americanatheists

 AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
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OBAMA PRAISED FOR DOWNPLAY OF PRAYER DAY: ATHEISTS STILL URGE GOVERNMENT
TO NOT PROMOTE FAITH

Amidst reports that the White House will not hold a special ceremony
when President Obama declares the National Day of Prayer on Wednesday,
an Atheist public policy group is still calling the holiday an
unconstitutional promotion of religion.

Under the Bush administration, there were lavish, official ceremonies to
mark the presidential endorsement of NDOP. News stories, however, show
that this year, President Obama may not host such an event even though
he is expected to sign the Proclamation.

Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists, charged that National
Day of Prayer is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion, and
increasingly divisive in a pluralistic, free society.

"No government -- federal, state or local -- has any business
encouraging Americans to pray, or telling them when and how to exercise
religious beliefs," said Buckner. "Doing so immediately excludes and
marginalizes an estimated 15% of our population who 'have no religion.'
That's nearly 45 million Americans, most of whom are patriotic,
hard-working Americans."

Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists, said that
Mr. Obama would be right to not place too much emphasis on the
Proclamation signing.

"President Obama regularly acknowledges that Atheists and other
nonbelievers are part of our American social landscape, and we thank him
for that. We think it is appropriate that he spend his time dealing with
complex economic, military and other political problems instead of
volunteering as window dressing for the religious right which is behind
the National Day of Prayer."

Mr. Silverman added that NDOP is a "wedge issue" and is inappropriate in
a free society.

"The decision to pray, or not pray, is best left to individuals.
Government needs to get on with creating jobs, dealing with the budget
deficit and other real problems and stop acting as a cheerleader for
religious groups."


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.
PO BOX 158
Cranford, NJ 07016
Tel.: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402