Vo1. 31 No. 4 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. May 2014 FFRF’s solid court victory ends prayer in Pismo Beach, Calif. The Freedom From Religion Foun- dation has ended all prayer before the city council in Pismo Beach, Calif., with a settlement reached April 15. That victory has become all the sweeter following the Supreme Court’s unfor- tunate May 5 decision “blessing” sectar- ian governmental prayer. (See related story, this page.) FFRF’s victory will hold, since the lawsuit was brought in state court and It’s not in ‘His’ hands did not invoke federal law. Marni Huebner-Tiborsky, director of FFRF’s chapter the Northern Ohio Freethought Society, is pictured with Sam Following the filing of the lawsuit, Salerno, Sharon Woznicki, Mark Tiborsky, Suzy Wernet and Eric Tawney in front of Sharon’s billboard, one of 11 the Pismo Beach City Council, which featuring Cleveland-area FFRF members in its newest “Out of the Closet” campaign. The campaign got 5,000 likes in less had dug in its heels after locals com- than 24 hours after being posted on the Facebook page of the Richard Dawkins Foundation. FFRF’s Facebook page saw plained about its prayer practice, sur- similar approval. For more photos and images, see page 14. prised observers by totally capitulating to FFRF requests. The council voted to stop all prayers at official meetings and Announcing ‘Nothing fails like prayer’ award to abolish a city chaplain position that had anointed a Pentecostal preacher to intone long sermons to begin meet- ings. FFRF fights back against FFRF and Dr. Sari Dworkin, a Pismo Beach resident and FFRF member, sued the city Nov. 1, 2013, in Superior Court in San Luis Obispo, alleging the SCOTUS prayer ruling official prayers and chaplaincy violated the California Constitution. “If the Supreme Court won’t uphold need FFRF!” Before each council meeting, city the Constitution, it’s up to us — it’s up FFRF, the nation’s largest associa- Chaplain Paul Jones or one of his reli- to you” is the Freedom From Religion tion of freethinkers, with more than gious substitutes delivered a Christian Foundation’s homily in response to the 20,000 atheist and agnostic members Inside This Issue prayer. Prayers often included egre- high court’s May 5 ruling approving nationwide, has responded to the Papal visit gious factual mistakes, including man- sectarian prayer at official government hostile court ruling by announcing a effort raises ufactured theocratic quotes attributed meetings. The ruling is a personal blow Continued on page 3 constitutional to America’s founders. Jones’ prayers to the stature and rights of U.S. nonbe- violations pressured citizens to live a Christian or lievers and non-Christians, as well as to biblical lifestyle, to vote for “righteous” secular government. Page 6 leaders and make decisions that “hon- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in or” his god. Town of Greece v. Galloway that govern- FFRF, Minn. The city agreed to pay the plaintiffs ments can not only host prayers, those Atheists, nominal damages and attorney fees prayers can be pervasively sectarian: sponsor ‘Aints’ totaling about $47,500 and to end the “To hold that invocations must be non- game practice of praying at meetings and sectarian would force the legislatures abolish the chaplain position. The set- that sponsor prayers and the courts Page 17 tlement carries the force of law and will that are asked to decide these cases be accompanied by a court order. to act as supervisors and censors of “This is a significant victory that religious speech.” First Amendment FFRF intends to build on,” said FFRF champion Ellery Schempp, FFRF Life- Letters: Sweetie Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. time Member from Massachusetts, who Hypatia is a Pismo Beach established an official began the protest that led to a land- state/church city chaplaincy in 2005 and appoint- mark 1963 U.S. Supreme Court ruling watch dog ed Jones to the post. He’s affiliated against recitation of the Lord’s Prayer with the International Church of the in public schools, emailed on the day Pages 20–21 of the ruling: “FFRF is vital after the Continued on page 3 awful Greece decision. This is why we Linda Stevens Page 2 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin May 2014 Meet a Musical Trekkie Member Name: Christine Eldridge. Person in history I admire: Roger Where I live: East Providence, R.I. Williams, founder of Rhode Island, for Where and when I was born: Woon- his staunch convictions about and ad- socket, R.I., 1969. vocacy for freedom of conscience and