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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCT. 25, 2000

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

        LIEBERMAN "FAITH AND VALUES" TALK AT NOTRE DAME DISTORTS
     HISTORY, EXPLOITS FEARS TO INSTITUTE PUBLIC FUNDING OF RELIGION

    Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman used his Tuesday, October 24 appearance
at Notre Dame University to exploit popular fears in order to advance
government funding of religion-based social programs and distort American
history,  American Atheists charged.
    "Once again, the Democratic candidate for Vice President  told Americans
that their country is based on Judeo-Christian principles, and that we need
more religion in the public square," said Ellen Johnson, President of
American Atheists.  "He forgot to mention that the American revolution was
influenced by the Enlightenment, not Orthodox religious faith, and that the
Founders of this nation passionately embraced the separation of church and
state."
    Lieberman also used the occasion of his revisionist lecture to
marginalize millions of Americans who are Atheists when he said, "With all
respect, these people have forgotten that the constitution promises freedom
of religion, not freedom from religion..."
    "These 'people'? Has Lieberman forgotten that oppression of Jews has
always emanated from the Christian religion and that 'freedom from religion'
is the cornerstone of any legal protection from such oppression?  Without
'freedom from religion' both the Atheist and the theist cannot be truly free
in America," said Ms. Johnson.
    Lieberman mischaracterized the concerns of "unbelievers" as he calls
them, according to Ron Barrier, American Atheists National Media Spokesman.
    "We have no quarrel with his expressing his religiosity in public.  What
we take issue with is his blatant exploitation of fears about popular culture
in order to put religion-based social outreaches on the public payroll, and
force Americans to support all religions," said Mr. Barrier.
    Mr. Barrier disagreed with Lieberman's claim that the best in the
American experience is based on religion. "Religion, especially Chrisitianity
in America, has always been a stumbling block to real progress." said Mr.
Barrier. "If religion is so wonderful, where are the results?
     "What about all of the wars, oppression of women, slavery, the Native
American diaspora,  censorship, and suppression of independent thought that
religious dogmatism is responsible for?  What about religion's blanket
refusal to recognize basic human rights?
    "If Mr. Lieberman thinks that we have no freedom from religion, he can
call me and tell me what religion I cannot be free from," Mr. Barrier added.

American Atheists, Inc.
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Parsippany, NJ 07054-6733
Tel: (908) 276-7300
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