Kireyev, 39, Vitebsk, Belarus: 5½ years tributor and participated in a massive operation.” Source: Center for Investigative Reporting, 11-16-17 Removed / Resigned Source: KDVR, 11-8-17 Terry Wells, 42, Trenton, NJ, who pleaded in prison for human trafficking. Kireyev, a Russian Rodney E. Smith, Beaver Falls, PA, had his Anglican priest William Morton and 3 Canadi- guilty to theft by deception in September, had his Orthodox priest, was found guilty of trying to take 2 ministerial credentials revoked after he pleaded an Anglican bodies are defendants in a suit filed sentencing delayed. Wells, pastor of My Broth- women to Russia to work as prostitutes. A 19-year- guilty in a church trial to charges related to $31,000 by Cynthia Mae Moore, 60, who alleges Morton er’s Keeper Outreach Ministries, admitted taking old woman from Tajikistan was sentenced earlier to 5 in missing or misappropriated funds while he was threatened to skin her $12,000 from the estate years for pimping. Source: Radio Free Europe, 11-14-17 pastor of Chippewa United Methodist Church from alive and scraped her of a parishioner who Barbara L. Snyder, 60, West Salem, WI: 4 years 2001-17. He had retired after an audit of church breasts with a box cut- died in June 2015. in prison and restitution after pleading guilty to wire finances and now faces a criminal charge of theft ter in 2015 during their If there is a hell, you As part of the plea, fraud and making false statements for embezzling by failure to make required disposition of funds. nearly 4-year extramari- Wells was supposed over $830,000 to support a gambling habit while she deserve to be first in line. Source: Post-Gazette, 12-4-17 tal affair. to bring a $12,000 ca- was secretary at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in On- Michael Henchal, pastor at St. Bartholomew Morton was convict- —“ victim to James Rapp shier’s check to court alaska. Snyder’s listing income of $162,949 in 2015 Catholic Parish in Cape Elizabeth, ME, until retir- ed in 2016 of 2 counts of but only brought led to charges of false statements on her tax return ing last July, was removed from ministry by the assault with a weapon $5,800. He was ordered for under-reporting income and failing to disclose its Diocese of Portland after it was discovered he was source. and received a 15-month conditional sentence, a to pay the remaining $6,200 by Jan. 5 or be tried in a relationship with former parish administrator Although she worked at St. Patrick’s for over 30 jail term that can be served in the community if the on all 23 charges listed on his indictment. Source: Kathy Jones. They’re now living together. years, authorities could only verify thefts going back offender abides by court-imposed conditions. nj.com, 11-17-17 Bishop Robert Deeley told parishioners that 9 years. Source: La Crosse Tribune, 11-11-17 Moore worked part time in the church office The trial of Jennifer McLeod, 36, Wheatfield, Henchal, ordained in 1973, is not living up to his Patrick McGinn, 56, Monaghan, Ireland: 3-year when Morton started counseling her about her IN, a teacher at Hebron Christian Academy, ended vows: “Retirement for a priest does not mean that loss of driver’s license after pleading guilty to driv- marital problems. They eventually started a “ro- after the jury was unable to reach a verdict on 2 he is absolved of the commitments and promises ing while intoxicated. McGinn, pastor of St. Joseph’s mantic relationship” after Morton, who was also counts of child seduction by engaging in fondling he made at ordination. As we all know, priesthood Catholic Parish, had blood alcohol 4 times over the married, told her numerous times that he loved or touching with a child 16 to 17 years old. The high is a vocation, not simply a profession. This vocation legal limit when stopped at a checkpoint last July. her, the suit alleges. Source: CBC, 11-8-17 school sophomore alleged the first “unusual” inci- includes perpetual celibacy.” Source: Irish Times, 11-10-17 dent occurred in April 2015 when McLeod gave him Online tax records show Henchal and Jones Mohamad Jammal, Viborg, Denmark: 2 weeks Legal Developments a ride to a friend’s house and pulled over along the way to show him a video about religion. McLeod bought a house in New Braunfels, Texas, in June in jail suspended for making comments deemed James Rapp, 77, a defrocked Catholic priest then stated that she wished he was 18 because 2016. Source: Press Herald, 12-3-17 threatening, insulting or degrading to a group be- sentenced to 20-40 years in prison in Michigan in they couldn’t have sex until then, police said. Van Dinh, Livermore, CA, pastor of St. Mi- cause of their race, color, national or ethnic origin, 2016 for molesting at least 10 boys, had his appeal The boy said McLeod on the last day of the 2015 chael Catholic Parish, was put on leave by the belief or sexual orientation. Jammal, an imam at an denied by a state court. “The fact that [Rapp] was school year kissed him “romantically” after com- Diocese of Oakland, which notified police after unidentified mosque, was quoted in a newspaper incarcerated outside the state of Michigan for other menting about his genitalia. McLeod claimed he receiving an allegation of inappropriate behavior interview in 2016 as comparing gays to pedophiles criminal actions and therefore was unable during made up the accusations because he was having by Dinh. “The allegation did not involve a minor, after an attack at a Florida nightclub killed 49 people. that time to return ... is irrelevant,” stated the 3-0 problems with the academy’s basketball program but did fall within the protocol of the Diocese for Source: Fox News, 11-8-17 opinion, which denied Rapp’s claim that the 6-year and coach and wanted to attend the school where clergy conduct,” a statement said. Source: KRON, Fred Mack Jr., 65, Bolingbrook, IL: 10 years statute of limitations should have been followed. his brother coached. Source: NWI Times, 11-2-17 11-27-17 in prison after a jury found him guilty of predatory The appeals court ruled that any statute of lim- Nicholas Mishek, 26, Omaha, NE, dismissed criminal sexual assault of a child. Mack was a church itations was suspended when Rapp was locked up Allegations as pastor at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church pastor and friend of the victim’s family when she was in Oklahoma on similar charges. He worked in 6 after asking middle school students during confes- in 7th grade. She testified he assaulted her as many states before he was defrocked. “If there is a hell, Eric Gyan, pastor of St. Theresa of Avila Cath- sion if they masturbated or watched pornography, as 100 times in 2002-04. Source: Bolingbrook Patch, you deserve to be first in line,” a victim told him at olic Parish in Gonzales, LA, is being investigated has been reassigned to St. Frances Cabrini Parish. 11-6-17 sentencing. Source: mlive.com, 11-25-17 by the Diocese of Baton Rouge for alleged abuse The Omaha Archdiocese after outside psychologi- James J. Cunneen, 58, a former Catholic of a minor female in 1996, according to a press Civil Lawsuits Filed cal evaluations found him suitable to return to the Marist priest, was extradited to Australia from New release. The diocese has notified “civil officials” ministry, a statement said. Dennis B. Zacheis, a Catholic priest removed Zealand on charges he molested 7 teen boys from of the allegation received in November. Source: In September, diocesan vicar for clergy Scott from ministry in 2010 for alleged financial regu- a Marist school in Sydney between 1987-89. Cun- WABY, 12-16-17 Hastings said the questions were a “serious bound- larities in Sullivan, MO, is being sued in Illinois by neen left the priesthood in 1997 and has been run- Catholic priests and nuns at a Daughters of ary violation.” Missouri resident Gary Klein, 55, who alleges Zach- ning betting agencies in New Zealand after work- Charity of St. Vincent de Paul orphanage in La- Hastings said recently that Mishek isn’t specif- eis sexually assaulted him while he was pastor at ing for the Department of Education for 3 years. narkshire, Scotland, were physically and sexually ically prohibited from seeing schoolchildren, but St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Catholic Church from Source: ABC, 11-23-17 abusive, Theresa Tolmie-McGrane testified at a his immediate job, besides leading Mass, will be 1975-78. Fernando L. Sayasaya, a Filipino Catholic child abuse inquiry in Edinburgh. Tolmie-McGrane working with people in hospitals and retirement He now lives in a private home, according to the priest charged with molesting 2 boys in North Da- lived there from age 6 to 17 before it closed in the centers. Source: World-Herald, 11-24-17 Archdiocese of St. Louis. It’s unclear why the com- kota churches in the 1990s, is being extradited to 1980s. In about 1970, she testified, she was dusting plaint was filed in Illinois. Source: The Missourian, the U.S. after a court in Manila denied his appeal. church pews when a priest sat her on his lap and Email: [email protected] Page 22 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018 Janet Benshoof: A freedom fighter for women

