NoGodBlog.com

Many who value the separation of religion and government have sought an appropriate response to the federally-supported National Day of Prayer, an annual abuse of the constitution. Nontheistic Americans (including freethinkers, humanists, atheists, agnostics, and deists), along with many traditionally religious allies, view such government-sanctioned sectarianism as unduly exclusionary.

A consortium of leaders from within the community of reason endorsed the idea of a National Day of Reason. This observance is held in parallel with the National Day of Prayer, on the first Thursday in May (1 May 2008). The goal of this effort is to celebrate reason - a concept all Americans can support - and to raise public awareness about the persistent threat to religious liberty posed by government intrusion into the private sphere of worship.

videos of all three of Jeremy and Mikey Weinstein's TV appearances (CBS, ABC, and Fox News) from the last few days are now available on MRFF's website: www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org

I'm so glad they are giving some attention to this. Curious how no politicians are saying a single word about it. Even Bush is quiet!

SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) — One of the hundreds of young polygamist-sect members taken into state custody gave birth Tuesday to a healthy boy while child welfare officials, state troopers and fellow sect members stood watch outside the maternity ward.

"The boy is healthy and the mother is doing well," Patrick Crimmins, spokesman for the state Child Protective Services, said of the noontime birth at Central Texas Medical Center.

The mother is "younger than 18," Crimmins said, and will remain with her new son in a nearby foster-care facility until a formal custody hearing will determine the pair's fate sometime before June 5. Crimmins declined to give any other details about the girl or where she and the baby would stay.
...
On Monday, CPS announced that almost 60 percent of the underage girls living on the Eldorado ranch either have children or are pregnant.

Of the 53 girls between the ages of 14 and 17 who are in state custody, 31 either have given birth or are expecting, Azar said.

Under Texas law, children under the age of 17 generally cannot consent to sex with an adult. A girl can get married with parental permission at 16, but none of these girls is believed to have a legal marriage under state law.

Church officials have denied that any children were abused at the ranch and say the state's actions are a form of religious persecution.

Folks, some issues are tougher than others. This one is easy. Religious freedom is fine, until a child is endangered. You can raise your kids to be uneducated and brainwashed, but you can't subject them to rape or withhold medicine from them until they die. This is when the line is crossed.

Yes, brainwashing kids is DEFINITELY hurtful, but it's a judgmental hurtful (anyone can use the same argument against anyone else). We have to allow people to raise their kids as they see fit -- within REASON!

Forcefully impregnating teenagers is physical abuse, and anyone involved with this has to be punished severely. There should be no leniency just because religion is involved. All these wretched adults need to go to prison, and all the other wretched people in the country need to see it happen (as a deterrent).

Anything less is religious discrimination.

Army Spc. Jeremy Hall sued the government, alleging he has been harassed in the military because he doesn't believe in God. He is known among fellow soldiers as "the atheist guy," and he has been called a devil worshipper and gay -- both of which are untrue, Hall said.

Though Hall doesn't believe in God, he said he drove colleagues to church while serving in Iraq and paused when they would pray before meals. "Personally, I don't want [religion] or need it. But I'm not going to get down on anybody else for it," he said.

Hall said his atheism became known after a firefight in Iraq in 2007. His commander asked whether he believed in God. "I said, 'No, but I believe in Plexiglas,'" Hall recalled. Later, a superior threatened to file charges when he tried to organize a meeting of atheists, he said. Officials wouldn't comment on the suit, but said discrimination wasn't tolerated.

This is an update on the Atheist activist (and member of MAAF) who was harassed in Iraq for holding an Atheist meeting.

OK the truth is I have a lot to say here, but it's late and I've already taken an Ambien. Bloggers please jump in and do this one for me. Mention the reason we're fighting, the definition of religious freedom, why it's good, and why intolerance seems to come from the same two groups of people. I'll be back tomorrow night.

Click here for an uppate

For Immediate Release
Web: nyc-atheists.org
Press Contact 212-879-2687

What Are You Doing on the “National Day of Prayer?”

We Have a Better Idea: Donate Blood!

-----------------------

NEW YORK, April 27, 2008—It comes around every May, the so-called “National Day of Prayer,” to the consternation of many nonbelievers, secularists, atheists, agnostics and others. What do we do on this day when we’re supposed to be on our knees exalting a deity we don’t believe in?

New York City Atheists (NYCA) says, don’t get on your knees, friends. Get on your feet, get down to the Blood Bank and donate a pint of blood to humanity. While the faithheads are praying for a miracle, you will be giving the “miracle” of life to someone who needs it.

What better way to show the contrast between their way and our way? While they are mumbling words to a nonexistent deity, perhaps beseeching “Him” to help a loved one, we will be on our feet, taking an action that will positively help someone’s loved one. They beg, we act!

“We know that prayer does not work, but medical science does,” says Kenneth Bronstein, president of NYCA.

It has become an Atheist custom in New York City, and around the nation, to donate blood on the so-called National Day of Prayer, which we have renamed The National Gift-of-Life Day.

For four years now, a group of Atheists have arrived together to donate their life-giving blood to a Blood Bank on the National Gift-of-Life Day and then celebrated together in a small anteroom with coffee, juice and light refreshment supplied by the Blood Bank.

“We have found that the Blood Bank was delighted to have us, cooperated with us in every way and allowed us to post our Atheist banner for the occasion,” notes Bronstein.

This year, we are going to the New York Blood Bank on the Lower Level of the
Citigroup Center on East 54th Street, from 4 to 7 P.M. No reservations are needed, come any time during that period and join your fellow Atheists in donating blood and celebrating the Atheists’ Gift-of-Life day! We will be there waiting for you.

EVENT SUMMARY

WHAT: Individual blood donations by Atheists to celebrate the National
Gift of Life Day and illustrate to the world that our actions
speak louder than prayers.

WHEN: Thursday, May 1th, 2008, from 4 to 7 P.M.

WHERE: New York Blood Bank
Citigroup Center
Lower Level
Entrance is on 54th St., 100 feet west of 3rd Ave.
Go straight to Down escalator
New York Blood Bank straight ahead

RSVP? Reservations not needed but Ken Bronstein
would appreciate knowing how many are coming.
Email him at firebell1@aol.com or phone 212-535-7425 or
Jane Everhart at 212-879-2687.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS ACTION ALERT
http://www.atheists.org
April 26, 2008

TENNESSEE BILL CALLS FOR STATE-WIDE
BIBLE INSTRUCTION CLASSES
Action needed now to stop more public funding of religious propaganda!

