American Atheists, Inc.
                 P O Box 140195, Austin, TX 78714-0195
      Voice:(512) 458-1244  FAX:(512) 467-9525  BBS:(512) 302-0223
                      E-mail:postmaster@atheist.org


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 27, 1995
Contact: R. Murray-O'Hair (512) 458-1244


                        AMERICAN ATHEISTS CALLS FOR
                  RELIGIOUS CLEANSING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

                    Jon Murray, president, criticizes
                  "Religious Equality Amendment" claims

    Jon Murray, president, today released the contents of American Atheists'
"Statement of Principles" on the proposed school prayer or so-called "Religious
Equality Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution.  American Atheists has asked the
Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee to include the
statement in its findings from the recent hearings for the amendment.

    Schools should be "religion free," the document states, emphasizing the
"divisiveness introduced into the public schools by the injection" of various,
conflicting religious beliefs" is detrimental to the learning process."
Christian calls for the proposed amendment have emphasized the so-called "free
speech rights" of students to engage in religious practices in all contexts
of schooling.  American Atheists' Statement of Principle instead maintains
that "The public school system is not there to give a forum... to express
religious opinions; it is there for teachers to advance the secular knowledge
of students."

    In releasing the document, Mr. Murray noted that Atheist spokespersons
had been precluded from testifying at the hearings.  "Only the religious,
pro and con, were allowed to talk to the committee, despite the fact that
10 percent of the people of the United States are Atheist or agnostic."
The organization had been told by a source in the subcommittee that no
Atheist would be allowed to give oral testimony because it would "taint" the
proceedings.

    "So far the discussion before the House Subcommittee has been over which
kind or what degree of religion to have in the schools," Jon Murray explained.
"American Atheists is here to say that the only 'religion neutral' school is
in fact a 'religion free' school."