By Annie Laurie Gaylor about 35 states likewise cut off state alty for women who’ve had abortions. funding, leaving indigent women and The provision was revoked. opened my New York Times on Dec. the working poor out in the cold when But her career, as the Times’ signif- 21 to be greeted with the sad news it comes to exercising their constitu- icant obituary shows, extended far be- that “Janet Benshoof, women’s cham- tional rights under Roe v. Wade. (And yond the early 1990s when we’d been that’s why I’m co-administrator of the I more closely observing it. Janet had pion, dies at 70.” I immediately thought back to my opportunity to rub shoul- Women’s Medical Fund volunteer initially directed the ACLU’s reproduc- ders with this brilliant woman. abortion rights charity, which helped tive freedom project, then went on to I met Janet — a brainy, Har- more than 1,000 such Wisconsin resi- found the separate Center for Repro- vard-trained attorney who quickly be- dents pay for abortion care in 2017.) ductive Rights, a group that took the came a star reproductive rights litigator As Janet explained to our sympa- lead in litigating the endless attacks and innovator — after inviting her to thetic audience: “The Supreme Court against Roe v. Wade. More recently, I speak at FFRF’s national convention. I in McRae struck down our claim that learned, Janet established the Global and my mother, Anne Gaylor, FFRF’s the Hyde Amendment violated the Es- Justice Center, which took such actions principal founder and an early abortion tablishment Clause.” But she noted her as training judges in Iraq on how to rights activist, were especially impressed strenuous objection to such reasoning: prosecute sexual violence against wom- with Janet’s commitment to abortion as “There was no secular justification for en under international law. a right under the Establishment Clause. this discrimination when you looked I was fascinated to learn that Jus- at the legislative history and when you She “got it,” clearly understanding the tice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as Janet’s looked at what the law could do in religious basis of the war against repro- Janet Benshoof longtime friend, had officiated at her monetary terms.” ductive rights. wedding. And I was comforted by the I was pleased to sit by Janet during the We invited her to a convention in IN MEMORIAM Times’ report that five days before her banquet before her award and get a little 1992, but didn’t get to meet her until death from a rare and aggressive can- the following year. To our disappoint- better acquainted. After the evening Among her many accomplishments cer, Ginsburg had sent Janet a note ment, a sudden illness forced her to was over, I happened to pass by Janet up until that point was arguing a case reading, in part: “Martin Luther King cancel at the last minute. So we joked speaking animatedly to her husband before the Supreme Court against the said the arc of the moral universe is when introducing her in Huntsville, on a pay phone at an open booth near Chastity Act passed by Congress. Janet long, but it bends toward justice. To Ala., in 1993 that Janet was “a speaker the hotel ballroom (remember, this argued against this based on the Estab- make that so it takes people of your worth waiting a year for.” And, indeed, was 1993). It’s said those who overhear lishment Clause, a strategy my mother commitment, will and grit.” she was. talk about themselves often hear ill. But and I felt had been sorely missing in le- In her talk, “Fundamental Rights my gratitude for her outstanding legal Janet used her legal degree to be- gal arguments on the right to abortion. and Fundamentalists: Is There a Mid- activism and leadership turned even come a freedom fighter for women and dle Ground?” she told us, presciently: The Justice Department, ultimately, as a warmer when I heard her generally equal justice, making an enormous dif- “When I talk about fundamentalism, result of the court’s action in her case, sing praises of the convention. She then ference both to individual women and I’m not just talking about the old-fash- was forced to adopt rigorous guidelines pulled out a notepad and started to the law. ioned, conservative sects that we knew ensuring it didn’t promote religion. read notes she had taken during Dan’s Janet Benshoof’s commitment to about 20 or 30 years ago. I’m talking She recounted that her first big concert of some of his witty lyrics. We felt equal rights under the law — to the about the growing political religious abortion case was Harris v. McRae, we’d met a kindred “nonspirit.” forgotten women deprived of abortion structure in this country that seeks to lost by a 5-4 vote in the U.S. Supreme Her feisty activism included once tak- rights due to religiously inspired dis- oppose religious freedom for everyone Court in 1980. That unfortunate ruling ing out a full-page ad in The New York crimination — wins her a special place and impose a religious theocracy.” affirmed the right of Congress to pass Times when she was with the ACLU to in my roster of “immortals” — whose We awarded Janet, as president of the Hyde Amendment, cutting off fed- embarrass the state of Utah, after she work and legacy lives after them. the Center for Reproductive Life & Pol- eral funding for almost all abortions discovered a provision on the books Annie Laurie Gaylor is co-president of icy, a “Civil Liberties Heroine” award. for women receiving Medicaid. Today, could be read to mean the death pen- FFRF.

