AMERICAN ATHEISTS ACTION ALERT

February 10, 2003

STOP PLAN FOR USE OF TAX FUNDS TO BUILD, REPAIR HOUSES OF WORSHIP UNDER GUISE OF SOCIAL SERVICES

President Bush has ordered the Department of Housing and Urban Development to make federal grant money available to religious groups in order build or renovate dilapidated houses of worship that would provide faith-based social services.

It is the boldest -- and most unconstitutional -- step yet Bush has taken to implement his dangerous faith-based initiative. He has already signed Executive Orders creating his White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, and required major federal departments to invite and train religious groups in apply for public money. Despite the talk of giving churches a "level playing field" with secular social service providers, there is no enforcement mechanism in place to insure that religious groups will not use public funds to proselytize and promote their sectarian agenda.

HUD rules require that the public be given ample time to comment on proposed rule changes. The deadline is March 7, 2003. The new guidelines have been published in the Federal Register for Monday, January 6, 2003, and can be found here.

Officials at the Department of Housing and Urban Development need to hear from you NOW about this dangerous and unconstitutional proposal. Letters -- not faxes or e-mail -- can be sent to:

Office of General Counsel
Attn.: Office, Rules Docket Clerk
Room 10276
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 Seventh St., SW
Washington, DC 20410

We also suggest that you politely communicate your concerns to HUD Secretary Mel Martinez. You can reach him at:

Secretary Mel Martinez
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 Seventh St., SW
Washington, DC 20410

We recommend sending "snail mail," but you may also reach the Secretary's office via fax through 202-619-8365

TIPS ON CONTACTING HUD

* Be polite, concise and to the point.

* Be sure to include your return address. Sign your letter, and be sure to ask for a response.

* Send a copy of your letter to us (LINK) and we will put it on this web page for others to see.

TALKING POINTS ON THE PROPOSED HUD RULE

* This action would compel millions of Atheists, Freethinkers and other Americans who have no religious belief to pay for the construction and upkeep of sectarian houses of worship.

* Social services can, and should be delivered in appropriate environments which do not proselytize, promote or "push" religious beliefs.

* This plan has nothing to do with creating a "level playing field" for churches or other sectarian groups wishing to provide social services. Under Bush's faith-based initiative, churches would be able to accept public money for providing social services, and still be able to discriminate in their hiring and other practices. Because religious entities are involved, there is less government oversight and accountability supervision than exists for secular nonprofit groups.

AND JOIN US ON THE PICKET LINE AS WE SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE RELIGION TAX AND THE FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE!

American Atheists is sponsoring pickets throughout the country to challenge Mr. Bush's faith-based initiative. We invite Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and other state-church separationists to join us in this public support of the First Amendment! For more information, visit http://www.NoReligionTax.org.

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