American Atheists Missouri

For more information, please contact:
Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director  (859)
384-7000
Ed Hensley, Plaintiff (502) 608-5577   

Monday, June 1, 2009 - Franklin County Courthouse, 218 St. Clair St.,
Frankfort, KY.  10:00 AM

STATE-CHURCH SEPARATION ACTIVISTS will  he at the Franklin County
Courthouse in Frankfort, Kentucky this Monday, June 1, 2009, in support
of a lawsuit challenging religious promotion by the Commonwealth
Homeland Security Office.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS filed suit last year to challenge two statutes that
proclaim "reliance upon Almighty God" as a strategy in combating
terrorism, and direct the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security to
display a religious quote to that effect in its office and promotional
materials.

Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists, said that
the statutes violate the separation of church and state, and amount to
"blatant endorsement" of religion.  On Monday, a  court will hear
arguments from the Commonwealth to have the lawsuit dismissed.

"They're wasting taxpayer money to defend an unconstitutional practice,"
said Kagin.

American Atheists President Ed Buckner noted, "We're proud of our
National Legal Director, Edwin Kagin, and of the Kentucky plaintiffs in
this righteous suit. It should not require courage to stand up and
support religious liberty and constitutional principles, but we all know
that it does. All who care about freedom and can be there should come on
Monday."

First Amendment activists will rally at the Franklin County Courthouse,
218 St. Clair St. in Frankfort, Kentucky beginning at 10:00 AM for a
peaceful rally in support of the American Atheist lawsuit:

For media inquiries:

EDWIN KAGIN, National Legal Director for American Atheists
ED HENSLEY, Plaintiff, member of Louisville Atheists & Freethinkers:
502-608-5577

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

For more information, please contact:
Ed Buckner, President 908-499-9200 (cell) or 770-803-5353 (office/fax)
Michael Doss, California State Director 714-478-8457
Dave Kong, Director of State Operations 415-771-9872

Office of California State Director Michael Doss

An Atheist public policy group said today that Californians need to keep
a careful eye on future ballot initiatives following the California
Supreme Court's upholding of Proposition 8.

California's Proposition 8, which defines marriage as between one man
and one woman, is not a strictly religious or church-state separation
issue. However, the ruling of the courts to uphold the will of the
majority, even when that majority removes the rights of a minority, is a
troubling sign.

American Atheists California State Director Michael Doss said, "Today,
same-sex couples lost the right to marry via a citizen-driven ballot
initiative. If one minority group can lose rights this way, there's very
good reason to believe that any other, including atheists, could be next."

Doss added, "As long as California has an initiative system like the one
in place, atheists and others who care about the issue of church-state
separation need to keep a careful eye on laws being passed by the
Christian majority. The same court that ruled today struck down the
state's ban on same-sex marriage in 2008, which shows that the
initiative process can and will overturn even civil rights issues".

The campaign supporting Proposition 8 was largely bankrolled by The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, although a number of other
churches and religious groups in California and beyond also supported
the measure.

Ed Buckner, American Atheists president, added "While American Atheists,
Inc. does not take a position on gay rights and its related issues,
there appears to be little doubt that campaigns like the one in
California are in fact attempts by religionists to impose their beliefs
through the political process.  That is unconstitutional and
unacceptable.  The lack of religious approval for a legally sanctioned
union between two people has no business being considered in anything
except the internal affairs of the religious group that disapproves.
Church business is already supported outrageously and unconstitutionally
by our national tax laws.  Churches and other religious entities have no
right to impose their backward ideas on the rest of us."

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

For more information, please contact:
Dave Silverman, Vice President and Communications Director  732-648-9333
Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director  (859) 384-7000

ATHEIST PUBLIC POLICY GROUP: "CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC" ABOUT SOTOMAYOR
SCOTUS PICK

An Atheist church-state separation group hailed President Obama's
nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for a position on the Supreme Court of the
United States.

Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists said that
the he was "cautiously optimistic" about Sotomayor.

"Her record reflects a strong commitment to the First Amendment and the
separation of government and religion," said Mr. Silverman.  "We
nevertheless want to hear more about her positions on various social
issues."

Attorney Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists,
praised Ms. Sotomayor's reasoning in a case where she opposed the
so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act or RFRA.  The legislation
requires that government pay special attention to the privileges and
rights of religious groups.

"This is bad law, and Judge Sotomayor took a courageous stance in
opposing efforts to broaden the scope of RFRA," said Kagin.  "She has
also cited the high standards known as the Lemon test (LEMON v.
KURTZMAN)  which prevent government from establishing religion or
unconstitutionally aiding religious organizations and practices."

"Judge Sotomayor clearly sees that the Establishment Clause of our
Constitution erects a 'wall of separation' between church and state, and
that Americans are guaranteed both freedom of and freedom from intrusive
religion in their lives," added Mr. Kagin.

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

American Atheists is incredibly proud to announce a new Affiliate!

Please take the time if it so pleases you to contact this new Affiliate and welcome them to the Affiliate program. American Atheists continues to be proud of the Affiliate program and the individual Affiliates that make the program work!

If you have a local group that is interested in affiliating with American Atheists, or if you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the Affiliate program, please contact Blair Scott, the National Affiliate Director, at bscott@atheists.org or visit the Affiliate Web Page at http://alabamaatheist.org/naod.

Columbia Atheists - http://www.meetup.com/The-Columbia-Atheists-Meetup-Group