Join FFRF’s ‘Out of the Closet’ SECULAR INVOCATION ing passions about our leaders and our virtual billboard campaign political parties. We have very different Declare and share your nonbelief! Al- This is your chance to proclaim preferences, for or against choices sur- though the nonreligious — nearly one you’re a freethinker and why. It’s work- rounding topics such as gun control, in four U.S. citizens — are a significant ing for the gay rights movement. Now health care, taxation, family planning, segment of the it’s time for atheists and agnostics to immigration, global warming and reli- world population, come out of our closet. Many faces gious privileges — and even a few not-so- many Americans make Enlightenment work. great issues, like whether football players have never know- To be most effective, keep your state- should be allowed to take a knee during ingly met a non- ment succinct. Participants may wish to the playing of the national anthem. believer. You can coin a quotable quote about religion But the ideals and values we share can Donald B. Ardell help dispel myths, that you’d like to see on a real bus sign and surely will override these temporal educate and pro- or advertisement, or to make an affirma- perturbations. I refer to ideals and val- mote reason by tive statement about being a freethinker. Donald B. Ardell ues not found in holy books, but in the adding your voice, We encour- U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of face and message age you to Independence. I refer to values concern- Go to ffrf.org/out St. Pete Beach, Fla. Keith Koetter to FFRF’s friendly really “come ing human rights, safeguards in favor to create your neighborhood freethinker campaign. out of the of the family, provisions for education virtual billboard! City Commission FFRF’s “Out of the Closet” billboards closet” and of the young, care for the health and and bus signs are going up around the use your full Nov. 28, 2017 well-being of all our people, support for country. Although we can’t put every- name. Your “Out of the Closet” state- FFRF Member Donald Ardell writes: critical thought, for reason and science one on a real billboard, every nonbeliev- ment can become your Facebook or “Knowing the mayor of St. Pete Beach, a and the pursuit of happiness. er can participate in this unique “cyber- Twitter image, or even your banner. You fellow triathlete and good friend, I man- These secular treasures give us our board” campaign by going to ffrf.org/out. can include things such as age, title, oc- aged an invitation to deliver an invoca- moral guides, regardless of which reli- (Yours might even be chosen, with your cupation, location or description for a tion. I enjoyed the experience.” gions, if any, we embrace. permission, for an actual billboard.) personal touch. Here is his invocation: America’s greatest orator of the 19th I rise to offer a secular invocation that century, Robert Green Ingersoll, suggest- speaks to all citizens of St. Pete Beach. ed that intellectual liberty is our surest No need to bow your heads or close moral guide. Such intelligence leads to your eyes to consider a few reflections the growth of the ethical, of the idea of upon ideals and values that permanently justice, of conscience, of charity and of unite, as opposed to temporal issues that self-denial, when necessary, for the com- momentarily separate us — in St. Pete mon good. Beach and elsewhere in America. Such liberty is as holy as our Constitu- We share values that override by many tion, as sacred as our flag. It is the blos- times the hot-button issues of the day som and fruit of justice, the perfume of that divide us. mercy. Intellectual liberty, in summary, is Keith Koetter, who was selected as a weekly winner for this virtual billboard Yes, the people of this town, like the seed and soil, the air and light, the and was featured on FFRF’s Facebook page, received an “Out of the Closet Americans in the great cities and rural dew and rain of American progress, love Atheist” cap, which he showcased for us recently. communities across the land, have vary- and joy. January / February 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 23 FFRF greetings from around the country FFRF members and affiliates were able to put up 17 displays in 2017 all around the country, from Washington to Pennsylvania and many points in-between. Below are some of the places (and people) where FFRF signs and banners were displayed in December. Other displays were featured in the December issue of Freethought Today.