Bills in the Tennessee state Senate and House would create "non-sectarian" high school Bible instruction courses under the guise of teaching history and literature.

Senate Bill 4104 is slated for a vote this week. The measure is sponsored by State Sen. Roy Herron (D-Dresden), with a mirror bill in the House introduced by Rep. Mark Maddox (DE-Dresden). According to the Jackson Sun newspaper, "If it becomes law, the legislation would make the Bible course a state-approved elective, and school boards would no longer have to apply for a specific course through the Department of Education."

Fifteen counties in Tennessee already use public money to operate similar instruction units which employ a variety of disingenuous labels such as "Bible History" or "The Bible as Literature." Sen. Herron wants more school districts to adopt the classes, saying "There are school systems all over the state that are afraid to offer a course about the Bible because they're afraid of being sued."

Despite claims that these courses are about "history" or "literature," though, Bible instruction is often used to conceal a sectarian (Christian) religious agenda. One supporter of the bill told WTVF news, "If people went back to the Bible, we'd have morals back in America."

This legislation does not provide the kind of oversight necessary to prevent proselytizing. It also uses tax money to create an instructional unit focusing on a religious text with roots in Judeo-Christianity, while ignoring other religions, or purely secular philosophies and writings. Critics also charge that measures like this "smuggle" fundamentalist Christianity into the public schools.

TENNESSEE LEGISLATORS NEED TO HEAR
FROM US NOW!

* Letter, e-mails, faxes and phone calls are need now to stop this unconstitutional attempt to promote religion in our public schools. Visit the web site of the Tennessee Legislature at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/ .

* Tell lawmakers that Americans should not be compelled to subsidize religious instruction with tax money. School budgets are being slashed because of the current economic climate. Money for important areas like science instruction is being reduced.

* Despite claims made by supporters of this legislation, there are no effective controls in place to guarantee that these courses are "objective" and do not open the door to sectarian religious proselytizing. The course focuses on Judeo-Christianity while ignoring the history and literature of other faith-traditions, and alternative secular philosophies as well.

* Make your letters and E-mails brief, polite and to the point.

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

FRANK ZINDLER, Editor of American Atheist Press will speak to the Free
Inquiry Group of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky this Sunday, April 27,
2008.

Frank will discuss The Myth of Nazareth, the controversial new book by Rene
Salm that explores the archaeological and historical data showing that
Nazareth was not inhabited at the time of the alleged figure Jesus Christ.
Frank muses: "Can the Wizard of Oz be real if there was never a land of Oz?"

Frank Zindler is a profession linguist and historian with expertise in
ancient languages. He is the author of numerous books and articles about
Atheism, religion and related topics. He is also a member of several
learned societies including the American Association for the Advancement of
Science; the New York Academy of Science; Society of Biblical Literature;
and the American Schools of Oriental Research. Frank is also a nationally
recognized lecturer and debater in the ongoing battle of creationist pseudo
science and evolution.

Copies of Renee Salm's "The Myth of Nazareth" published by American Atheist
Press will be available for purchase.

The lectures takes place April 27, 2008 (Sunday) beginning at 2:00 PM at the
Vernon Manor Hotel, 400 Oak St. in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event is free and
open to the public, and is parking at the Vernon Manor. For further
information including detailed driving directions, visit
http://www.gofigger.org .

WHO & WHAT: Frank Zindler speaking on The Myth of Nazareth

WHEN: This Sunday, April 27, 2008 beginning at 2:00 PM

WHERE: Vernon Manor Hotel, 400 Oak St. in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event is
free and open to the public, and is parking at the Vernon Manor.

MORE INFO: http://www.gofigger.org

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

"Expelled the movie" is being sued by Yoko Ono, in what may be the best thing she ever did.

It seems our less-than-honest friends at Expelled not only lied to viewers about the intellectual viability of an invisible man in the sky, but they also used IMAGINE without permission. Lennon's song is anything but religious, and Yoko wants to make sure her husband's name is not used for such tripe.

Yoko Ono is suing the producers of a movie that challenges the concept of Darwinian evolution, saying they used the song "Imagine" without her permission and led the blogosphere to accuse her of "selling out."

...
Ono's lawsuit claims the producers did not ask for permission either because they knew they could not get it or because they did not want to pay for the rights. It objects to the way "Imagine" is listed in the film's credits, saying it suggested to members of the news media and others that the song's use had been approved.

"Internet 'bloggers' immediately began accusing Mrs. Lennon of 'selling out' by licensing the song to defendants," says the complaint, filed this week.

The lawsuit calls "Imagine" Lennon's signature song, saying it "has become closely associated with and is synonymous with John Lennon."

The complaint, which also names other firms involved with the movie, asks the court to stop the filmmakers from distributing, selling and promoting the movie, and it seeks financial damages. It was filed on behalf of Ono, Lennon's sons Sean and Julian, and EMI Blackwood Music Inc.

Instead, check out the Forgiving the Franklins Movie, which looks more interesting
http://www.forgivingthefranklinsthemovie.com/press/atheist.pdf

MICHIGAN ATHEISTS TO COUNTER "NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER"
WITH BLOOD DONATIONS

Positive Life-Saving Action, Not Passive Prayer, Is the Message

What will you do on May 1, 2008, the "National Day of Prayer?" If you are an Atheist and do not accept prayer as an answer to human suffering, join us.

On May 1st, groups of Atheists in scores of American cities will go to their local Blood Banks to donate blood and sign up for organ-donor programs.

We call our blood donation program B.L.O.O.D., an acronym for Benefiting Lives of Others Donations.

It's simple. Here's what you do:

1) Find your local blood bank by accessing http://www.americanblood.org/ (Bottom left corner, type in your zip code to find your local blood bank.)

2) Tell your local Red Cross Donation Center that you are donating on behalf of the Michigan Atheists Blood drive. Then..................

3) Report your donation to Michigan Atheists B.L.O.O.D chariman, Chris McLaughlin at ccmclaugh@comcast.net who will report your donation to national B.L.O.O.D

4) If you live near the Detroit Metro area, please join Michigan Atheists

WHEN: May 1, 2008

TIME: 4:00-6:45pm

WHERE: American Red Cross Donation Center, 1605 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

Thanks for your support. For additional information contact, Chris McLaughlin, Michigan Atheists B.L.O.O.D Chairman Ccmclaugh@comcast.net

FORWARDED MESSAGE BY:

ARLENE-MARIE, Michigan Atheists Affiliate Director
(313) 938-5960 amarie@atheists.org http://www.michiganatheists.org/
P.O. Box 0025, Allen Park, MI 48101

Michigan Atheists is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, social and educational organization defending Atheists civil rights and dedicated to the complete and absolute separation of state and church.

