Denver FFRF Schools’ troubled Safe and chapter puts history with legal abortion up 12 billboards religion continues is pro-life PAGE 7 PAGE 16 PAGE 12

Vol. 34 No. 4 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. May 2017 Visiting the ark park on a lark Poundstone joins lively lineup at convention FFRF is excited to announce that well-known comedian Paula Poundstone, an “out” atheist, will perform at its 40th annual convention. Poundstone joins Nation columnist, writer and poet Katha Pollitt as two of the latest additions to the impressive convention lineup for the weekend of Sept. 15-17 at the Monona Terrace FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel recently took a tour of Ken Ham’s $100 million Ark Encounter in Convention Cen- Kentucky. Despite Ham’s reports to the contrary, attendance has been way below projected numbers, ter in Madison, and, according to Seidel, the ark is filled with logical and scientific impossibilities, including dinosaurs! Wis. See Seidel’s story on page 13. View the digital ad at ffrf.org/ark-ad. Poundstone is one of America’s top comedians. She is listed in Comedy Central’s Taking on the Internal Revenue Service list of “100 Great- est Stand-Ups Of Paula Poundstone Ministerial housing as the estate of President Emerita requires complex determinations All Time” and has allowance goes before , were denied relating to the tenets, principles also won an Amer- court once again a similar benefit, although FFRF and practices of those churches ican Comedy Award for Best Female Standup designates a housing allowance that provide their clergy with cash Comic. She routinely identifies as an atheist in FFRF has filed a federal brief for them. Attorney Rich L. Bolton, housing allowances.” her performances. Among Poundstone’s claims supporting its long-running who authored the brief, writes, The IRS and several churches to fame is her regular appearances as a panelist challenge of the preferential tax “The Supreme Court has refused that intervened in the case filed on on NPR’s funny weekly news quiz show, “Wait treatment that the IRS provides to allow government to preferen- March 8 for summary judgment. Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me.” to ministers of the gospel. tially favor religion with tax breaks FFRF’s response brief debunks In 2016, Paula voiced the character “Forgetter FFRF’s brief, filed before U.S. that are not generally available to many of their claims. Both the IRS Paula” in Disney/Pixar’s Academy Award-winning District Judge Barbara Crabb in other taxpayers.” and the churches contend that animated feature film, “Inside Out.” In June 2016, Madison, Wis., on April 5, forceful- Besides the direct advancement the housing allowance, passed by her first double-live CD, “North By Northwest: ly argues that the IRS is discriminat- of religion, the housing allowance Congress in 1954, is on par with Paula Poundstone Live!” debuted at No. 1 on both ing by allowing clergy — and only fosters excessive government en- housing provided more generally Amazon’s “Hot New Releases – Nonfiction” and clergy — to exclude cash payments tanglement with religion. FFRF “for the convenience of the em- “Comedy CD” lists. for housing from taxable income. points out: “In order to ensure that ployer.” But FFRF counters: “The In 1992, she became the first woman to host the FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker this preferential tax benefit is lim- historical evidence indicates that prestigious White House Correspondents dinner and , as well ited to religious officials, §107(2) See Housing on page 9 See Convention on page 24 How I won $1,000 betting on the Antichrist

By Derek Mathias guy so that he wouldn’t forget about our deal. And on Jan. 20, as you know, I won the bet. Of course, few months ago, one of the many fundamen- I was disappointed that we now have a wee-handed talist Christians I’ve argued with on YouTube tangerine tweet monkey as our president, but at least A claimed that President Obama is the Antichrist, I had $1,000 coming to me from my fundie oppo- and that he would seek a third presidential term. nent. To his credit, with a little appeal to his honor, Being aware of how our government works, I im- he sent the money. mediately bet the guy $1,000 that Obama would step This bet was about teaching a lesson, not about down after his second term. My fundie opponent was enriching myself, so I wanted to donate the mon- hesitant, but I challenged him to have the courage of ey to a worthy organization. To that end, I’ve sent his convictions and put his money where his mouth a $1,000 donation to the Freedom From Religion is. He finally agreed to take the bet, but with one Foundation to become a Life Member . . . because change: If he won, he wouldn’t take my money, but I I just like the poetic justice of fundies helping to would instead have to delete all of my anti-theism vid- finance an atheist organization. eos and never make another such video ever again. Unfortunately, the only lesson my opponent learned Derek Mathias shows off the $1,000 he won betting Of course, I agreed immediately. a fundamentalist Christian that President Obama As the weeks went by, I kept up a dialog with the See Antichrist on page 5 would not take a third presidential term. Page 2 FFRF | TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | May 2017 Anthropolo-gee, this is interesting! Name: Sue Kocher. hooked on travel and language learn- Where I live: Raleigh, N.C. ing. I realized no one was hiring eth- Where and when I was born: Grand nographers anymore, so I would more Rapids, Mich., in 1956. likely wind up teaching Anthropology Family: I am second oldest of five 101 somewhere and being pressured to children — one of the smaller Catho- publish. The question was how to sup- lic families in our neighborhood at the port myself and still be able to live in in- time. My father was a devoted Catholic teresting places. The answer was to get and deacon, but he died of a heart at- a master’s degree in teaching English tack at 48, when I was 8 years old. My as a Second Language. Which I did, at mother returned to waitressing and the University of Hawaii — those were raised us on her own, with the help of some wonderful years! After my grad- Social Security and veteran’s benefits uate studies, I taught academic English — my father having served as a radio- reading and writing in Japan, Australia man in WW2. It was a bit rough some- and Turkey over a period of 12 years. times, but we had what we needed. Along the way I married a Turk, and we I have lost two siblings — my el- moved from Istanbul to North Carolina der sister to illness, my baby sister to in 1996 — both of us ready for a career estrangement. She no longer speaks change. I’ve been here ever since — he to me except to spew anger and ha- moved on after an amicable divorce. tred because of my and liber- Occupation: I work at a large cor- al politics. Fortu- poration that pro- nately, I still have duces complex an- two siblings that I alytics software for love and enjoy: my various industries dear brother (who around the world. is also an atheist) I started as a tech- and a younger sis- nical editor, and Sue Kocher, left, taunts a Westboro Baptist protester with her sign. ter (also atheist, eventually worked though not very out a niche for Fathers by a man who was supposedly around him, and knew how lucky he “out” or thoughtful myself as corpo- taking orders from — but who was to have experienced it for even a about it). rate terminologist. was really just a man. day, much less for a long lifetime. Education: I had What I do is main- I kept a churchy journal when I was Quotation I like: Anything by Doro- a wonderful men- tain a database of in third grade at Catholic School — thy Parker. Here’s one: “The cure for tor in my child- terms, definitions someone had stolen it and ditched it boredom is curiosity. There is no cure hood who helped and usage stan- in the boiler room, where it was found for curiosity.” Also, anything by Jack me navigate the dards that we use and returned to me 20 years later! I Handy. Here’s one: “If a kid asks where mystical waters of in our software and didn’t write in it much — mostly about rain comes from, I think a cute thing college applica- documentation. I the reptiles and amphibians I caught to tell him is ‘God is crying.’ And if he tions and financial Sue Kocher get to interact with and kept as pets, or how much I dis- asks why God is crying, another cute aid. Thanks to her, people in all areas liked the bully at school who tripped thing to tell him is ‘Probably because I was accepted into a small liberal arts and levels of the company and it keeps me so that he could see my underwear of something you did.’” college, tuition-free, and graduated in me on my toes. under my plaid uniform skirt. But I These are a few of my favorite things: 1979 with a major in anthropology. I be- My doubts about religion started: found one page that stated, “Oh, how Finding an interesting creature and came aware of the Looking back, I I love Jesus!” and I chuckled to myself, knowing what it is — or finding out Peace Corps, and MEET A MEMBER realize that I had remembering how I wrote those words what it is. I love growing, eating and thought that would doubts at a very on Pascal’s wager — not believing it, sharing edible plants. Zoos, especial- be a wonderful way to live and learn in young age. I don’t remember ever but covering my bases just in case. ly if they’re well designed and full of a completely different culture before really believing in Santa Claus; I re- My first anthropology class was “enrichment” stuff. Walks in the woods pursuing my studies in anthropology. member pretending to believe. It was life-changing, because there I learned with my dogs. My dogs, period. Calling I fancied being an ethnographer like the same with religion. My mother how vastly different human cultures my hens and seeing them all run at me Margaret Mead. Ha! So I went to Thai- had tried to continue our father’s re- are, how it’s possible for people to with their stomping, swinging gait, like land as a volunteer for two years, work- ligious tradition, sending us to paro- hold completely different views of re- so many little fluffy dinosaurs. ing in family planning and village de- chial school through the fifth grade. ality and spirituality, and to be entirely These are not: Climate change and velopment in the poor provinces of the But her heart wasn’t in it, and looking convinced that “ours is the one, only weirdly scary weather. The continuing Northeast. I also worked in the Cambo- back, we kids were all pretty much pre- and best” way to see the world. Study- pretense on the news and in conver- dian refugee camps that were hurriedly tending our way through Mass, con- ing the cargo cults of Melanesia, which sations that there’s time to do some- erected along the border after the end fessions, and the rest of it. I remem- were so bizarre and irrational, I real- thing about it later. Our reactionary of the Vietnam war, during the genocid- ber making up sins in the confessional ized that my own childhood religion Republican leaders in North Caroli- al campaign of the Khmer Rouge. because I either felt I hadn’t sinned was equally bizarre. I began to see all na. People getting away with negli- How I got to where I am today: Those enough to waste the priest’s time, or religions as culture-bound artifacts, gent homicide or murder caused by two years in Thailand changed my life in I just couldn’t remember them all. I serving various social and political in- religious fervor. People who run over so many ways. I gave up my plans for an remember thinking how silly it was to terests, and no divine purpose. turtles trying to cross the road, or who academic career because, by then, I was be assigned 20 Hail Marys and 10 Our When I lived in Thailand, I dabbled honk at me when I stop traffic to ush- a bit with Buddhism. But when I saw er the critter to the shoulder. Buddhism in practice, and met re- Before I die: I want to see the Grand vered monks who lazed around smok- Canyon, Machu Picchu and the ing and eating like kings, and who Galapagos. sold amulets of themselves for good Ways I promote freethought: My luck — I was disillusioned. work with Triangle Freethought So- Published by Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. It wasn’t until I moved to North ciety, of which I am a founding mem- P.O. Box 750 Madison WI 53701 Carolina and became involved with ber, is my approach toward thinking skeptics groups, and later joined an globally while acting locally. I think [email protected] FFRF.org atheist meetup, that I realized: That’s it’s imperative that we normalize P 608.256.8900 F 608.204.0422 what I am! I am an atheist! And the atheism if we are to have any hope more I learn, the more proud I am of replacing religion with reason. EDITOR P.J. Slinger [email protected] with this identity. I’ve dabbled in activism through var- EDITOR EMERITUS Bill Dunn Person in history I admire: Oh, ious groups and for various causes, EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Annie Laurie Gaylor there are so many. But Anne Nicole but now I consider atheist activism GRAPHIC DESIGNER Roger Daleiden Gaylor, principal founder of the FFRF, the most economical way to spend COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Amit Pal feminist, activist, crusader for reason, my activist time. Virtually every issue is right up there. She was a pioneer, that I care about — social injustice, CONTRIBUTORS intelligent and fierce. Richard Feyn- income inequality, homophobia, cli- Ingrid Andersson, Philip Appleman, Dan Barker, Patrick Elliott, Cidney Fisk, man was a pretty awesome guy. He was mate change, nukes, war, environ- Sam Grover, Jim Helton, Kelly Helton, Nicole Niebler, Molly Hanson, brilliant, he was hilariously funny, and mental degradation, erosion of abor- Sue Kocher, Chris Line, Lauryn Seering, Andrew Seidel, Jake Swenson, he genuinely cared about the human tion rights, you name it — is aided Linda K. Wertheimer race and about all life on our beau- and abetted by religious belief, and/ The only freethought newspaper in the United States tiful planet. Most of all, he was filled or by the rich and powerful who use with wonder and awe about the world religion to further their aims. May 2017 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 3 Darrow statue to inherit the lawn ‘Scopes Monkey Trial’ world’s eyes and ears to a small town in Tennessee.” defense attorney to But many people in the conservative If today you can take a thing like evolution and make it a be honored in July town are not in favor of the Darrow crime to teach it in the public school, tomorrow you can make it statue, writes Benton. a“ crime to teach it in the private schools, and the next year you A statue of “Scopes Monkey Trial” defense attorney Clarence Darrow will “Bill Hollin, a 23-year Rhea County can make it a crime to teach it to the hustings or in the church. commission veteran, is opposed to the join that of his legal counterpart in the — Clarence Darrow, “Scopes Trial” courtroom speech, July 13, 1925 1925 case outside the famous court- Darrow statue because of his own reli- house in Dayton, Tenn., this summer. gious beliefs and because he sees no Darrow is the lawyer who defend- reason to celebrate the man who lost ed John T. Scopes against creationist the trial and whose opponent contrib- prosecutor Williams Jennings Bryan, a uted so much to Dayton. ‘There’s a lot three-time presidential candidate. of people in the community that op- The sculptor is Zenos Frudakis, pose it,’ Hollins said.” who is a member of FFRF and will “That’s strange, to put a statue of a lib- speak at FFRF’s 40th annual conven- eral in Dayton,” Mike Scott told the Times tion in Madison, Wis., the weekend Free Press. “But you can’t tell which side of Sept. 15-17. The installation of the is the right unless you see the left.” statue is expected to take place on In July 1925, Dayton High School July 13, with the dedication on July teacher John T. Scopes went on trial 14. That is also the first day of the for violating state law by teaching that Scopes Trial Play and Festival. human beings evolved from a “lower A sculpture of Bryan was installed in order of animals.” Scopes was convicted 2005 and is on the south side at the front and fined $100, but the decision was re- of the Rhea County Courthouse. The versed two years later by the Tennessee Darrow statue will be placed adjacent to Supreme Court. The case raised debate the Bryan statue