When a crèche scene went up at Veterans Memorial Park in the city of Brodhead, Wis., not too far from FFRF Member Paul Novak put up in the Iowa Capitol Madison, the state capital and FFRF’s hometown, the Bill of Rights “nativity” display in December. The the state-church watchdog replied in the form of a exhibit made its debut in 2016 in direct response freethinking display of its own. Here, FFRF Attorney to a nativity scene that went up for the first time in Ryan Jayne stands next to FFRF’s “nativity” display. the Capitol. Among those who spoke at the nativity inaugural was then-Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who lent an official air to the proceedings. Branstad appeared to endorse the religious exhibit by remarking, “We are especially honored and pleased to have the nativity scene here in the Capitol building.” In December, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Elaine Stone stands next to the Bill of Rights attended the opening ceremony of the Thomas display sign she made by taking the image and More Society-installed nativity for its repeat run, printing it on an outdoor mesh in Walnut Creek, as did a state representative. The impropriety of Calif. She writes: “FedEx/Kinko’s did a great job of such piety in the heart of Iowa’s legislative body has reproducing it. I just wrote in permanent marker, obliged FFRF to put up its own “nativity.” ‘Solstice is the Reason for the Season.’ I didn’t go for an explanation of what it meant because all I cared about was that there was something there to counteract the large crèche that is there every year. I live in a senior community and the crèche and my sign are on private property. The really good news is that it hasn’t been vandalized (yet), in contrast to our previous three constructions, With the help of local members Scott Elliott and all of which were knocked down. It makes a real George Haskin, FFRF placed a tongue-in-cheek statement without being offensive. The sign banner proclaiming “Keep Saturn in Saturnalia” has been received very well by the few I have in the city of Warren, Mich. Saturnalia, observed encountered who have mentioned it.” during the time of the Roman Empire, was one Members of the Greater Sacramento Chapter of of the largest of the winter solstice festivities. FFRF were able to put up the “nativity” display Please join FFRF’s The slogan is meant to be a riff on “Keep Christ outside the California Capitol in December for the in Christmas,” and to remind the public of Resurrection Pledge Fund campaign second straight year. From left to right, chapter the real “reason for the season” — the winter at ffrf.org/donate/resurrection-pledge. president Judy Saint, Kathy Johnson, Janet Thew, solstice. Karrie Lucas and John Lucas.

