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

For more information, please contact:
Ellen Johnson, President (908) 276-7300
Dave Silverman, Communications Director (732) 648-9333


   ATHEIST GROUP CAUTIONS  U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION ON VOUCHER SCHEMES,
            DEFENDS BAN ON PUBLIC FUNDING OF RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS


In testimony Friday before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the head of an
Atheist public affairs organization warned that voucher programs to private,
religious schools were a threat to public education and violated the separation
of church and state.

Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists, told a hearing of the Commission
that provisions in numerous state constitutions -- known as the "Blaine
Amendments" -- along with the First Amendment to the federal constitution,
guaranteed that no citizens would be forced to subsidize religious groups
through their taxes.

"Voucher programs are just another scheme to 'launder money' from the
government and hand it over to churches, mosques, temples and other religious
establishments," said Ms. Johnson.  "This money should be going to our public
schools for the education of our children, not religious indoctrination."

Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists, said that
voucher supporters were mis-representing the issue of the Blaine Amendments,
and trying to make it appear that anyone who opposed vouchers is
"discriminating" against religion.

"Public schools, unlike religion-based schools, have to accept everyone.
They cannot discriminate on the basis of faith.  They're accountable to the
taxpayers."

Silverman added, "If we have problems in our public schools, let's fix them.
The answer is not trying to "out source" the job of educating our youngsters,
and violate the separation of church and state in the process."


AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for
Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses
issues of First Amendment public policy.

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