Action without discussion is dangerous. Discussion without action is futile.

CATHOLIC priest who floated away under hundreds of helium balloons in a bid to raise money for his parish is missing off Brazil.

Only pieces of the party balloons have been found by searchers looking for Reverend Adelir Antonio de Carli off the coast of Santa Catarina state, the Associated Press reported.

Mr de Carli, 41, lifted off from the port city of Paranagua yesterday afternoon wearing a helmet, thermal suit and a parachute.

He was reported missing about eight hours later after losing contact with port authority officials, according to the treasurer of his Sao Cristovao parish, Denise Gallas.

Mr de Carli had been trying to break a 19-hour record for flying with balloons to raise money for a spiritual rest-stop for truckers in Paranagua, Brazil's second-largest port for agricultural products.

A video posted on the G1 website of Globo TV showed the smiling 41-year-old priest slipping into a flight suit, being strapped to a seat attached to a huge column green, red, white and yellow balloons, and soaring into the air to the cheers of a crowd.

He soared to an altitude of 6000m then descended to about 2500m for his flight to the city of Dourados, 750km northwest of his parish.

But winds pushed him out to sea and Mr de Carli was 50km off the coast when he last contacted Paranagua's port authority, Ms Gallas said.

All Howard Stern fans seem to have the same song running through their head.

Lance’s memorial is now on Sunday, 5/25, from 1-5 at the Court Tavern in New Brunswick.

Update 4/28
Day 4 & 5 Updates are online:
http://alabamaatheist.org/fw2k8/

Photos from Day 4:
http://thenafa.org/photos/v/20080426/

UPDATE Check out the story here
http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20080424/NEWS/837335816/1016/NEWS

Bookmark this thread -- Ellen will be updating us as she completed the journey here on the NoGodBlog.

My name is Ellen Johnson and on April 23, 2008 I am going on a journey to rewrite history and get some justice for the many Freedom Walkers who were prevented from delivering a letter for racial harmony in 1963.
The story began in 1963 with an Atheist named Bill Moore. He was a civil rights activist, author, marine corporal, and graduate from Johns Hopkins University. Bill was a member of CORE, the Congress of Racial Equality and SNCC the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. In 1962 the governor of Mississippi, Ross Barnet refused to allow James Meredith, a black man, to attend the University of Mississippi. It was then that Bill Moore decided to try, in his own small way to bring racial harmony to our nation. He wanted to see his home state of Mississippi do the right thing towards blacks. He decided that he was going to hand deliver a letter to Governor Barnett asking him to reconsider his position on segregation. He was going to carry the letter from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Jackson, Mississippi. It was a freedom walk.

The letter read:

Dear Governor Barnett:

I have always had a warm place in my heart for Mississippi, the land of my childhood and my ancestors. I dislike the reputation this state has acquired as being the most backward and most bigoted in the land. Those who truly love Mississippi must work to change this image.
Frankly, I do not know which is worse - to be raised to believe that one should be happy to live in poverty and die twice as fast as the white man and to be told to reject the ideas of those who tell you democracy means the right to vote whatever the color of one’s skin; or is it worse to be raised as members of a sort of ‘master race’ which fights a losing battle to preserve injustice with barbaric laws and police state methods.
The British were wise in that they dissolved their empire before they were forced to do so. Consequently, the governments of countries such as India and Nigeria are stable and friendly and democratic. The French, on the other hand, held onto their empire as long as they could. Thus the bitter strife in Laos, Vietnam, Algeria.
The end of Mississippi colonialism is fast approaching. The only question is whether you will help it to end in a friendship like the British, or try to hold onto what is already lost, creating bitterness and hatred, as did the French. For our sake, as well as the Negro’s, I hope you will decide to try the British way.
The white man cannot be truly free himself until all men have their rights. Each is dependent upon the other. Do not go down in infamy as one who fought democracy for all, which you have not the power to prevent.
Be gracious. Give more than is immediately demanded of you. Make certain that when the Negro gets his rights and his vote that he does not in the process learn to treat the white man with the contempt and disdain that, unfortunately, some of us now treat him.

Sincerely,

William L. Moore

Bill Moore used his two-week vacation from his job as a postal worker in Baltimore, Maryland and began his walk. He planned to walk 40 miles a day for ten days.
He made a sandwich board sign for the walk - in the home of Madalyn O’Hair, who he supported in her Supreme Court case in 1963 called Murray v. Curlett. The front of the sign read: End Segregation In America. Eat At Joe’s - Both Black and White. The back read: Equal Rights For All
(Mississippi or Bust)
Bill began his walk from Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 21, 1963.
Along the way, he was greeted by both friend and foe. Two days later on April 23, a motorist found Moore’s body. He had been shot twice in the head at close range with a .22 caliber rifle. The gun’s ownership was traced to Floyd Simpson, whom Moore had argued with earlier that day. Simpson was never indicted. Bill Moore was murdered because of his Atheism and his politics.
A week later ten more Freedom Walkers, both black and white, attempted to finish Bill’s walk. They never made it. They were stopped at the border of Alabama and they were beaten and jailed. They languished in jail for months. They were sentenced to death and fed muffins with crushed glass inside.
Four other attempts, involving hundreds of people were made and all were thwarted by the segregationists in Alabama and Mississippi. On August 3, 1963, the fifth and final attempt was made to complete Bill Moore’s walk from Gadsden, Alabama. Six hundred and eighty-two people were arrested attempting to finish the walk of a man they never even knew.

Forty-five years later it is time to deliver that letter.

Bill Moore did not die in vain. The Freedom Walkers (Sam Shirah, Winston Lockett, Bill Haley, Zev Aelony, Chico Neblett, Bill Hansen, Bob Zellner, Eric Weinberger and Robert Gore to name few) attempts to deliver the letter and their subsequent punishments must not have been in vain.
On April 23 I will be in Attala, Alabama where Bill Moore was murdered and I’m going to finish his walk and deliver his letter to the governor of Mississippi. Then the history books will show that the Freedom Walkers were not defeated and that the letter was delivered. It may have been delivered 45 years later, but it was delivered.

Thank-you,

Ellen Johnson, President
American Atheists
908-276-7300

WASHINGTON (April 21) - Famed astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has been thinking a lot about the cosmic question, "Are we alone?" The answer is probably not, he says.

If there is life elsewhere in the universe, Hawking asks why haven't we stumbled onto some alien broadcasts in space, maybe something like "alien quiz shows?"

