Update: The House passed the bill 231-184; only 23 Democrats voted for it. This action alert is no longer active.

Action Alert – September 16, 2005

Stop Religious Exemption, Discrimination in “School Readiness Act”!

Sneak provision would permit churches, temples, mosques to receive tax money but discriminate in hiring and other practices on the basis of religion. But this bill is about more than just selective discrimination! It’s also about taxpayer funding or organized religion!

Congress is once again scheming to give churches and other religious group "special rights" and a way to circumvent the U.S. Constitution.

This time, it is the so-called “School Readiness Act” (HR 2123) sponsored by Rep. Michael Castle, introduced on May 5, 2005. The measure contains provisions extending the Head Start and Early Head Start Programs and help homeless families. Section 7 of the measure “Includes community-based or faith-based organizations among the entities that may be designated as Head Start agencies…” Other parts of the bill expand the powers of “faith-based” providers.

Now, Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) has announced that he will introduce an amendment – possibly next week – that would allow these religion-based groups that already are receiving public money, to discriminate in hiring/firing and other practices on the basis of religion.

A number of civil rights and other advocacy groups are urging opposition to the proposed Boehner amendment. American Atheists urges you to do the same!

However, simply defeating Boehner’s proposal is not enough! So what if religious groups operating on your tax dollars cannot (on paper) discriminate? Will they comply? Who will make sure of this? As usual, whenever a bill is introduced or passed into law that allows churches, mosques, temples and other “faith-based” groups to use public funds under the pretense of delivering social services, there is often little or no enforcement mechanism to guarantee that they will not violate the separation of church and state. Many of these “faith-based” groups are pervasively religious, and incorporate religion into their social service outreaches in ways both subtle and blatant!

Should millions of Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists and other nonbelievers be taxed for this risky and unconstitutional social experiment? In fact, legislation such as this is simply a shabby veneer to put churches and the rest of organized religion “on the public dole,” and turn over more and more social programs to these religious groups!

American Atheists urges you to contact your representative and urge defeat of both HR 2123, and the proposed Boehner amendment! Check out our tips for contacting public officials.

Talking Points

• The legislation, even without the Boehner amendment, is bad enough in that it expands an unconstitutional “faith-based” initiative, and compels millions of Americans to “subsidize” through their money the operations of groups that often meld religious proselytizing their social relief work.
• The bill has no aggressive mechanism for monitoring violations of the First Amendment. Despite requirements for an “audit” of the groups involved, this bill operates on a suspect “honor system.”
• The Boehner amendment would makes things even worse. Religious groups would be exempt from basic anti-discrimination statutes which secular and other providers must obey! It gives these faith-based agencies a “special right,” that can encourage discrimination. By restricting who may be hired or even volunteer in these social programs, the proposed amendment will prevent children from poor families from receiving the best possible education!

Take Action Now!

• Contact Congress now and speak out against HR 2123 and the Boehner Amendment!
• Letters to the editor of newspapers, magazines and other information outlets are important in raising public awareness of this legislation! Send copies to us and we will post them on this web page.
• You may phone the U.S. Capitol Switchboard toll-free AT 877-762-8762 to speak with your representative. Visit the U.S. House of Representatives web site for a list of representatives, and info on how you can communicate your concerns!
• Circulate this action alert.

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