AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
PRESS RELEASE
Nov. 3, 1999

http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org


            American Atheists: "Football Prayer" Resolution Is
           Government Support of "Majority Rule" Christianity -
                       Not Religious Freedom

    American Atheists today criticized congress for passing a non-binding
resolution promoting Christian rituals before public school athletic contests.
The resolution declares that "prayers and invocations at public school sporting
events are constitutional under the First Amendment to the Constitution."

    Ron Barrier, National Spokesman for American Atheists, called the
resolution "nonsense" and added that "there is nothing in the Constitution
that vests congress with the power to make laws promoting religion.  It's
clearly a violation of the separation of state and church.  'Majority Rule'
religion is not an American value, but Big Government Faith seems to be a
bureaucratic specialty."

    "Such non-binding resolutions are designed to pander for votes in future
elections - votes based on emotion, not issues" posited Mr. Barrier.

    "The members of congress who voted for this resolution are against
religious freedom, but in favor of government-imposed Christianity.  It appears
as if the Christian religion is eager and willing to have the government
dictate how it is supposed to execute its varied religious obligations.

    "This resolution has nothing to do with Hindu or Moslem rituals.  Could
you picture a stadium full of Texas teenagers praying to Allah or Ganesh?"


For more information, please contact:
Ellen Johnson, President     (973)334-5110
Ron Barrier, Spokesperson    (718)967-6453

American Atheists, Inc.
PO Box 5733
Parsippany, NJ 07054-6733
Tel: (908)276-7300
Fax: (908)276-7402