“Resurrection Fund” in the drop-down menu. Another Winter Solstice With your help, we can ensure that thieves and vandals cannot censor FFRF’s freethought mes- sign vandalized sage without triggering a donation that will fund In what has unfortunately turned into an even more FFRF displays. annual tradition, one of FFRF’s Winter Solstice “Our sign is a reminder of the real reason for banners was vandalized at the state Capitol in the season, the Winter Solstice,” says Dan Barker, Washington. Foundation co-president and brother of Darrell. Darrell Barker, president of FFRF’s chapter “Christians don’t own the month of December.” Unfettered Freethinkers of South Sound, got a call on Dec. 20 from someone at the Washington Capitol in Olympia saying that FFRF’s Winter Solstice sign was damaged. The banner sits not far from a nativity scene. On inspection, Bark- er saw that the ties had been cut and the frame twisted and toppled. Barker quickly restored the banner and frame. FFRF’s Winter Solstice sign outside the Washington The FFRF banner has been erected the last Capitol was vandalized. few years to counter a large nativity display that is just the latest in a line of misdeeds done to has appeared in recent times at the Capitol. In FFRF’s signs and banners. In early December 2008, FFRF installed its sign inside the Capitol 2016, one of FFRF’s signs was covered in spray building to counter a life-sized nativity exhibit paint in Boca Raton, Fla., within 24 hours of it allowed for a second year within the Statehouse. being put up. Shortly thereafter, a Winter Sol- Placement of the sign that year set off such a stice “Let Reason Prevail” banner Manassas, Va., firestorm, when Fox News host Bill O’Reilly and was stolen. And in Shelton, Conn., a banner was others condemned its presence, that the gov- slashed by a vandal a few days before Christmas. ernor ended public forums inside the Capitol. To alleviate some of the problems with the That was FFRF’s goal. However, the state is now vandalism, beginning in late 2015, FFRF created permitting displays outside the Capitol, and a a Resurrection Pledge Fund so that those displays nativity scene has been placed there by a private can be “resurrected” in a timely manner. Donors Darrell Barker, right, is joined by other members group in a number of subsequent years. That’s may pledge any amount, but would pay only if of the Washington FFRF chapter, Unfettered why the FFRF banner is also on the scene. any of FFRF’s displays are stolen, vandalized or Freethinkers of South Sound, which put up the sign The vandalism to the Washington display destroyed. Donate at ffrf.org/donate and select outside the Capitol. Page 24 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | January / February 2018

