epresentatives from nearly a dozen national and local Atheist, Freethought, Secular Humanist and other nonbeliever organizations stood together at the podium at the National Press Club on Tuesday and announced a united effort to stop President George W. Bush's federal faith-based initiative.

   Under the umbrella of "The Day That Counts," the groups pledged to mobilize their members for an unprecedented letter-writing campaign with the goal of having the country's diverse community of 27 million nonbelievers have their voices heard on Capitol Hill.

   "The groups have an array of complaints against the initiative," wrote reporter Emily Rahe of The Washington Times, "but collectively agree that it is unjust and a violation of the First Amendment clause barring the establishment of religion."

   A number of participants described the event as historic and "unprecedented." It was the first time that such organizations appeared together in the nation's capitol, especially in the midst of a public policy debate which up until now has been dominated by religious groups and concerns.

   In her introductory remarks, Ellen Johnson of American Atheists blasted the Bush proposal, and especially White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives director John DiIulio for urging that public tax money be used for the rehabilitation and upkeep of churches. Johnson warned that the faith-based plan program "promises to be the largest subsidy, the biggest entitlement program and the largest transfer of wealth from the public treasury to the coffers of religious organizations in this nation's history..."

   Ed Buckner, Executive Director of the Council for Secular Humanism told media, "Whenever public funds are spent, standards for hiring and firing must be set without religious discrimination."

   Buckner added, "A woman who has had -- or wants to have -- an abortion must not be denied services based on religious objections to that. A gay man must not be turned away because someone considers him a 'sinner.' An atheist must not be denied employment or the right to public social services because of her lack of beliefs, nor should she have to hear a sermon to get either..."

   Christopher Arntzen, Chairman of the Gay and Lesbian Atheists and Humanists, said that the faith-based initiative programs "pose a special threat to equal rights."

   "Religious groups are free to discriminate against sexual minorities and are characteristically the source of the ideological rationale for homophobia," said Arntzen. "Faith-based discrimination is a fact of life: it ranges from firing by government-funded religious agencies to separation of the dying from their same-sex partners as a condition of treatment."

   Other group representatives came from the East Coast and even as far as Texas and California.

   Jeff Dee of the Atheist Community of Austin cited legal difficulties with faith-based programs in Texas while George W. Bush served as the state's governor.

   "Social programs run by religious groups in Texas could already receive funding through programs that are overseen by state inspectors and forbid the promotion of religion during state-funded activities," said Dee. "Under the new plan, faith-based programs were free to preach while using state funds, and were free from state inspection. Instead, the groups were expected to be self-policing."

   James Cook, a sociologist at Duke University and publisher of the "Further Than Atheism" column said that the faith-based initiative ran counter to the American tradition of dissent and disbelief. Referring to immigrants, Cook said, "They come here because the Constitution of the United States of America promises the right to disagree, the right to disbelieve. We celebrate this constitutional right not just because it is enshrined in the Constitution, but because we agree with it."

   Cook charged that the Bush program amounted to licensing religion. "The President and his allies have said publicly they'd like to give churches States license: State license to demand prayer for a publicly-funded meal, to demand hosannas for a taxpayer-provided bed, to demand spiritual re-education sessions in exchange for publicly-funded medical treatment."

   Doug Schiffer of the Freethinkers of Upstate New York told media that Bush and other government leaders have been promoting faith-based solutions to social problems.

   "The unspoken assumption in this is that religious faith can solve society's deepest problems, and can do it inexpensively. The notion is that with 'faith' we can cure drug addicts, reduce violent crime, teach the illiterate and so on."

   Schiffer added that "it's an appealing idea to many ... But there are questions that beg to be asked... Will it work? When has it ever worked? Is it constitutional to make all taxpayers pay for it?"

   Ron Barrier, Communications Director for American Atheists and a spokesperson for the Metro Atheists of Staten Island, N.Y. raised the question of why organized religion, with its huge accumulation of wealth, must turn to the public for subsidies in order to operate social services.

   "They own publishing companies, electronic media outlets, real estate, businesses, and it's all tax-exempt," said Mr. Barrier.

   Arlene Marie of Michigan Atheists charged that the federal initiative was constitutionally flawed, and provided faith-based groups with a fiat to discriminate, all while using money from the tens of millions of Atheists and other nonbelievers in the country.

   Stuart Bechman came from California to represent Atheists United and Atheist Alliance. "Our leaders refuse to hold religious groups and leaders accountable," said Mr. Bechman. "Before we open up our public purse to outside groups, we should expect our leaders to find strong evidence that potential recipients are deserving, willing and capable of the mission they are asked to deliver."

   David Silverman of the Alliance of Lucent and AT&T Atheists and Secularists, said that the legislation promoted federal-sanctioned bigotry against anyone who did not "believe in the right religion." He displayed a sign to make his point, which read: "Federally-Funded Soup Kitchen -- HELP WANTED (Jews, Gays and Atheists Need NOT Apply.)"

   According to the Times, a spokeswoman in Rep. Tony Hall's office "called such opposition to the proposal on church-state grounds unfounded." Hall, an Ohio Democrat, is co-sponsor of the "Community Solutions Act" along with Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK).

   Watts' office said that the bill sponsors "took great pains to ensure that this does not violate the Constitution in any way."

   Organizers of "The Day That Counts" press conference said that next Tuesday, July 17 is "D-Day" for flooding Capitol Hill with letters, faxes and phone calls from outraged nonbelievers who oppose the imposition of a de facto "Religion Tax" in order to fund faith-based programs.

   Ellen Johnson urged all of the groups who had signed up on "The Day That Counts" web page to mobilize their members.

   "Congress needs to hear from groups other than churches or other religious organizations. This bill affects them because it would provide federal dollars, and ultimately promote their sectarian ministries. It also affects us, because we end up paying for it!"

   Johnson was also optimistic about "The Day That Counts" campaign, and its impact on bringing diverse Atheist and other nonbeliever groups together on important issues.

   "We still have a lot of differences, and no one organization can be all things to all people, especially if they are as independent and freethinking as Atheists and other 'people of no-faith,' " said Johnson. "But this was a big step forward for all us. It's helping to politicize a lot of organizations, and encourages us to get out and start talking not just to each other, but to lawmakers, media and public policy movers-and-shakers."

   Johnson also noted that personal grudges and differences had been set aside. "This is evidence that we can work together on an ad hoc basis on important public policy issues," she said.

   Transcripts of select talks along with photos of the Tuesday, July 10 press conference can be found at http://www.thedaythatcounts.org/

[text only]