Hawking's comments were part of a lecture at George Washington University on Monday in honor of NASA's 50th anniversary. He theorized that there are possible answers to whether there is extraterrestrial life.

One option is that there likely isn't life elsewhere. Or maybe there is intelligent life elsewhere, but when it gets smart enough to send signals into space, it also is smart enough to make destructive nuclear weapons.

Hawking said he prefers the third option:

"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare," he said, then quickly added: "Some would say it has yet to occur on Earth."

So should you worry about aliens? Alien abduction claims come from "weirdos" and are unlikely. However, because alien life might not have DNA like us, Hawking warned: "Watch out if you would meet an alien. You could be infected with a disease with which you have no resistance."

The 66-year-old British cosmologist, who suffers from ALS and must speak through a mechanical device, believes "if the human race is to continue for another million years, we will have to boldly go where no one has gone before."

See that? It's so clear now. Stephen Hawking IS Christopher Pike!

OK So seriously. Life on other planets? Yes. Extraterrestrial life here? No. Why? We are too far from everything. Your thoughts?

Let us all congratulate the happy couple and wish them all the best. A truly secular celebration officiated by the executive director of the American Humanist Association, Tony Hileman.

The marriage and reception were in New York City.

Peter Nuhn

Let me start out by paraphrasing David Carradine in "Kill Bill". You may say I am being sadistic, but believe me, this is me at my most masochistic.

This thread has already given me a headache, and I haven't written it yet. Even the word "ontologics" gives me a headache. But hey, I'm in a masochistic mood.

Ontologics is one of those pseudo-proofs-of-god that's used so many times by those who are silly enough to engage Atheists in logical debate. It's basicly a word game.

The argument goes like this:
1) Imagine a perfect being -- a most perfect being. This being either exists or it does not. A most perfect being cannot "nearly exist".
2) This perfect being has many traits -- unlimited power, perfect knowledge, etc.
3) Existance is one of those traits. Of course, existence is better than nonexistence.
4) Since a non existent being would not be as perfect as an existent one, a most perfect being would have to have existence as a trait. Therefore such a being must logically exist.

God damn this headache!

Dawkins calls it "rubbish" and points to the fact that the same can be said of any relatively unquantifyable thing. A "most smelly" object, a tastiest meal.

But perhaps it is simpler than that. Perhaps the assumption that existence is better than nonexistence is flawed in and of itself. We live in a world where disease runs rampant, natural disasters wreck cities, etc. If an entity existed with unlimited knowledge and power, and let this kind of stuff happen, he'd be evil --- much more evil, and therefore much LESS perfect -- than his nonexistent counterpart.

In other words if we imagine a most perfect being GIVEN THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT, we must conclude that the world would be much better off NOT having such a being exist -- a being with power willing to let humans suffer -- than having one. For having such a living entity would subject the Earth to a whim of a less-than-nice god.

So a most perfect being GIVEN THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT, would not exist.

The NoGodBlog has been given an 8.4 rating on blogged.com. That places us in the top 100 sites in the "Spirituality section". Please rate us!
http://www.blogged.com/blogs/no-god-blog.html

Remember that "spreading the word" about the blog and the organization (or any other blog/organization in the movement) is GOOD activism as it will result in more eyes on our point of view.

Spend an hour tonight -- tell other blog sites to link to us.
The Toplist is also listing us!

I try to keep up with the requests for reciprocals. Sometimes it takes a while

At least I did, but I forgot.

ALL-NEW UPDATE 4/20

Well we just had a very successful Pope Picket here in Austin, and here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvWNE_njrvc

UPDATE!
This thread is specifically about the NY protest. I'll post pictures and updates.

Hi all I'm back from the Pope Picket. We had a great time. There were about 30 of us in the Atheist bin, next to two other bins.The first bin--- the group right next to us, was the "God Hates Fags" people. These guys are rude and incapable of having a conversation, so we didn't even try. For some reason, they all left after an hour or so. The other bin was the victims of child abuse -- and we got along great.

Tons of passers-by. We gave out all our flyers and a bunch of DVDs of the BBC's "History of Disbelief".

Interestingly to my daughter, (who was GREAT and had a wonderful time), it was much easier to get the pamphlets handed out if we said "God wants you to read this". If we said, "this is why the Atheists are protesting", we gave a few away, but mention God and people go WAY out of their way to take it and read it. Most got the joke. Some inside the picket line didn't want us using the god line, but it worked sooo well I gouldn't resist.

Unfortunately, the Pope never showed (like his state-sponsored Birthday Party), but we got LOTS of press and had a great time under great weather.

Thanks to Ken and Jane from the NYC Atheists who planned and organized the whole thing. Jason from MAAF was there as well as Dennis from the Atheist Viewpoint.

If you saw our protest (or coverage thereof), and this is your first time on the NoGodBlog, please register and chime in.

http://headonradio.com/index.php

I'll be doing a segment with Bob Kincaid on Head-on Radio (liberal and friendly) tonight. Please listen in at 6:30 pm!

WASHINGTON - Feted at the White House on his 81st birthday, Pope Benedict XVI praised Americans for their deep religious beliefs Wednesday but later told the nation's bishops that the scourge of clergy sex abuse had sometimes been "very badly handled."

Benedict's comments, his toughest critique yet of the U.S. church's worst problem, marked the second day in a row that he addressed the abuse scandal. They came as he addressed the nation's bishops at the imposing Immaculate Conception shrine.

He also reminded the prelates that religion cannot only be considered a "private matter" without any bearing on public behavior.

OK folks nice and slow here. OK... Deeeeep Breath...

The pope knew very well about the sex claims, and advised JP-2 to hide the scandal.

The Catholic pedophilia scandal is not US-Specific. As mentioned in an earlier post, it's global, and centered on the policy endorsed by His Eminence himself. He is not shocked about the scandal -- he's shocked that it's done so much damage to Catholicism here in the US. The Pope is merely deflecting the blame away from him onto his underlings -- a sign of the poorest of character.

And then he talks to US about morality, and says secularism is evil (and our useless President agrees). This guy is scum, and wants nothing more than to save his power over gullible fools -- the numbers of which are dwindling.

We must NOT accept his chiding of followers as an apology or an honest attempt to fix things. If he wanted to fix things he'd excommunicate anyone who raped a human OR who helped hide a rapist -- globally. Then he would PERSONALLY take the blame for his PERSONAL actions which helped harm OUR children.