on the north side. on issues such as separation of church “Ralph Green, president of the and state, academic freedom and the re- Rhea County Historical and Gene- lationship between science and religion. alogical Society, said the statue will In 1977, the National Park Service make for a more complete story of named the Rhea County Courthouse a the trial,” writes Ben Benton of the National Historic Landmark. Chattanooga Times Free Press. “He The events of the trial were made said it lends authenticity to the play, into the 1960 movie, “Inherit the which relies ‘about 90 percent’ on Wind,” a fictionalized version of the the trial transcripts. Green said his- trial starring Spencer Tracy as the Dar- torical society members felt Darrow row character and Fredric March as would balance the story and give vis- the Bryan character. itors to Dayton a look at the ‘two gi- Please look for more information on this ants,’ who faced off over topics that Darrow statue project in FFRF’s May ap- Sculptor Zenos Frudakis stands next to his statue of Clarence Darrow, which will still stir controversy and drew the peal, arriving via U.S. mail. be placed outside the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tenn., this summer. Sign up for FFRF Darrow celebration July 13 in Chattanooga You’re cordially invited to Freedom Register for Darrow 15 and July 22-23, at the Rhea County Turkey Gravy From Religion Foundation’s Clarence Courthouse, 1475 Market St., Dayton, Marinated Pork Shoulder, Carolina Darrow Dinner Party in Chattanooga Dinner Party now! TN 37321. Space is limited! Clear BBQ on Thursday, July 13, celebrating the Registration per person is $45, Reserve promptly to avoid dis- Slow Cooked Roast Beef, Pan Sauce installation that day of a statue of the which covers the “Southern Exposure appointment. Classic Mac n’ Cheese with Aged famed Scopes Trial litigator in Day- Buffet,” 20 percent service charge and Cheddar & Gruyère Cheese ton, Tenn. The dinner party will be 9.25 percent state tax. See menu below. Southern Exposure Beer Braised Collards followed with the public dedication of Registration will be cut off on Wed., Sweet Potato Mash with Brown the statue in Dayton on Friday. Dayton July 5, or when capacity is reached. Dinner Buffet Sugar-Maple Butter & Pecans is about 40 miles from Chattanooga. Register online at ffrf.org/Darrowdinner. $45 includes 20 percent service Fried Green Tomato Slices, Roasted That Friday also marks the first day Or register by phone at: 800/335-4021 charge and 9.25 percent state tax Red Pepper Chèvre Remoulade Corn- of the 29th annual Scopes Trial Play Central weekdays. Confetti Cole Slaw bread Muffins, Honey Butter | Yeast and Festival. You may wish to top off Three Bean Salad Rolls | Biscuits the day by go- Courtesy hotel block Panzanella Salad (Chattanooga Includes coffee, tea, sweet tea, & des- ing to the reen- Sourdough) serts: Strawberry Short Cake | Banana actment of the – reserve now! Cajun Fried Turkey Breast, Blackened Pudding | Fried Apple Pies | Pecan Pie Scopes Trial play, While rooms last, the Chattanoo- performed an- gan Hotel, 1201 Broad St., Chattanoo- Return with payment to be received no later than July 6 to: nually in the his- ga, Tenn., site of the dinner party, is FFRF, Attn: Darrow Party, PO Box 750, Madison WI 53701 toric court-house holding a courtesy block of rooms on where the Scopes Thursday and Friday, July 13-14. Make Clarence Darrow Celebration Dinner Party Trial took place your own reservations, using the code Thursday, July 13, 6:30 PM in Dayton. The “Clarence Darrow Party.” (FFRF’s event historic court- webpage, ffrf.org/Darrowdinner, will also Chattanoogan Hotel. Chattanoonga, Tennesee Nicole Jacobsen house and mu- link directly to the hotel registration Number Registering Total Cost seum may be toured, and was desig- while rooms last.) Register promptly to nated a National Historic Landmark avoid disappointment. Other nearby Southern Exposure Buffet Ticket ______$45 $______in 1977. hotels include the Marriot and Stay- Appropriate for vegetarian Make check payable to: FFRF Talented sculptor Zenos Frudakis bridge. The rate of $149 plus tax in- (see story above) will give a short vi- cludes free WiFi. sual presentation at the dinner party Downtown Chattanooga has a lot of Names of all registrants and FFRF Co-President Dan Barker charm, offers attractions and easy walk- will entertain at the piano. Special ing, a variety of restaurants, an aquar- guest will be Nicole Jacobsen, who ium, a riverfront, an art district and Address City / State / ZIP grew up in Dayton and whose family pedestrian bridge. members were the unnamed plain- Phone Email tiffs in FFRF’s federal lawsuit ending Scopes Trial play tickets a legacy of the Scopes trial — weekly Credit Card Number Expiration Date / Security Code bible instruction in the public schools Purchase tickets directly from the by bible students from William Jen- Tennessee Valley Theater at 423.365. nings Bryan Bible College. FFRF and PLAY (7529), Website: scopesfestival. Signature Contact info for in-house use only the brave family won the case at the com. (Tickets were not yet available *Includes 20% service charge & 9.25% state tax district level and at the Sixth Circuit for sale as of press time.) The play is Court of Appeals in 2004. conducted over two weekends, July 14- Or register online at ffrf.org/Darrowdinner Page 4 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | May 2017 HEADS UP Crosses removed from A Poetry Column By Philip Appleman public school windows A SIMPLE EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING By Jeremy Wood When the Syrians came down like a wolf on the fold, Ahab of Israel sharpened his sword, On the morning of Sunday, Feb. 12, And soon the Jordan was running with blood. while playing with my kids at the play- ground of our neighborhood public Why did they kill? elementary school in Hobbs, N.M., They killed for the Lord. I noticed some crosses in a window When ran off to Medina, he swore facing the playground. This area of the school is mostly offices and large He would roar back to Mecca, this time with a horde rooms, but since most of the rest of the Photo by Jeremy Wood Of warriors thirsting for infidel gore. window was blocked, I wasn’t sure what Two crosses are seen in a public Why did they kill? room the crosses were in. My children elementary school window in Hobbs, They killed for the Lord. and I go to this park often, and this is N.M. Jeremy Wood complained and the first time we had seen the crosses. had them removed. When the Pope’s Inquisition put thousands in chains, The next morning, I went to the She said she would “let them know.” Their bodies were broken and branded and gored, school and asked if they were aware of The next day, noticing the cross was And the innocent perished in spasms of pain. the crosses in the window and that the still in the classroom window, I called just Why did they kill? presence of the crosses was a violation to make it clear that I wasn’t going to just of the Constitu- go away, and this is They killed for the Lord. tion. The woman IT PAYS TO COMPLAIN when I first started When the Puritans filled all New with dread, explained that she feeling like I was Hunting down women whose thoughts they abhorred, was unaware of them and that my de- getting the runaround. I went to school scription of where they were outside district website and found that Lopez was They strung up the witches until they were dead. would not be sufficient for her to ascer- actually assistant to the superintendent Why did they kill? tain where they might be in the build- and that TJ Parks was superintendent. They killed for the Lord. ing, and that my only option would be I emailed Parks and Lopez remind- to call the district administration office. ing them that all Americans are entitled Now our Born-Agains tell us God gives them the word: So I called there and, after explain- to the same freedoms and asking them Send infidels off to their blazing reward! ing the situation to the receptionist, to uphold the Constitution. Happily, So far-away rivers are running with blood. was transferred to Terry Lopez, who the crosses were removed soon after. Why are we killing? introduced herself as the superinten- This was an eye-opening expe- We kill for the Lord. dent. Lopez informed me that she rience. I approached for help oth- would look into the matter. er people who have claimed to be © Philip Appleman. That first set of crosses was, thank- friendly toward nonbelievers and From New and Selected Poems, 1956–1996 fully, removed that afternoon. Unfor- was laughed at and told, “People ar- Philip Appleman is a Dis­tinguished Professor­ Emeritus­ at tunately, while walking home, I noticed en’t gonna go for that around here.” ­ na­ Uni­ver­sity.