AMERlCAN ATHEISTS, INC.
FOR lMMEDlATE RELEASE
July 12, 2000

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

          ATHElSTS CONDEMN CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
            SPECIAL VATICAN STATUS, PRAISE REP. PETE STARK

  American Atheists today charged that the passage of a nonbinding
congressional resolution (H. Con. Res. 253) supporting the special status
of the Roman Catholic Church in the United Nations violates the separation
of church and state.  The measure cleared the House yesterday 416-1; the
lone dissent came from California Rep. Pete Stark.
  American Atheist objects to the Vatican status as a UN Non-member State
Permanent Observer.
  "The Holy See enjoys unique status often as a voting partner with countries
at UN conferences," said Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists.
  "We object to granting governmental privileges to the Holy See which is a
religious body, not a nation-state.  Governmental participation in the UN
should be reserved for actual states.  The Holy See is nothing more than a
NGO - a Non-Governmental Organization," Ms. Johnson observed.
  "Why should the Vatican enjoy this special and discriminatory status at
the United Nations, and be treated as both a religion and a governmental
entity?"
  "No other sectarian group - Muslim, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, whatever-
has this unique position.  Its clear that the Vatican exploits this special
status to derail efforts at population restraint, empowerment for women, as
well as intellectual and emotional freedom."
  Ms. Johnson added that American Atheists continues to support the efforts
of an international coalition of groups led by Catholics for a Free Choice,
which are requesting a review of the Holy See's special standing by the
U.S. Government.
  Ron Barrier, National Spokesperson for American Atheists, praised Rep.
Pete Stark for "standing firm in defense of the wall of separation between
church and state."
  "Against incredible odds and pressure from religious and political groups,
Mr. Stark has spoken out courageously on behalf of First Amendment rights,"
said Mr. Barrier.  "The vote may have been 416-1, but Mr. Stark is a
'majority of 1' with the Constitution!"
  "It speaks volumes about the values of our elected officials who choose to
side with a medieval dictatorship, instead of siding with the Constitution
of the United States.  If it were possible, the late Pres. John F. Kennedy,
a Roman Catholic, would be turning in his grave."

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


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