AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
                P.O. Box 140195  Austin, TX 78714-0195
                           (512) 458-1244

http://www.atheists.org                               For Immediate Release
PRESS RELEASE                                         July 13, 1997

             Atheists: Time for Judiciary Committee to End
               "Believers Only" Testimony on RFA Issues

    American Atheists today called upon the House Judiciary Committee to
end its policy of inviting only religious groups to comment on First Amendment
issues, and "open the discussion" by including Atheists.
    Ellen Johnson, President of the organization, said that hearings on issues
involving legislation such as the Religious Freedom Amendment(RFA) have been
"pre-scripted to ensure that only religious groups which happen to either
oppose or support certain legislation get to be heard."
    She specifically cited the scheduled July 22 hearings on Capitol Hill to
be conducted by the House Judiciary Committee over the RFA.
    "Only a 'Golden Rolodex' of religious groups ever get called to present
testimony," charged Ms. Johnson.  "In not inviting Atheists to comment, a
whole segment of the American population -- as much as 10% or over 25,000,000
persons -- end up being excluded and marginalized.  This has to stop," she
added.
    Ron Barrier, the group's National spokesperson, called upon Congress to
"do the right thing and end this policy of bigotry and discrimination against
non-belief.  Our familiies and our pocketbooks will be affected by the outcome
of these hearings."
    "Ralph Reed, former director of Christian Coalition, said that the
religious groups should have 'a place at the table in the great discussion
we call democracy.'  We agree.  And Atheists should be at that table as well!"
    Ms. Johnson noted: "We call upon the House Judiciary Committee to invite
input over these important, First Amendment, state-church separation issues
from Atheists."
    "It's not just a handful of select, inside-the-beltway religious groups
who should be allowed to speak to these issues," Johnson added.

For more information please contact:
Ms. Ellen Johnson, President   (201)334-4033    Email: ej@atheists.org
Mr. Ronald Barrier, NMC        (718)356-8658    Email: rbarrier@atheists.org