­ He is editor of the Norton Critical Edition that another cross had popped up in While I am thrilled that the superin- of Darwin. His published volumes of poetry include New what appeared to be a first-grade class- tendent upheld the Constitution, this and Selected Poems: (1956-1996), Perfidious Proverbs and room. I called and thanked Lopez for whole situation has showed me exactly Other Poems: A Satirical Look at the Bible (2012), Darwin’s the removal of the first cross and ex- how precarious our position is as non- Ark (new 2009 edition) and Karma, Dharma, Pudding & Pie plained that another had popped up. believers in a tiny town. (2009). His newest book is The Labyrinth: God, Darwin and the Meaning of Life. He and his playwright wife, Marjorie Appleman, are both “After-Life” Members of FFRF. Phil’s books: ffrf.org/shop. OVERHEARD

You already have on issues without endorsing specific FFRF welcomes 26 new religious protec- candidates for office. tion. Why would George O. Wood, general superinten- you push this bill dent of . Lifers, two Immortals out that does ab- Religion News Service, 3-30-17 solutely nothing? FFRF is pleased to announce and L. Long, David McRorey, Stephen Mer- All you’re doing This bill makes a mockery of religious welcome its 26 newest Lifetime Mem- shon, Nancy Pennock, Jill Preotle, Sam is trying to divide freedom by allow- bers and two new Immortals. Stark, Jr., James Walker, Janice I. Welch, people. And I’m ing public officials Jack Pedigo and Dr. David Herbert and Scott K. Welch (no relation). just not going to to discriminate have joined the ranks of Immortals, Individual Lifetime Memberships tolerate it. against virtually which is a designation for those kind are $1,000, designated as membership Virginia Gov. anyone who fails to members who have contacted FFRF to or membership renewal, and are de- Photo by Edward Kimmel Terry McAuliffe, meet their person- Terry McAuliffe. report that they have made provisions ductible for income-tax purposes, as after vetoing two al moral standards. for FFRF in their estate planning. are all dues and donations to FFRF, Republican-backed bills aimed at Kathy Miller, pres- Our 26 new Lifetime Members a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It ensures no protecting religious groups that op- ident of the are Bapu Arekapudi, Tom Beckwith, more renewal notices and goes into a pose same-sex marriage. Freedom Network, Michael J. Briggs, Martha W. Carter, rainy-day fund. Richmond Times-Dispatch, 3-23-17 discussing Texas Charles Cedergren, Dr. John A. Daven- The states represented are Califor- Senate Bill 522, port, James W. and Karen T. Dearborn, nia, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illi- This idea that the sins of our past which would allow Kathy Miller Naomi Diamond, Larry S. Duggan, Mi- nois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michi- are a byproduct of some general so- county clerks to chael Epsteen, Dr. Edward C. Field, Cin- gan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, cietal failing, rather than being the opt out of signing marriage licenses for dy Gross, Richard B. Hartman, James K. , Tennessee, Utah, Washing- inevitable outcome of a church-run, gay couples if the clerk in question finds Haynes, Kayla Koeber, Joe Leslie, Max ton, West Virginia and Wisconsin. state-supported policy of punishing that doing so would violate “sincerely women for out-of-wedlock pregnan- held religious beliefs.” cies also finds an echo in the highest Houston Press, 4-3-17 What is the Freedom From Religion Foundation? levels of government. Sadhbh Walshe, writing in response to Science and truth remarkably always Founded in 1978 as a national organization of freethinkers (atheists the almost 800 children who died and need advocacy against the forces of and agnostics), the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., works to were buried in a mass grave outside a nostalgia and fear and irrationality. . . . keep state and church separate and to educate the public about the former home for unwed mothers run At the end of the day, policy has to be views of nontheists. by Catholic nuns in Tuam, Ireland. guided by facts and truth. . . . I repre- , 3-30-17 sent one of the most educated districts Foundation members wishing to receive online news releases, “action in the country. And so, I think my con- alerts” and “Freethought of the Day” should contact info@ff rf.org. If we begin to endorse candidates, stituents expect this of me. Please include your name, email and physical mailing address. then we are politicizing the church, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, diluting our message, and bringing who has proposed commemorating the unnecessary division among our peo- birth date of Charles Darwin. ple. It is sufficient that we can speak Danbury News Times, 4-13-17 May 2017 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 5 A meeting of the freethinking minds FFRF proud co-sponsor opher A.C. Grayling, singer Shelly of two-day event in Segal, columnist for Charlie Hebdo Zineb El Rhazoui (who was out the London on July 22-23 day of the massacre), and and Irani- Notable freethinkers from around an-born rights activist Maryam Nama- the world will come together this sum- zie, who organized the prestigious mer in London for a weekend of dis- conference. Namazie will be receiv- cussions and debates on freedom of ing the Henry H. Zumach Freedom conscience and expression. From Fundamentalist Religion Award The International Conference on at FFRF’s 40th annual conference in Freedom of Conscience and Expres- Madison the weekend of Sept. 15-17. sion in the 21st Century will be held (See pages 23-24 for FFRF conven- July 22-23 and is co-sponsored by the tion details and information.) Freedom From Religion Foundation, The conference will highlight the among several other organizations. voices of people on the front lines of FFRF Co-Presidents Annie Laurie resistance —­ many of them persecuted Gaylor and Dan Barker will among and exiled — as well as address challeng- the more than 60 people scheduled es faced by activists and freethinkers. It to speak or perform during the con- will also elaborate on the links between FFRF is one of the co-sponsors of the International Conference on Freedom of ference. Discussions will include top- democratic politics and free expression Conscience and Expression in the 21st Century, which will be held July 22-23 in London. ics such as censorship and blasphemy and conscience, promote secular and laws, freedom of and from religion, rights-based alternatives, and establish , the limits of religion’s role priorities for collective action. Sudan, , Switzerland, Syria, Tur- Equal Rights Now, Fitnah, National in society, LGBT and women’s rights, Speakers will come from dozens of key, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Secular Society, One Law for All, Rich- atheism, secular values and more. countries around the world, including United States and Yemen. ard Dawkins Foundation for Reason Other noted speakers include Algeria, , Canada, Egypt, The conference is sponsored by and Science, Southall Black Sisters, activist, blogger and writer Bonya France, India, Iran, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdis- FFRF, Atheist International Alliance, and is a Women’s Issue. Ahmed (who spoke at FFRF’s 2016 tan, Ireland, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mo- Bread and Roses TV, Centre for Sec- For more information or to sign up convention in Pittsburgh), scientist rocco, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Pales- ular Space, Council of Ex- of to attend the conference, go to secular- and author , philos- tinian Territories, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Culture Project, Euromind, conference.com.

