AMERICAN ATHEISTS


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
ELLEN JOHNSON, PRESIDENT AMERICAN ATHEISTS
VOICE 201-334-4033, E-MAIL EJONBAND@AOL.COM or ej@atheists.org
OR CALL AMERICAN ATHEISTS 512-458-1244


                           PRESS RELEASE

September 2, 1996
ATHEIST GROUPS CRITICIZE LDS BIGOTRY

    Two Atheist organizations criticized the bigoted and hate-filled
comments made by the President of the Mormon Church (LDS) in a
talk delivered September 1, before the National Convention of the
American Legion, which included criticism of non-belief and the old
canard that "As you know, there are no Atheists in foxholes."
    LDS head Gordon B. Hinckley praised those "who have been defenders
of our liberty at great cost, but he admonished his audience that
"another battle goes on."  The Salt Lake Tribune, in covering the
addresses noted: "The new battle is one against Atheism."
    Hinckley's remarks drew an immediate response from Ellen Johnson,
President of American Atheists, a national group representing Atheists
and state-church separationists.  "Mr. Hinckley is slandering the
10-15% of Americans who profess no religious beliefs."  She
added that the remarks did not surprise her, "....in light of the
Mormon record concerning women, blacks, gays and other social groups
who don't pass the LDS religious-litmus test for social approval
and equality."
    Regarding Hinckley's "no Atheists in foxholes" remarks, Johnson
added: "One thing is for certain, there aren't any clergy there
because they insist on exempting themselves and staying out of
foxholes."  Orin S. Tyson, National Commander of American Atheist
Veterans, declared: "I hate to tell him, but he was never in MY
foxhole, or in any of the other tens of thousands of Atheist foxholes in
Vietnam."  The veteran noted that he is an Atheist, yet has military
honors including Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars, Presidential Unit
Citations and the Cross of Gallantry.  In a letter to Salt Lake City
newspapers, Mr. Tyson said that the remarks by the LDS President
"....have insulted me and thousands of Atheist veterans."
    Both Atheist representatives also criticized Hinckley's
statement that "Many of society's ills can be blamed on a failure
to acknowledge god."  Ms. Johnson noted that Hinckley obviously
hasn't been paying attention to the epidemic of sexual crimes
committed both here and around the world, by the clergy who are
professionally religious.
    Mr. Tyson agreed and added, "....if Hinkley were right then why
is so much of the world embroiled in religious strife?"
    Both Johnson and Tyson declared that they are sick and tired
of being the currently fashionable "niggers" of the nineties, by
every other religious bigot in America.


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