The Gaytheist Agenda

I thought you might be interested in this recent press release from Americans United.

In today’s world, the separation of church and state is about so much more than school prayer or faith-based funding. Did you know the topic encompasses issues like reproductive healthcare, science education, end of life care, marriage, and medical research?

You’ll know all this and much more if you go see “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Separation of Church and State…but Were Afraid to Ask!” in a theater near you on Wednesday, March 26. (Back in the 1970s, people were afraid to ask about sex, but we’re over that now.)

The simulcast is sponsored by First Freedom First, a joint project between Americans United and The Interfaith Alliance Foundation. Americans United Executive Director, the Rev. Barry Lynn and TIAF President, the Rev. C. Welton Gaddy will sit down with celebrities (and thousands of people watching in theaters across the nation ) to discuss these important issues.

“This is a unique event that brings together celebrity commitment, civic engagement and the latest technology,” said AU’s Lynn. The simulcast will be an important educational tool “and give us an entertaining evening to boot,” he added.

The celebrities Lynn’s referring to hail from the worlds of film, television and music. The simulcast will be emceed by actor/producer Peter Coyote. Jack Klugman (“The Odd Couple”), Dan Lauria (“The Wonder Years”), Wendie Malick (“Just Shoot Me!”) and James Whitmore (“The Shawshank Redemption”) will be on hand to share why these issues matter to them. Actor and stem-cell research activist Michael J. Fox has also written and filmed a special message for the event.

Air America host Marc Maron will add some comic relief and interact with a live audience here in Washington.

For a sneak peek, checkout Jack Klugman, Dan Lauria, Wendie Malick, and James Whitmore’s “First Freedom First” videos on YouTube.

Lynn and Gaddy will also interview Americans who have put their reputations and safety on the line to defend religious freedom. They include:

 

Bryan and Christy Rehm, teachers who, with help from Americans United, expelled “Intelligent Design” from their local public high school’s science classes

Matthew LaClair, the New Jersey high school student who exposed religious indoctrination at his public school by taping his AP History teacher’s evangelistic comments

Roberta Stewart, a military widow who, with help from Americans United, secured equal rights for Wiccan veterans

Dr. Susan Wicklund, who often wears a bullet-proof vest in order to provide reproductive health services in areas where no local doctor will do so

David and Ryan Altoon, who encountered fundamentalist proselytism at the U.S. Air Force Academy

Melinda “Lindy” Maddox, an Alabama lawyer who, with help from Americans United successfully sued “Ten Commandments” Judge Roy Moore

Rev. Madison Shockley, a pastor, talk-show host and
reproductive rights advocate

Susan Jacoby, author of the best-selling new book,
The Age of American Unreason

 

You don’t want to miss these church-state heroes’ often heart wrenching, but always inspiring stories.

The event’s larger goal is to bring attention to these issues during the presidential campaign. “Presidential candidates have been asked what their favorite Bible verse is and what sins they have committed. I want to know where they stand on key issues of individual freedom,” said Lynn.

I bet you want to know, too. So, help us out! Advertise “Everything You Always Wanted to Know…” in your community, see the film on Wednesday, March 26 and then ask candidates pointed questions about how they will defend your religious liberty. Our future and freedom depends on it.

By Lauren Smith

American’s United for Separation of Church and State has issued the following Action Alert.

Oppose the Confirmation of Richard Honaker
US District Court Nominee Has Extreme Views on Church-State Separation

On February 12th, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the confirmation of Richard H. Honaker to US District Court for the District of Wyoming. Mr. Honaker has a radical view of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. He rejects the longstanding judicial principle that the First Amendment demands that the government be neutral toward religion. Moreover, Mr. Honaker’s statements indicate a pro-Christianity bias and suggest that he would be unable to be impartial on questions of constitutional law pertaining to religion.

Honaker’s lack of respect for religious pluralism and judicial precedent is highly troubling. Mr. Honaker believes that the US Constitution creates a “Christian America” and he has publicly stated that “there is indeed a Christian basis for Americans institutions of law, government, and business.” Honaker’s radical belief that Christianity underlies the stability of our democracy makes make him unfit for a lifetime appointment as a federal judge. Religious freedom is a bedrock principle of our nation; Government must never favor one religion over another religion or religion over non-religion. His nomination to a US District Court poses a serious threat to religious liberty and the separation of church and state.