Family: My husband, Darryl, and I separation of church and state. share our home with a cat, Lola, and A quotation I like: “I’m an atheist, two dogs, Isabella and Kirk. I am child- and that’s it. I believe there’s nothing free by choice and love being an auntie we can know except that we should be to my nieces and nephews. kind to each other and do what we can Education: B.S. in music education, for each other.” (Katharine Hepburn). Rhode Island College. Clarinet is my “Heresy makes for progress.” (Hypa- main instrument, and I play with a tia Bradlaugh Bonner). “We must ques- chamber music ensemble. I also study tion the story logic of having an all- piano, having resumed lessons two knowing all-powerful God, who creates years ago after about a 20-year hiatus, faulty Humans, and then blames them and started playing the ukulele this for his own mistakes.” (Gene Rodden- year. berry). “The time to be happy is now. Occupation: Nonprofit arts admin- The place to be happy is here. The istration. way to be happy is to make others so.” Volunteer work: Humanists of (Robert Ingersoll). Rhode Island (vice president), Secular These are a few of my favorite Coalition for Rhode Island (co-chair), things: “Star Trek” (I’m a costume- Christine Eldridge works hard to get the word out about atheism and active in community service as well as wearing, convention-attending, life- humanism. secular, social justice, arts advocacy and long Trekkie), octopuses (they’re such animal welfare causes. fascinating animals!), music, reading, God with the wrathful being portrayed ity for atheists, humanists and other How I got where I am today: Help stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking. in the bible, the problem of evil and nonbelievers. and support from family and friends, These are not: Cruelty, bigotry, the concept of hell. I identify openly as an atheist and random luck, various personal choices pseudoscience. Ways I promote freethought: With a humanist and hope to demonstrate and hard work. My doubts about religion started: I the Humanists of Rhode Island and by my words and actions that it is in- Where I’m headed: I plan to contin- was raised Catholic and attended Cath- the Secular Coalition for Rhode Island, deed possible to live a life that is ethi- ue to learn, to help others and to enjoy olic school. My first doubts came as a I am active in working to keep religion cal, happy and fulfilling without belief the journey. child, when I tried to reconcile a loving out of government and to raise visibil- in a deity. Meet a Legal Intern Name: Alexis Palmer. I go by Lexi. gion. Where and when I was born: Burns- What I like best about it: Assisting ville, Minn., May 1992. people who turn to this organization Family: My parents still live in the as a source of hope when they feel dis- house that I grew up in back in cold criminated against. The first day I truly Minnesota. I have a sister, Payton, who realized the impact of the work that is a year younger than I am. She goes FFRF does was the day a complainant to school in a much warmer state, Ari- responded to one of my emails thank- zona. ing me over and over again for the Education: I’m a senior at the Uni- work that we do and the difference versity of Wisconsin-Madison (and that we make for people like him. could not be prouder to be a Badger). My legal interests are: I don’t dream I’m completing my legal studies and of becoming famous. I just want to be- political science majors. come a lawyer so I can help people who My religious upbringing was: I grew can’t help themselves and truly see the up as a Lutheran, so working for FFRF difference that I am making for them. has really opened my eyes to an entire- These three words sum me up: ly different side of law and different Charismatic, compassionate and deter- “You are here,” Lexi Palmer could be saying (but probably wasn’t) at the way of helping people. mined. Louvre in Paris. How I came to work as an FFRF le- Things I like: My favorite thing in gal intern: Naturally, I was looking for the world is my cat, Gucci, who lives unless it’s shopping for other people’s a week in each one before I die. I have some legal experience, and I became with my parents. I am definitely a cat gifts. I don’t make decisions very quick- traveled throughout much of Europe interested in the work that FFRF does. person. I also really love trying new ly, so shopping is not an easy task for and spent my last spring semester in What I do here: My day-to-day work and authentic food. Every member of me. Another thing that I smite is the Spain studying Spanish.