FFRF’s Winter Solstice celebration!

FFRF Co-President Dan Barker plays piano while Susan FFRF members and staff listen to Barker and Hofer during the Dec. 20 celebration. Donations by FFRF Hofer sings some nontraditional tunes. The pair finished members and staff during the party raised nearly $500 and an overflowing bin with 130 pounds of with a crowd sing-along of “Auld Lang Syne.” nonperishable food items for Second Harvest Foodbank in Madison, Wis.

Members were treated FFRF members and staff mingle before the start of the annual Winter FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor holds to appetizers, cheeses, Solstice party in the Charlie Brooks Auditorium at Freethought Hall. up a copy of the full-page ad that would run “deviled” eggs and plenty of the next day (Dec. 21) in the New York Times. sweets. The ad calls out President Trump for pushing an agenda that goes against the Establishment Clause of separating religion from government.

Flowers, including this amaryllis, helped brighten the atmosphere on the next- to-shortest day of sunlight of the year.

Ivy Barker is excited to take home FFRF Member Jeff Brinckman, left, chats with FFRF Associate some leftover cookies from the Counsel Sam Grover and Communications Coordinator Lauryn Photos by party. Seering. Chris Line

Save The Dates! Coming Next Month 41st Annual FFRF National Convention in Freethought Today

Mark your calendar now for the 2018 FFRF National Convention in San Francisco! Steven Pinker’s The 41st annual convention will be held Nov. 2-4 at the Hyatt Regency. FFRF We hope to see you there! convention speech