A winning pose Antichrist Continued from page 1

is not to make bets with me. But there is an important lesson here that we can all take away from this: If people make essentially impossible but testable claims based on the bible or any other scrip- ture, then bet them $1,000 that it won’t happen. If they’re hesitant, goad them by appealing to their convictions. After all, their religion teaches them not to doubt their beliefs: • James 1:6 — But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that FFRF Member Marie Schaub stands in the spot is driven and tossed by the wind. where a Ten Commandments monument stood • Matthew 21:21 — And Jesus an- for decades outside Valley High School in New swered them, “Truly, I say to you, if Kensington, Pa. Schaub was the plaintiff in you have faith and do not doubt, you FFRF’s victorious lawsuit against the school will not only do what has been done to district, challenging the monument on school the fig tree, but even if you say to this grounds. It was removed on March 21. mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.” • Matthew 14:31 — Jesus immedi- ately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of Vandalism not unexpected outside Creation Museum little faith, why did you doubt?” It’s galling to them when an athe- By Jim Helton ning the protest of the opening of the Ark Encounter last ist is more willing to put his certain- July, we were surprised to discover that the highway in ty on the line than they are. Not only hen the Tri-State Freethinkers originally thought front of the life-size “replica” ark was available to be ad- should you end up with some money about adopting a highway, I could think of no opted. So, we adopted that one as well. you can use to do some good, but you Wbetter place to do it than in front of Ken Ham’s We will continue to clean up after Ken Ham on the may even teach someone that claims Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky. We have been clean- highways and in our local schools. based on faith are indistinguishable ing the highway for four years now. Jim Helton is president of the Tri-State Freethinkers. from claims based on fantasy. As a group, we do about 40 volunteer projects every Oh, and one last thing: Thanks, year. By far, our members’ favorite event is cleaning the Obama! highway leading to the Creation Museum. We adopted Derek Mathias, who creates antitheistic the highway as a way for us to clean up the environment, YouTube videos with the username as well as let the people know driving by that there are “Underlings,” is from California and also rational people living in Kentucky. a member of FFRF’s Greater Sacramento When Ham first saw our signs, he wrote a blog post that Chapter. Thank you, Derek! basically thanked us for keeping the highway clean, but also said that we Losing Faith in Faith: were still going From Preacher to Atheist To be perfectly honest, I’m to burn in hell. He also sent surprised it took this long for How Dan “threw out someone to vandalize our signs. us the following invite: “For our the bathwater and discovered there is part, we would be A vandal threw paint on the Tri-State Freethinkers Adopt- no baby there.” willing to meet with these local freethinkers and chat with A-Highway sign in Kentucky, but members painted the them. Let’s establish a dialogue and have a free exchange lettering back on. “We were unable to remove the paint By Dan Barker of ideas.” We tried to take him up on his offer, but as of from the sign, so we just painted over it,” Jim Helton said. today, Ken Ham has not sat down with us. “I actually like the paint blotch remaining on the sign. It is Buy it from FFRF online To be perfectly honest, I’m surprised it took this long a reminder of the all the work we have to do in order to be shop.ff rf.org for someone to vandalize our signs. While we were plan- treated with equality and respect.” Page 6 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | May 2017 Are one-quarter of Americans atheists? New study puts number acknowledge any specific condition. The other half of participants got of nonbelievers the same list, but with one statement much higher than added: “I believe in God.” By comparing the responses be- previously thought tween the groups, the researchers Trying to figure out how many Amer- could then estimate how many people icans who don’t believe in God is a don’t believe in God. (Because both tough undertaking for any researcher. groups should, in theory, have a sim- Asking people simply if they are athe- ilar number of vegetarians, dog own- ists doesn’t generate a correct number, ers, etc., any increases in the number researchers say, because many people of agreed-to statements from the first think the word “atheist” is too negative group to the second should be re- and don’t want to be associated with it. flective of the number of people who But even asked if they don’t believe in don’t believe in God.) God, the number of respondents is still Gervais and Najle replicated the likely highly under-representative of cent,” Gervais said. Gervais and Najle have submitted study with a second sample of 2,000 the actual number, because people, in Most reputable polls have shown their results to the journal Social Psy- participants, and got similar results to general, aren’t willing to divulge that that about 10 percent of Americans chological and Personality Science. the first study. information openly. don’t believe in God, and that num- To get a more accurate reading on As for the veracity of this research, But two psychologists from the Uni- ber has been growing every year. But the number of atheists, Gervais and the psychologists admit that it does versity of Kentucky think they have no poll has ever made the leap to say Najle set up a test of 2,000 people. have a wide margin of error, but they found a better method. And their re- that a quarter of the population are Half of the participants were asked do stand by their contention that the sults are surprising. atheists, although a quarter identifies to read through a list of statements number of reported nonbelievers Will Gervais and Maxine Najle have as “nonreligious.” such as “I am a vegetarian” or “I own a around the country has been continu- determined, with a somewhat high “There’s a lot of atheists in the dog.” Instead of answering yes or no to ally underreported. margin of error, that 26 percent of closet,” Gervais said. “If they knew each, the participants only had to write “In time, we’ll hopefully be able Americans are atheists. there are lots of people just like them down the number of statements that to refine our methods and find oth- “We can say with a 99 percent prob- out there, that could potentially pro- were true for them. Using this meth- er indirect measurement techniques,” ability that it’s higher than 11 per- mote more tolerance.” od, participants don’t have to directly Gervais says. FFRF protests NASA religious grant FFRF is again protesting a wrongful • Formulating a “Christian re- NASA grant of more than $1 million in sponse” to scientific studies on taxpayer money that was largely used morality, for religious purposes. • Developing a new model of bibli- In May 2015, NASA’s astrobiology cal interpretation. program awarded $1.108 million to • Relating themes from First Cor- the Center of Theological Inquiry for inthians, a book in the Christian bi- “an interdisciplinary inquiry on the so- ble, to astrobiology. cietal implications of astrobiology, the • Reconciling a potential astrobiol- study of the origins, evolution, distribu- ogy discovery with Christian theology. tion, and future of life in the universe.” • Looking at how astrobiology FFRF sends Center Director William Storrar stat- would affect the Christian doctrine of ed at the time, “The aim of this inquiry ing through these pages, Seidel and redemption. rebuttal to Air is to foster theology’s dialogue with as- FFRF’s legal interns made two startling • Examining Christian ethics trobiology on its societal implications, discoveries: First, there was damning and Christian doctrines of human National Guard enriched by the contribution of scholars evidence confirming that the grant obligation. After a concerned guardsman in- in the humanities and social sciences.” was indeed unconstitutional, violating • Looking at societal implications formed FFRF that ceremonies at the FFRF sent a letter last year question- the separation of state and church. of astrobiology with “theological Pease Air National Guard Base regular- ing the grant. The principal thrust of And, second, NASA Technical Offi- ethics.” ly schedule chaplains to deliver Chris- the grant was theological. The grant cer Mary Voytek, the official manag- • Writing a monograph on Chris- tian invocations at mandatory gather- was patently unconstitutional, FFRF ing the grant, has had a questionable tian forgiveness. ings, FFRF urged the base to remove asserted, since government-funded sci- and likely unethical relationship with “We are informing NASA that it prayers from the