Happy Birthday Pope Pedophile Protector! Now go home.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS MEDIA ALERT
April 16, 2008

ELLEN JOHNSON ON CNN INTERNATIONAL
TONIGHT (Wed. 4/16) TO DISCUSS PAPAL VISIT

ELLEN JOHNSON, President of American Atheists, will be on the CNN International Network tonight (Wednesday, April 16, 2008) to discuss the pope's visit to the United States.

WHO & WHAT: Ellen Johnson discussing the visit of Pope Ratzinger to the U.S.

WHERE: CNN International Network "CNN Today" program

WHEN: Tonight, Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:00 PM ET

MORE INFO: http://edition.cnn.com

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

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/divorce-unwed-parents-may-cost-billions/20080415093309990003

OK First of all, notice the sponsors...

NEW YORK (April 15) - Divorce and out-of-wedlock childbearing cost U.S. taxpayers more than $112 billion a year, according to a study commissioned by four groups advocating more government action to bolster marriages.

Sponsors say the study is the first of its kind and hope it will prompt lawmakers to invest more money in programs aimed at strengthening marriages. Two experts not connected to the study said such programs are of dubious merit and suggested that other investments - notably job creation - would be more effective in aiding all types of needy families.

...

The study was conducted by Georgia State University economist Ben Scafidi. His work was sponsored by four groups who consider themselves part of a nationwide "marriage movement" - the New York-based Institute for American Values, the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, Families Northwest of Redmond, Wash., and the Georgia Family Council, an ally of the conservative ministry Focus on the Family.

All those sponsors are Christian Right groups, right? The Born-again Christians?

Then check out the stats...

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm

11% of the adult population is currently divorced.
25% of adults have had at least one divorce during their lifetime.
Divorce rates among conservative Christians were significantly higher than for other faith groups, and much higher than Atheists and Agnostics experience.

George Barna, president and founder of Barna Research Group, commented:

"While it may be alarming to discover that born again Christians are more likely than others to experience a divorce, that pattern has been in place for quite some time. Even more disturbing, perhaps, is that when those individuals experience a divorce many of them feel their community of faith provides rejection rather than support and healing. But the research also raises questions regarding the effectiveness of how churches minister to families. The ultimate responsibility for a marriage belongs to the husband and wife, but the high incidence of divorce within the Christian community challenges the idea that churches provide truly practical and life-changing support for marriages."

Religion % have been divorced
Jews 30%
Born-again Christians 27%
Other Christians 24%
Atheists, Agnostics 21%

So the protestants are bitching that unwed mothers and divorce are "costing taxpayers Billions (or at least they MAY), but THEY are the primary culprit! Maybe the federally-funded marriage "education" programs they sponsor should include a de-Christianizing program?

I'll be in NY for the protest on Saturday (as will my 11-year-old daughter). Please come to one of the protests below!

There are TWO pastes in this post. One is an update on the protests, and one is sent in by Joe Z of AA-TX on why the protest needs to happen.

POPE BENEDICT, a/k/a Joseph Ratzinger – formerly head of the Holy Inquisition and now Pope of the Roman Catholic Church – is coming to visit the United States/ Leading clerical and political figures – including President George W. Bush – will be meeting in him during papal visits to Washington, DC and New York City.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS will be hosting peaceful demonstrations in both cities to protest the papal agenda for cultural, social and political hegemony. We invite all Atheist, Freethought, Secular Humanists and other nonbelievers to join us in speaking out. Whatever label you use to describe your nonbelief and opposition to clerical authoritarianism of all denominations – whether you’re a Rational, a Bright, a Humanist, Agnostic, Atheist, or a strict Separationist – we welcome you!

WASHINGTON, DC. ~ SLIGHT CHANGE OF VENUE FOR LAFAYETTE PARK PROTEST
April 16, 2008

The Pope will join Bush for a reception on the south lawn of the White House. Join us beginning at 10:00 AM across the street from the White House in Lafayette Park. Gather at the Northwest corner of the park. Bring signs and banners conveying a polite but firm message in opposition to the Vatican/Ratzinger agenda. There will be a brief program of speakers including:

ELLEN JOHNSON, President of American Atheists
ARLENE-MARIE, President of Michigan Atheists and State Director, AA
MARGARET DOWNEY, President of Atheist Alliance
FRED EDWORDS, Director of Communications, American Humanist Association
CHRISTOPHER ARNTZEN, President, Gay and Lesbian Atheists and Humanists
RICK WINGROVE, Capitol Hill Representative, Virginia Director, American Atheists
Lafayette Park is convenient to the McPherson Square station of the METRO.

For further information, contact RICK WINGROVE at rwingrove@atheists.org.

NEW YORK CITY, NY.
On Saturday, April 19, 2008 the Pope will celebrate Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Gather at 5th Avenue and 47th St. with appropriate signs and banners beginning promptly at 8:30 AM. Ken Bronstein of NYC Atheists is the demonstration coordinator; he reports that we will be on the west side sidewalk of 5th Ave. between 46th and 47th streets. Police will likely shut down both people and street traffic on 5th Avenue in the vicinity of the church.

Contact KEN BRONSTEIN of NYC Atheists. Reach Ken through NYCATHEISTS@aol.com.

TEXAS DEMO TO SUPPORT PAPAL VISIT
PROTEST SLATED FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI isn't coming to the Lone Star State as part of his U.S. tour, but American Atheists Texas State Director Joe Zamecki will be hosting a demonstration to speak out against the Vatican agenda. He's posted a great video about this at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W5BIMsWm4w . Here's the skinny from Joe on what's slated for Austin, Texas:

The Pope is coming to America for five days! We've got to take this rare opportunity to demonstrate against him and his church while he's in America. As picket-worthy groups go, this is the big one, the most deserving one. We're going to have a peaceful picket of a popular and very visible Catholic church here in Austin. The sidewalk is wide and unobstructed, the parking is free, this is in a very high visibility area that's already been the site of a lot of picketing and other demonstrations over the years. I've already checked into the demonstration legalities of that location, and it's simple. We don't need a permit to picket peacefully on the sidewalk next to Guadalupe Street. That's more than enough room. I will make sure that we give plenty of notice to the police, and get their blessing for the whole thing. They're very demonstration-friendly police here.

WHO: Joe Zamecki and other Texas Atheists

WHAT: Pope Picket 2008, Austin

WHERE: St. Austin's Catholic Church, 2026 Guadalupe St., Austin TX 78705, on the Drag across the street from UT Austin

WHY: To protest the huge number of harmful acts the Catholic Church is currently engaged in, in addition to the state/church violations

WHEN: Sunday, April 20, 2008 starting around 8:30am, and lasting as long as we can handle the bells which ring throughout the day. The objective is to be seen and heard by their congregants as they enter and leave that church.

