AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPT. 27, 2000

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


               RELIGIOUS LAND USE LAW VIOLATES STATE/CHURCH
                 SEPARATION, COULD BACKFIRE FOR CHURCHES

    A new law signed last week by President Clinton which gives religious
groups new legal powers in matters of zoning and land use is constitutionally
suspect and could backfire against those who supported it, American Atheists
warned today.
    The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 requires
government to use a "compelling interest/least restrictive means" test when
dealing with faith-based groups in matters related to land use.  It is
considered a scaled down version of the unsuccessful Religious Liberty
Protection Act.
    "This 'special rights' legislation for organized religion allows houses
of worship to flaunt the First Amendment, and gives them an unfair legal
advantage in ignoring zoning laws, land use regulations and even
environmental statutes," said American Atheists President Ellen Johnson.  "It
isn't even about the legitimate exercise of religion," she added.  "It's all
about bricks-and-mortar issues like building 'mega-churches' in the middle of
residential neighborhoods, expanding parking lots, and putting church-run
schools where they would not otherwise be allowed.  It's all about the
business of religion, not worship."
    Ms. Johnson noted that the RLUIPA was signed on Friday at 12:45 p.m., and
at 12:48 p.m., an attorney for an Ann Arbor, Michigan church was in court
using the new statute to reverse a community zoning decision involving a
religious school.
    "This is a full-employment act for attorneys and it makes religion a
federal issue," warned Ron Barrier, National Spokesperson for American
Atheists.  "We expect to see a flood of litigation over this issue in the
coming months, as religious groups effectively thumb their noses at local
communities and laws that apply to everyone else.  It's a catch-22.  No
matter who wins these cases, the taxpayers of the local communites will lose."
    "The RLUIPA could turn out to be a nightmare for the religious groups
that supported it, though," said Mr. Barrier.  "This type of entitlement
legislation feeds the perception that religious groups simply consider
themselves above the laws and regulations that families, businesses and
secular groups must follow."
    "Religious denominations could quickly develop a reputation for being
arrogant, greedy, and operating under the mantle of government favoritism,"
Mr. Barrier added.

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