ceremonies. entific studies of theology create state- Storrar. cannot constitutionally fund theolo- However, even after FFRF Staff At- church entanglements. With the NASA money, the Center gy,” Seidel writes to NASA Astrobiolo- torney Sam Grover noted that such As part of its investigation, FFRF of Theological Inquiry hired 11 theo- gy Institute Director Penelope Boston practices are unconstitutional, the requested records from NASA. Af- logians — 10 of them Christian — and in his recent letter. “The Supreme New Hampshire Air National Guard ter several denials by the agency and only one actual scientist. That wouldn’t Court has explicitly held that refusing commander responded that religious many appeals by FFRF Staff Attorney be problematic if they were doing sec- to fund scholarships for theology is promotion would continue. Andrew Seidel, FFRF finally obtained ular work, but they weren’t. The work not religious discrimination under the “While base chaplains have the right about 550 pages of records. Comb- proposed for the grant included: First Amendment.” to freely exercise their religion, they do not have a constitutional right to a government-sponsored microphone or Two Ohio officials sacrifice their to impose their religion on guardsmen attending a mandatory event,” wrote jobs to uphold First Amendment Grover to Commanding Officer Colo- FFRF applauds the courage of two local Ohio officials who nel James Ryan. “Halting chaplain-led sacrificed their positions to uphold the First Amendment. prayer at base events should offend no The village of Carey’s Mayor Armand one. Guardsmen and military chaplains Getz and Law Director Emily Beckley took will remain free to practice their religion the initiative to stop the Lord’s Prayer and on their own time, in their own way.” the Pledge of Allegiance from being recit- Absurdly, 17 members of Congress ed at Village Council meetings. signed an ill-informed letter penned Shockingly, the pair received so by Rep. Doug Collins and Sen. James many threats for their admirable ac- Lankford in support for the Air Na- tions that they resigned on April 1. had wisely given a legal opinion that the council dispense tional Guard’s constitutional violation. And, sadly, the Village Council passed a with prayer to avoid any potential lawsuit. Grover wrote to Collins condemning resolution on March 20 to again intro- “It’s stirring to actually find examples of public officials the congressional advocacy for govern- duce the Pledge, as well as a moment of jeopardizing their positions for the sake of the Constitution,” ment endorsement of Christianity. The Armand Getz silence, before each meeting. says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “We are in awe decision to continue mandatory prayers Getz has served our nation with four of Mayor Getz and Law Director Beckley.” contradicts the original purpose of mil- years of active duty, saying his military background “serves Getz and Beckley had the correct perspective; the Carey itary chaplains, Grover wrote, which is to strengthen my resolve.” He said, “If I thought for one Village Council is mistaken. to accommodate the free exercise of re- minute that someone could conscientiously object to one or “Reciting the Lord’s Prayer at each Village Council meet- ligion by creating opportunities for ser- both the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance and not suffer any ing is unconstitutional,” FFRF Legal Fellow Ryan Jayne vice members to voluntarily participate adverse consequences, I would have left it alone.” Beckley wrote in a March 30 letter to the Carey Village Council. in religious exercises. May 2017 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 7 FFRF & Denver chapter place 12 billboards FFRF and its Metro Denver Chap- is based in the city. ter placed a dozen timely billboards However, Gorsuch is not in harmony throughout the Denver area for a with the sentiments of his fellow Colora- month-long run in March. dans. He is out of step with voters in his The billboards proclaim, “The only state, who last November overwhelming- wall we need is between church and ly passed Proposition 106 — the End of state.” Life Options Act — making it one of six “We want the people of Denver and states to pioneer rational and compas- Colorado to know that there is an or- sionate death-with-dignity legislation. ganization that will stand up and fight In one of his most egregious ver- for the constitutional principle of the dicts, Gorsuch ruled in 2013 that Hob- separation of church and state,” says by Lobby had a religious right to deny Denver Chapter Director Claudette women workers forms of contracep- St.Pierre. “At no time in the histo- tion that its founder opposes. The U.S. ry of the United States have our First Supreme Court went on to uphold that Amendment rights possibly been more ruling, giving Hobby Lobby, a for-prof- threatened than they are today.” it corporation, a religious exemption FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie from following the Affordable Care Members of FFRF’s Metro Denver Chapter show off one of the dozen billboards Gaylor cites newly confirmed Supreme Act’s contraceptive mandate. it and FFRF placed in the Denver area in March. Court Justice Neil Gorsuch as a threat Gaylor calls Gorsuch’s position “un- to secular government and individual tenable,” saying “religion cannot be al- ment Clause of the First Amendment for more than a century as a metaphor liberties, given his “natural law” philos- lowed to trump women’s rights.” to the Constitution “erects a wall of to explain the Establishment Clause. ophy derived from religious principles. The famed “wall of separation” separation between church and state.” “We hope that this billboard cam- Denver residents are particularly phrase harks back to a letter that Jefferson wrote the letter knowing it paign will highlight the need to keep familiar with Gorsuch and his judi- President Thomas Jefferson wrote the would become precedent, first clearing that ‘wall of separation’ imperme- cial leanings, since he sat on the 10th Baptists of Danbury, Conn., on Jan. it with his attorney general. The U.S. able to the threats we will continue to U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which 1, 1802, explaining that the Establish- Supreme Court has used the phrase face,” adds St.Pierre. Nonbelief Relief gives $10K to combat famine FFRF’s charitable arm gives to $20,000 for Syrian relief and $10,000 for relief in Sudan. UNICEF to help efforts in Somalia • $25,000 to the Women’s Medical Fund, co-found- Nonbelief Relief, a nonreligious humanitarian ed by the late Anne Nicol Gaylor, who was the FFRF’s agency, is giving $10,000 to UNICEF for famine relief principal founder. The Women’s Medical Fund is an efforts in Somalia. seum being built at the site of the Charleston, S.C., all-volunteer nonprofit based in Wisconsin and is be- International aid officials recently announced wharf where more than 100,000 enslaved Africans were lieved to be the longest continuously operating abor- that they are facing one of the biggest humanitarian brought through at the main port of entry in North tion rights charity in the nation. disasters since World War II. Both drought and war America. The museum, expected to be completed by Nonbelief Relief was incorporated in 2015, with have devastated Somalia. Up to four famines — in 2019, will illuminate their lives, history and descendants. the Freedom From Religion Foundation as its sole Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria and Yemen — are • $10,000 to Open Doors for Refugees (via Center member, and a board created to carry out the do- breaking out at once, endangering more than 20 mil- for Community Stewardship), which has a $100,000 nations. It seeks to remediate conditions of human lion lives, according to The New York Times. fundraising goal for 2017 to aid displaced Syrians suffering and injustice on a global scale, whether the “Those of us who are not religious care deeply and other refugees in Madison, Wis. result of natural disasters, human actions or adher- about this world, our only world,” says Nonbelief • $10,000 to the World Food Program (USA), affili- ence to religious dogma. Relief Director Annie Laurie Gaylor. “We appreciate ated with the , “where needed most to Donations to Nonbelief Relief, which are deduct- UNICEF’s work in Somalia and nearby nations, and ameliorate starvation, hunger and malnutrition.” Many ible for income-tax purposes, may be made via FFRF we want to help it save lives.” of the starvation “hot spots,” such as Afghanistan, Syria, by designating Nonbelief Relief in the donation drop- Other donations made by Nonbelief Relief in Iraq, Nigeria and Yemen have religion-based terrorism, down. Your donation will enable Nonbelief Relief 2017 include: warfare or disruption contributing to starvation, notes to continue to make humanitarian donations in the • $5,000 to the International African American Mu- Nonbelief Relief. Last year, the charity gave the agency name of and freethought.