VIDEO: I made a Youtube video about The Drag and this picket: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W5BIMsWm4w

MORE INFO: We can meet up there, since it's so easy to find, and parking meters in Austin are all free on Sundays.
For more information about this Austin picket: jzamecki@atheists.org And: (512)927-6863, or visit http://www.atheists.org/tx .

We'll have two new picket signs specific to this event that I've just had made. Please feel free to make and bring your own signs without sticks or poles. I'll have fliers about the picket and the church and the Pope, and at least one press release from American Atheists about it.
After the picket, there are a number of good restaurants and bars in the area for us to have lunch at, or whatever. Also I will be videotaping the entire demonstration, so let's look nice and wear big smiles. )

Joe Zamecki

ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS
Atheists of Silicon Valley
Michigan Atheists
American Humanist Association
Free Inquiry Group of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
If your Atheist, Freethought, Humanist or Secularist group would like to endorse the pope protests, let us know and we will list your group on our web site at http://www.atheists.org/temp/popeVisit2008.html . Contact cg@atheists.org with the name of the endorsing organization and the appropriate URL.

TAKE ACTION!

We urge all Atheist, Humanist, Freethought and other secularist groups to organize peaceful protests in their communities during the time of the papal visit. Send details to cg@atheists.org and we will work to publicize your event.
(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.)

Now here are Joe's top ten reasons to protest, but here are my top ones
1) The Catholic Church is a country with a seat in the UN. They are the only religion allowed to do this. It allows them to influence the world and foist their archaic opinions on every member country.
2) The Catholic Church sponsored the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, helped the Nazis in the Holocaust (here's where they admit it), and still meddles in world affairs regularly.
3) The Catholic Church demands tithing worldwide, forces all its employees to take vows of Poverty, pays no taxes, and still claims not to have money. They whine constantly about their loss of revenue, while the Pope sits behind golden doors. The Church has never revealed how much its worth, but they could probably cure world hunger.
4) The Pope himself helped Hitler, and advised JPII to hide pedophiles instead of throwing them in jail. In this way, Pope Benedict directly placed US children in harm's way, to avoid scandal in the Church. The sex scandals in Africa and other countries have gotten little to no resolution because there is no media coverage, and therefore no scandal. This makes him an international criminal.
5) He really doesn't like Atheists, and warns the world about us. He has chosen to make us his adversary, in an attempt to make people think WE'RE the bad guys.
6) Priests are required to have first allegiance to the Vatican, and second to their home country. Sound like a recipe for treason? It is!

That's right. The Vatican says WE are the bad guys.

A quote from Sean Connory's character in Insdiana Jones and the Last Crusade comes to mind: "Goose-stepping morons like yourself should try reading books instead of burning them"

Here's Joes' Post:

10 The Pope, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church are right now receiving a special US Government issued tax incentive, essentially a financial assistance grant, courtesy of the American taxpayers. Whenever a Pope visits America, tens of millions of American tax dollars are spent on public church services he celebrates, which obviously the extremely wealthy Vatican doesn't need, but receives anyway. This violates state/church separation in a huge and unmistakable fashion.

9. The Pope, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church are still running a huge system of private schools which indoctrinate millions of young people into that religion, with the efficiency of an assembly line. That indoctrination often involves corporal punishment, as a great many Catholic schools have yet to switch over to non-violent solutions to disciplinary problems. (For more information about that, please read my book, "Leaving the Quiet Room," or watch it in video form at: www.youtube.com/aajoeyjo)

8. The Pope, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church continue to promote the irrational belief in Virgin Mary apparitions, resulting in waves of copycat apparitions, their individual fraudulent marketing operations, and the harmful forced worship of icons among millions of its unwilling congregants.

7. The Passion of the Christ. Even though it wasn't their movie, they soaked up the growth energy that resulted from it, and to this day, they promote it, and the "Stations of the Cross" which STILL strike fear and paranoia in the hearts of millions of young people around the world. It also fuels hatred of Jewish people everywhere, and that's just wrong.

6. The Pope, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church continue to encourage Catholics everywhere to avoid rational parental planning with the traditional "be fruitful and multiply" attitude and a general opposition to all birth control. This negatively affects the entire human race by increasing human over-population, creating and prolonging problems related to over-population, which affect us ALL.

5. The Pope, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church are still viciously attacking gays and lesbians around the world with their hate-filled sermons against civil rights for homosexuals and in support of a violent end for groups like that. Like the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, KS, (godhatesfags.com) their message of hate and anger against gays and lesbians inspires violence against those people, which still sometimes results in the murder of innocent people.

4. The Pope, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church continue to spread misinformation about condoms and other forms of birth control around the world, especially to the third world, where accurate sex education information is needed most.

3. The Pope, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church continue to promote the false belief system of demon possession and the false solution of exorcisms, which maim and kill people even today. They go so far as to run a college for exorcists, and are currently training priests from around the world to commit this dangerous and harmful act. Recently they have also announced that this is also part of a new response to the growth of Satanism in the world, and that they're launching a global war on Satanism, and Satanists as well, essentially. They believe Satan is real and they're promoting attacks on Satanists because of that belief.

2. The Pope, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic Church are still spreading misinformation about abortion to the world, and are still engaged in a cultural and political battle against all humans who enjoy personal individual reproductive liberty. This has not only caused a harmful and unnecessary limitation on personal liberty, it has provoked millions of anti-choice Catholics to oppress women around the world, and has helped inspire the formation of terrorist groups like the Army of God and Operation Rescue.

1. And the number 1 reason to picket the Pope and his church anywhere...because no matter WHICH cities the Pope visits, the Roman Catholic Church is STILL the world's largest and most successful PEDOPHILIA NETWORK! This one shouldn't need any further explanation whatsoever, and if there were no other reasons, this reason would suffice all by itself.

See you on the Picket line!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/13/forum/index.html

This is bull. These guys -- BOTH OF THEM -- show no signs of even acknowledging the Secular 30 Million, let alone protecting the separation of Church and state. The'yre competing to show how much they love Jesus, and how much they love Jesus, and how much the REALLY REALLY love Jesus.

I give up. They don't want my vote, and they're not geting it.

On Sunday, after a tumultuous campaign season where religion -- both rumor and reality -- has had a starring role, the two remaining Democratic White House hopefuls, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, again ventured onto terrain that has been dominated by Republican candidates.

It was a risk-filled journey for both: social issues like abortion and gay marriage have long been sticking points for Democrats in their efforts to reach some religious voters.