One of your Senators sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee - and holds the power to vote against the confirmation of Richard Honaker. Because the Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Honaker’s nomination next week, it is imperative that Committee members hear from their constituents in opposition to his nomination. Enter your zip code below to register your opposition to Richard Honaker!

Take action here and make your voice heard.

Last summer Americans United for the Separation of Church and State called for the IRS to investigate First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park, Calif. for a possible violation of federal tax law barring electioneering by non-profit groups. This came after pastor Dr. Wiley S. Drake issued a press release endorsing presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

Flash forward to this month and Americans United was pleased to announce that the IRS was indeed investigating the church. Their joy was short lived however. For two days afterward they discovered that they were the targets of a “Death Prayer” campaign instigated by pastor Wiley Drake.

Controversial Southern Baptist Pastor Wiley Drake has again urged his followers to pray for the deaths of staff members at Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Last August, Americans United filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service about Drake’s use of church letterhead and a church-based radio program to endorse presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Federal tax law forbids tax-exempt groups from endorsing or opposing candidates for public office.

…..

In response, Drake issued a Feb. 14 e-mail appeal to followers to engage in “imprecatory prayers” (curses) against Americans United and three of its staff members.

…..

“We have asked the IRS to investigate what we believe to be Drake’s violation of federal tax law,” Lynn continued. “If Drake thinks he is innocent, he has more than adequate legal representation, and there is ample opportunity to make his case.

“Trying to turn God into some sort of heavenly hit man is repugnant,” Lynn concluded. “There is more than a whiff of the Taliban in this action”

Wrote Drake, “In light of the recent attack from the enemies of God I ask the children of God to go into action with Imprecatory Prayer. Especially against Americans United for Separation of Church and State…. Specifically target Joe Conn or Jeremy Learing [sic] and their leader Rev. Barry Lynn. They are those who lead the attack.”…

This is the type of person who would claim atheists are immoral and hateful, yet he’s praying for the death of an entire group of innocent people. Why? Because those individuals had the audacity to alert authorities to his illegal acts.

Now that’s truly immoral. It’s just a good thing his plan won’t amount to anything.

 

Allegedly the two RRRW groups have produced biased voters guides that clearly advocate for Mike Huckabee in violation of their tax-exempt status. I must say I’m astounded at the news.

The guides, posted on the groups’ Web sites, list the Republican candidates and their alleged stands on a range of issues, such as support for a human life amendment, “traditional marriage,” “business freedom” and “moral education” and opposition to “gay pride.” Only Huckabee is assigned a “yes” stance on all of the issues.

Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “These guides are not voter education, they’re partisan propaganda. Tax-exempt organizations are barred by federal law from partisan electioneering.”

AU’s Lynn said the organizations seem to have given the candidates no opportunity to respond to these issues and instead assigned stances based on the organizations’ own “research” and subjective analysis.

Footnotes supposedly documenting the candidates’ stances are often irrelevant or old. In several cases, the guides reference sources from 1994 and 1996.

The American Family Association, a Religious Right group based in Tupelo, Miss., is best known for its opposition to gay rights and risqué television programming. Its founder and chairman, the Rev. Donald Wildmon, has personally endorsed Huckabee for president.

WallBuilders, a Religious Right group based in Aledo, Texas, is known for spreading “Christian nation” revisionist historical materials. Its founder and president, David Barton, has appeared at pastors’ briefings that featured Huckabee as a speaker and were intended to promote his candidacy, according to news reports.

…..

“I am particularly outraged that these voter guides indicate that they are suitable for use in churches and other tax-exempt organizations,” Lynn continued. “In fact, they are not. Any church that distributes these biased guides is risking its tax exemption and casting aside its integrity.”

I’m beginning to think it might kill the RRRW if they had to obey the 9th Commandment for even one day. They seem to be unwilling or unable to do so. (Let’s not even get into all of the other violations they routinely commit). Then they claim they’re the party of “moral values”. Their audacity is overwhelming.

May AU get their request fulfilled, and the IRS stiffly penalize both AFA and Wallbuilders. It’s high time these organizations and others that abuse their tax exempt status to spread lies and harm others get what is coming to them.