Quotable quotes from a nonagenarian atheist What Is a Freethinker? freethinker n. 1 A person who forms opinions about religion on the basis of reason, independently of tradition, authority, or established belief.

ADRIFT ON A STAR — Music CD —

Photo by Dan Barker Ken Proulx, 91, one of FFRF’s most august members, is pictured with Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president. Here are some of Ken’s words of wisdom: “Instead of the cross, the symbol of the Catholic Church should be the rack and the stake.” Irreverent selections by “If they would take these words ‘heaven’ and ‘paradise’ and put Dan Barker, Yip Harburg, them under the microscope of aisles, they’d realize they’ve only got Charles Strouse, Cole noise, a disturbance of the air, nothing more.” Photo by Chris Line Porter, Gershwin & others. “There isn’t a single writer who makes a reference to this Editorial Assistant Molly Hanson sits in the Jesus character when he was pulling out all these party tricks Ken Proulx Cupola on the fourth floor of with fishes and loaves of bread. There isn’t an ounce of evidence FFRF’s newly expanded Freethought Hall in Buy it from FFRF online Jesus even existed. People invent their own .” downtown Madison, Wis. shop.ff rf.org Page 8 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | May 2017 FFRF VICTORIES FFRF gets police station prayer display removed A huge prayer display has been removed from a sage to . . . nonadherents’” that they are not full Wisconsin police station thanks to FFRF intervening members of the political community, to quote the on behalf of the Constitution. U.S. Supreme Court. A concerned area resident contacted FFRF to Citizens interact with and rely on law enforcement report that the Onalaska Police Department had a officers during some of the most urgent and vulnera- large religious display on the wall of a public room in ble times of their lives, FFRF reminded Trotnic. The a local police station. Onalaska Police Department’s religious display con- It is laudable for the police department to recog- veyed a message to nonreligious citizens that they nize the challenges officers face and to promote com- weren’t favored members of the political community. passion and courage in law enforcement. But these Law enforcement must be even-handed and avoid sentiments should not be couched in the religious any appearance of bias toward some citizens or hos- message that a god should be the officers’ “guide” in tility toward others. their work, and is responsible for their success and FFRF requested that the prayer display be re- safety, FFRF asserted. moved immediately. The Onalaska Police Depart- “Displaying ‘A Police Officer’s Prayer’ in the po- to Onalaska Police Chief Jeffrey Trotnic in January. ment recently informed FFRF that it has acceded to lice station demonstrates a preference for religion “By endorsing belief in a god, the Onalaska Police the organization’s request. over nonreligion on behalf of the Onalaska Police Department sponsors a religious message, which is “Dear Mr. Jayne: The item in question has been Department,” FFRF Legal Fellow Ryan Jayne wrote ‘impermissible because it sends the ancillary mes- removed,” Trotnic wrote back.

By Molly Hanson Wyatt responded on March 20 that California schools’ the sign listing Orchard Church ac- Florida teacher stops tivities would no longer be displayed religious promotion ends starting in March and that all refer- Two instances of unconstitutional re- praying with students ences to Orchard Church would be re- ligious promotion by staff in California’s Florida’s Walton County School moved from the sign once the school Del Norte County Unified School District District put an end to classroom year ends in May. were brought to FFRF’s attention. prayers in its public elementary A weekly bulletin distributed to staff at school after FFRF got involved. New Mexico museum film Del Norte High School and put on dis- A concerned district family in- play in the school’s hallway contained a cutout of a soldier kneeling and a formed FFRF that a teacher at West to be properly replaced religious saying at the end which read: Christian cross. DeFuniak Elementary was imposing Starting this spring, the Bradbury “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What FFRF Managing Staff Attorney prayer on her third-grade class. The Science Museum in New Mexico will you do with it is your gift back to God.” Rebecca Markert and CFI Vice Pres- year before, the teacher had been do- show a new film to replace a movie FFRF was also informed that at the dis- ident Nicholas Little wrote to the ing the same with her second-grade that unnecessarily endorsed religion trict’s Bess Maxwell Elementary School, a Alto Downtown Development Au- class. FFRF was told that she was lin- and distorted historical fact. cafeteria worker had handed out pencils thority to express concern over the ing her students up against a wall to FFRF was informed by several con- to students on Valentine’s Day with notes religious display to honor all veter- sanitize their hands and then pray- cerned citizens across the country attached reading “Jesus [heart]’s You and ans, especially when 25 percent of ing with them before lunch. When of religious imagery in a movie be- I Do Too!” military personnel identify as atheist the family addressed the concern ing shown at the Bradbury Science FFRF Legal Fellow Madeline Ziegler or agnostic. with the school principal, she failed Museum, which is a part of a gov- wrote to Del Norte County USD Super- Markert and Little pointed out to take action. ernment-run laboratory. The movie, intendent Jeff Harris on March 17. that the sent out a message FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel “The Town that Never Was,” displays Harris wrote back that day, inform- that the government only cares about sent a letter Feb. 28 to WCSD Super- religious iconography and prayers to ing FFRF that the high school principal the deaths of Christian soldiers and intendent Russell Hughes. Catholic deities in its first two min- had dealt with the religious wording in not non-Christian or nonreligious Hughes responded on March 3 utes, apparently to contrast Catholi- the bulletin and that the district admin- soldiers. that he would begin the recommend- cism with the Nazi regime. istration was addressing the inappropri- The organizations were informed ed investigation. FFRF was later in- “The clumsy attempt at contrast is ate gift given out on Valentine’s Day. on March 29 that the memorial had formed that classroom prayers had a distraction that happens to endorse been removed and would not be ended. religion in an inappropriate man- Prayers silenced by reinstalled. ner,” wrote Co-Presidents Annie Lau- FFRF shuts off Colorado rie Gaylor and Dan Barker to Brad- FFRF in Georgia school Montana youth minister bury Science Museum Director Linda Two teachers at Jones-Wheat Ele- school’s marquee Deck in November 2016. mentary School in Georgia’s Decatur deterred from schools FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel County Schools District will no longer Religious leaders will no longer be sent a follow-up letter to Linda Deck be teaching students to pray after FFRF permitted to prey upon school chil- on Feb. 21 asking for the religious got involved. dren for proselytization in Montana’s imagery to be edited out. Deck re- A concerned parent contacted Missouri’s Forsyth R-III Schools after sponded on March 14 that a more ap- FFRF to report that their child had FFRF raised alarm. propriate history film would replace recited prayers at home that they had It was brought to FFRF’s concern “The Town that Never Was.” learned in school. It was discovered that a youth minister, Jeffrey Bar- that multiple teachers at the school rikman, from First Baptist Church, Soccer coach to stay had been engaging in the prayer was given special access to students practice resulting in the indoctrina- at Forsyth Middle School. Barrik- hands and prayer-free tion of schoolchildren. man had been allowed onto school A California high school soccer FFRF Legal Fellow Madeline grounds as a “visitor,” a privilege he Thanks to FFRF, a Colorado public coach will be keeping his hands and Ziegler contacted Decatur County used to sit and speak with children high