But in separate appearances at Faith in Public Life's Compassion Forum at Messiah College -- only the second such event in Democratic presidential campaign history -- both spoke of their faith in starkly personal terms.

On a day when her campaign released a new ad talking about her struggles to "climb the mountain," Clinton told CNN's Campbell Brown and Newsweek's Jon Meacham. "I don't think that I could have made my life's journey without being anchored in God's grace and without having that, you know, sense of forgiveness and unconditional love.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS

http://www.atheists.org/temp/popeVisit2008.html

THE POPE IS COMING TO AMERICA...

And We’ll be Ready to Protest the Vatican’s Oppressive and Theocratic Agenda for Our Country and the Rest of the World!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POPE BENEDICT, a/k/a Joseph Ratzinger – formerly head of the Holy Inquisition and now Pope of the Roman Catholic Church – is coming to visit the United States/ Leading clerical and political figures – including President George W. Bush – will be meeting in him during papal visits to Washington, DC and New York City.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS will be hosting peaceful demonstrations in both cities to protest the papal agenda for cultural, social and political hegemony. We invite all Atheist, Freethought, Secular Humanists and other nonbelievers to join us in speaking out. Whatever label you use to describe your nonbelief and opposition to clerical authoritarianism of all denominations – whether you’re a Rational, a Bright, a Humanist, Agnostic, Atheist, or a strict Separationist – we welcome you!

NEW YORK CITY, NY.
On Saturday, April 19, 2008 the Pope will celebrate Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Gather at 5th Avenue and 47th St. with appropriate signs and banners beginning promptly at 8:30 AM. Ken Bronstein of NYC Atheists is the demonstration coordinator; he reports that we will be on the west side sidewalk of 5th Ave. between 46th and 47th streets. Police will likely shut down both people and street traffic on 5th Avenue in the vicinity of the church.

Contact KEN BRONSTEIN of NYC Atheists. Reach Ken through NYCATHEISTS@aol.com.

WASHINGTON, DC.
April 16, 2008

The Pope will join Bush for a reception on the south lawn of the White House. Join us beginning at 10:00 AM across the street from the White House in Lafayette Park. Bring signs and banners conveying a polite but firm message in opposition to the Vatican/Ratzinger agenda. There will be a brief program of speakers including:
ELLEN JOHNSON, President of American Atheists
ARLENE-MARIE, President of Michigan Atheists and State Director, AA
MARGARET DOWNEY, President of Atheist Alliance
FRED EDWORDS, Director of Communications, American Humanist Association
CHRISTOPHER ARNTZEN, President, Gay and Lesbian Atheists and Humanists
RICK WINGROVE, Capitol Hill Representative, Virginia Director, American Atheists
Lafayette Park is convenient to the McPherson Square station of the METRO.

For further information, contact RICK WINGROVE at rwingrove@atheists.org.

TEXAS DEMO TO SUPPORT PAPAL VISIT
PROTEST SLATED FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI isn't coming to the Lone Star State as part of his U.S. tour, but American Atheists Texas State Director Joe Zamecki will be hosting a demonstration to speak out against the Vatican agenda. He's posted a great video about this at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W5BIMsWm4w . Here's the skinny from Joe on what's slated for Austin, Texas:

The Pope is coming to America for five days! We've got to take this rare opportunity to demonstrate against him and his church while he's in America. As picket-worthy groups go, this is the big one, the most deserving one. We're going to have a peaceful picket of a popular and very visible Catholic church here in Austin. The sidewalk is wide and unobstructed, the parking is free, this is in a very high visibility area that's already been the site of a lot of picketing and other demonstrations over the years. I've already checked into the demonstration legalities of that location, and it's simple. We don't need a permit to picket peacefully on the sidewalk next to Guadalupe Street. That's more than enough room. I will make sure that we give plenty of notice to the police, and get their blessing for the whole thing. They're very demonstration-friendly police here.

WHO: Joe Zamecki and other Texas Atheists

WHAT: Pope Picket 2008, Austin

WHERE: St. Austin's Catholic Church, 2026 Guadalupe St., Austin TX 78705, on the Drag across the street from UT Austin

WHY: To protest the huge number of harmful acts the Catholic Church is currently engaged in, in addition to the state/church violations

WHEN: Sunday, April 20, 2008 starting around 8:30am, and lasting as long as we can handle the bells which ring throughout the day. The objective is to be seen and heard by their congregants as they enter and leave that church.

VIDEO: I made a Youtube video about The Drag and this picket: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W5BIMsWm4w

MORE INFO: We can meet up there, since it's so easy to find, and parking meters in Austin are all free on Sundays.
For more information about this Austin picket: jzamecki@atheists.org And: (512)927-6863, or visit http://www.atheists.org/tx .

We'll have two new picket signs specific to this event that I've just had made. Please feel free to make and bring your own signs without sticks or poles. I'll have fliers about the picket and the church and the Pope, and at least one press release from American Atheists about it.
After the picket, there are a number of good restaurants and bars in the area for us to have lunch at, or whatever. Also I will be videotaping the entire demonstration, so let's look nice and wear big smiles. )

Joe Zamecki

ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS
Atheists of Silicon Valley
Michigan Atheists
American Humanist Association
Free Inquiry Group of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
If your Atheist, Freethought, Humanist or Secularist group would like to endorse the pope protests, let us know and we will list your group on our web site at http://www.atheists.org/temp/popeVisit2008.html . Contact cg@atheists.org with the name of the endorsing organization and the appropriate URL.

TAKE ACTION!

We urge all Atheist, Humanist, Freethought and other secularist groups to organize peaceful protests in their communities during the time of the papal visit. Send details to cg@atheists.org and we will work to publicize your event.
(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.)

Panel okays evolution alternatives

A Senate committee says teachers can discuss other origin-of-life ideas.

By Linda Kleindienst
The Orlando Sentinel
Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Florida teachers could mention religious theories about human origins, such as creationism and intelligent design, without fearing retribution under a measure that passed a key Senate committee Tuesday.

The "Evolution Academic Freedom Act" was approved 7-3 by the Senate Judiciary Committee and now goes to the full chamber for consideration, although no date has been set.

The measure awaits its first hearing in the House.

Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, said she filed the bill after hearing cases of students and teachers who felt "muzzled" and unable to discuss alternate theories on the origin of life. She said teachers have suffered retribution from school authorities and students have been the target of "denigrating comments" from other teachers.

While the measure does not allow any teacher to promote a specific religious doctrine, "you can hold to your own religious views without being attacked for it," Storms said. "This promotes the free flow of ideas."

While the committee's six Republicans voted for the measure, the "no" votes came from Democratic Sens. Ted Deutch of Boca Raton, Steve Geller of Cooper City and Jeremy Ring of Parkland.

"I believe the purpose of this bill is to let people bring their religious beliefs into school," said Geller, the Senate's Democratic Leader, voicing concerns about keeping the separation between church and state. "We need to keep the wall."

The legislation was filed after the state Board of Education, by a one-vote margin, approved changes in February to the state science standards requiring the teaching of the "scientific theory of evolution."

The new standards, which will present evolution as a "fundamental concept underlying all biology," will be included in public-school curricula starting this fall, and the Science FCAT will test students on the material beginning in 2012.

Mary Bahr, a Marion County middle-school teacher who helped write the standards, warned that Storms' bill could "muddy the water" on what should be taught.

"If this passes, what will we be teaching in our science classes?" she asked.

Despite Storms' claims of reprisals against teachers, according to the Florida Department of Education there has never been a case in Florida in which a public-school teacher has claimed discrimination based on science teaching.

But Nathan Dunn, vice president of the Florida Family Action Network, read to the committee several letters from science teachers who claimed they had been shunned or ostracized when questioning evolution.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-evolution0908apr09,0,3308090.story

OK so let me get this straight.

1) In the history of the world, the amount of scientific evidence supporting the existance of a deity is Zero.

2) In all the world, the number of repected Science research universities who accept "Intelligent Design" as a valid scientific theory is Zero.

3) Some un-named teachers wrote emails saying they were "shunned or ostracized" because they questioned what is regarded by the scientific community as FACT. They weren't hurt or fired, or threatened, they were shunned or ostracized for believing that 1+1=3.

4) So... we have to change the law that was just passed to be the exact opposite of what it meant.

I can't wait until the Pastafarians and Wiccans get into their "opinions" of alternate Life Origins

So as a good Atheist, how much did you donate to your favorite religious corporation last year? None you say? Wrong, try $30 million in government pork and then over another billion by the Administration through their faith based and community initiatives.

Check out the link to the press release from the Secular Coalition of America on last year's godly earmarks. Of course, politicians place earmarks into appropriation bills in order to payback those who have supported their election.

The quote in the header to this posting is from Barry Lynn from an article in the new edition of Church & State by Rob Boston on the exact same subject. Neither of these two organizations go so far as to make the connection between money and political paybacks. But come on, we all know that if you lie down with gods, you wake up with fleas. Oh is that dogs? I keep getting those two confused. Must be my age.

Besides the American Atheists, Freedom from Religion Foundation and the American Humanist Association (organizations known for their litigation against these kinds of unconstitutional appropriations), anyone else upset over giving public funding to people who discriminate in hiring on the basis of religious affiliation and sexual preference? How about giving public funds to organizations who openly discriminate on the same basis' in determining who will or will not be assisted with our funding? Or giving public funds to religious corporations that refuse to teach accepted scientific principles due to a view that they may contradict their religious beliefs? Isn't there something insidious in a government that advances religious corporations with funding taken from those who oppose religious corporations?

Peter Nuhn

ELDORADO, Texas -- A special master will be chosen to review documents, computers and even family Bibles seized from a Texas ranch owned by a polygamist sect.

The special master will vet what is expected to be hundreds of items that might not become evidence for legal or religious reasons.

Also, an affidavit quoting a confidential informant says a temple at the ranch contains an area where men had sex for the first time with their new underage wives following polygamous unions.

Texas state troopers on Wednesday completed their nearly weeklong search of the grounds controlled by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The state has taken legal custody of the 416 children found at the ranch.

In addition, 139 women voluntarily left the compound and remain with the youngsters.

Court documents say teenage girls were required to have sex in the soaring white temple after they were married at the polygamist compound in West Texas.

A confidential informant told officials the temple in Eldorado contains a bed where adult males engage in sexual activity with females under the age of 17.

An affadavit by a Texas Ranger said agents found a bed in the temple with disturbed linens and what appeared to be a female hair.

The temple also contained multiple locked safes, vaults and desk drawers that authorities sought access to. The affidavit unsealed Wednesday mentions a 16-year-old girl who has four children.

The archdiocese of Washington objected to Metro (the Washington subway system) using a Bobblehead of the pope to advertise that everyone should use the subway to get around during the great Atheist protest of the pope's visit to D.C. (OK, I made the last part up.) (Link to ad in title)

Guess what they objected to in the ad.

The impropriety of a plastic pope? Nope.

The blasphemy of depicting the pope as a plastic Bobblehead? Nope.

The pope Bobblehead wore a red cape and skull cap? Yep.

The Roman Catholic Corporation didn't get a cut of the action? Yep.

"Our concern is that this was a bad bobblehead," said Susan Gibbs, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Washington. "You had unauthorized merchandise, and you had a misdressed pope."[Emphasis added.]

Be sure to get your special nine dollar commemorative metro papal pass when you go to the White House to protest the Roman Catholic Corporation next week on April 16th.

Peter Nuhn

From our friends at Blondesense
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-change_atheist_bd06apr06,0,1260452.story

Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) interrupted atheist activist Rob Sherman during his testimony Wednesday afternoon before the House State Government Administration Committee in Springfield and told him, “What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous . . . it’s dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists!

“This is the Land of Lincoln where people believe in God,” Davis said. “Get out of that seat . . . You have no right to be here! We believe in something. You believe in destroying! You believe in destroying what this state was built upon.”

Apparently it’s still open season on some views of God.

I can't stand bigots. Even worse are the bigots who themselves have faced bigotry (blacks, women, gays, Jews, Etc). I guess bigotry is only bad when it's against people like YOU, ma'am?

I hope people in Chicago and nationwide send a quick note or phone call to this wonderful person and demand an apology.

http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=1148
1234 West 95th Street
Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 445-9700
(773) 445-5755 FAX

“Let no one think he is getting off lightly,” Monsignor Belford said.

“Before he recovers his peace of mind and self-esteem, he has to go through the hell of discovery and admission of what he has done,” Monsignor Belford said.

Embezzlement comes with a little more than hell of discovery and admission. This article (linked to in title) also mentions that a priest in Conn. plead guilty to embezzlement of $1.3 million and another one embezzled $800,000.

I got to admit, if you are going to allegedly engage in embezzlement, you really have to pick a corporation that has money to steal. And as this article proves, the Roman Catholic Corporation (even after all the pedophile lawsuits) has plenty of money to embezzle. You go priests!

What do you think, should these religious corporations start teaching their corporate leaders ethics and maybe a little morality?

Peter Nuhn