school’s digital marquee will no blessings off athletes after FFRF blew Schools Superintendent Tim Co- during lunch. Back in 2015, the dis- longer display advertisements for Or- the whistle on the constitutional foul. chran on January 18. trict had been put on notice of sim- chard Church. It was brought to FFRF’s attention After receiving Ziegler’s letter, ilar recruitment tactics by First Bap- Since 2012, Prairie View High by a concerned community member FFRF was informed that Cochran tist Church. School has permanently displayed the that the coach was leading his players held a meeting with all district ad- On March 31, FFRF Staff Attorney sign promoting a Christian message. It in prayer before games, which involved ministrators to remind each employ- Patrick Elliott cautioned the school was donated by the church as a way of the “laying of hands” ritual. ee of the prohibitions on religious district against its unconstitutional showcasing the unconstitutional part- FFRF Legal Fellow Madeline Ziegler expression set forth by the Establish- endorsement of First Baptist Church nership between the school and Or- wrote to Los Banos Unified School ment Clause. and allowance of evangelization chard Church. District Acting Superintendent Dean during the lunch period. For years, the high school has al- Bubar on March 24. After receiving Michigan town removes “This predatory conduct is inap- lowed the church to use its building for Ziegler’s letter, the district looked propriate and should raise many red religious services, and now the church into the matter and discussed the First religious memorial flags,” Elliott wrote to Superinten- plans to strengthen this alliance by Amendment violation with the coach. FFRF and the dent Jeff Mingus. building its own facility next door. Bubar wrote to inform FFRF on March were informed by a local resident of Mingus responded on April 7 in- FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel 30 that the coach assured the district Alto, Mich., of an unconstitutional forming FFRF that adjustments had wrote to School District 27J Superin- he would refrain from promoting or cross memorial monument at Alto been made to ensure that school vis- tendent Chris Fiedler on March 1. participating in religious rituals during Veterans Park. itors do not violate the separation of District General Council Janet K. the next soccer season. The memorial displayed a black religion and school. May 2017 | Madison, Wisconsin | FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY Page 9

Times Square shows FFRF video ad Supreme Court leans over slippery slope

Missouri preschool case ground violates the First Amend- could be bad news for ment. “No one is asking the church to change its beliefs,” she said. “If the state-church separation issue is discrimination based on reli- gion, what about the benefits that go In what could be a dangerous to churches? There’s plenty of people precedent, the Supreme Court of the who would think the tax exemption United States appeared to lean to- goes too far.” ward breaking down a portion of the When Ginsburg asked the church state-church wall that has prevented attorney if it could “demand as a religious institutions from receiving matter of federal constitutional right public money. that the playground be funded, even FFRF is promoting its secular video message — “The only wall we need is A Missouri day care and preschool though they have an admission policy between church and state” — in giant lettering on a digital board that is 56 owned by Trinity Lutheran Church that favors members of their church?” feet wide and 29 feet high, in the heart of Times Square at 1500 Broadway. had requested a grant from a state he said, “Yes.” The message is looping several times per hour from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., and will fund to help re- Washington Post columnist Dana air at least 5,460 times over a three-month period. The animated board was furbish a play- Milbank thinks the lawsuit is anoth- designed by FFRF Graphic Designer Roger Daleiden. ground’s black- er attempt by conservatives to chisel “With so many political developments preoccupying Americans, we topped surface away at the Establishment Clause of don’t want the constitutional principle of separation between state and with rubber par- the First Amendment. church to be overlooked,” says FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. “With ticles. Missouri’s “It was about interest groups whose the appointment of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, the Constitution, like business model depends on perpetu- Establishment Clause is in danger.” those in 38 oth- ating the culture wars trying to fright- er states, prohib- en people into thinking Christianity its sending tax is under siege,” he wrote. “It was a Ruth Bader money to church- Ginsburg springtime version of the annual ‘war Texas Gov. Abbott files for es and church on Christmas.’” schools. When The case could lead to a major shift the state denied in the law on church schools and pub- protective order in FFRF case the funds, the lic funding. Lawmakers in many states Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has filed for government official, he is protected school sued. have been pushing hard for vouchers a protective order in an ongoing FFRF from having to testify. The motion also On April 19, and scholarships to allow public funds case that challenges his censorship. asserts, “Governor Abbott has no unique most of the Su- to support religious schools. FFRF received a state-issued permit personal knowledge of any fact that is in preme Court jus- It was unclear from the argument to place, in response to a Christian na- any way relevant to this dispute.” tices showed signs whether the justices would rule broad- tivity scene, an exhibit in the Texas Cap- Last year, U.S. District Court Judge that they would ly in favor of church schools or focus itol in December 2015 honoring the Sam Sparks ruled that FFRF’s case be willing to al- Sonia Sotomayor narrowly on the playground because it Bill of Rights and winter solstice. against the governor in his official and low funds to go had nothing to do with worshiping or Abbott ordered the exhibit re- individual capacity could proceed. this project, con- teaching religion. moved, calling the display “tasteless After initially issuing the censorship tending it is not specifically religious It initially appeared that the case sarcasm” and claiming that FFRF was letter, Abbott tweeted, “Mocking the in nature and would therefore be dis- might resolve itself when Missouri’s seeking to “mock our nation’s Ju- Capitol Nativity Scene is Offensive. I crimination based on religion. Only new Republican governor, Eric Greit- deo-Christian heritage.” Demand Removal of Satirical ‘Nativity Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth ens, announced that the state would The motion, filed April 17, seeks to Scene’ from Capitol.” Bader Ginsburg indicated they felt it no longer deny grants to church prevent Abbott from being deposed in FFRF will file a response to the pro- was a slippery slope that should not be schools, thereby making the case the lawsuit that FFRF filed after its free- tective order motion, asserting that crossed. seemingly moot. But the justices pro- dom of expression was muzzled. Abbott is subject to a deposition in the Sotomayor said she did not see ceeded as if the case were still under Abbott’s motion for a protective case. The case is scheduled for a trial in how the state’s refusal to fund a play- the previous state policy. order asserts that as a high-ranking October 2018.

Housing Pussy hats galore Continued from page 1

§107(2) was actually intended to pro- near-hysterical outcry from churches vide a financial benefit to religious and ministers, with practically every clergy without regard to any ‘unique’ denomination, including the Unitar- housing relationships.” The princi- ians and liberal Jewish, filing briefs pal sponsor, Rep. Peter Mack, argued against FFRF. FFRF has referred to the during hearings, “Certainly, in these case as “David vs. Goliath” because vir- times when we are being threatened tually all religious groups weighed in by a godless and anti-religious world against FFRF’s challenge to religious movement we