Press Release
Bush Shows Contempt for Religious Liberty and Congress on Historic
Anniversary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Washington D.C., June 16, 2003) “Humanists will never accept the Bush administration’s
regular displays of contempt for religious liberty,” said Tony Hileman,
executive director of the American Humanist Association. “We are especially
dismayed to learn of President Bush’s strong-armed tactics so close to the
anniversary of the historic Supreme Court decision, Abington Township v.
Schempp.”
In the case, the family of AHA member Ellery Schempp filed suit in 1956
against Abington High School. The then 16-year old Schempp refused to
participate in mandatory morning Bible readings and school prayer, claiming
that those practices had no place in public schools because they violated
the separation of church and state. The Supreme Court concurred in an 8-1
decision on June 17, 1963.
The current issue of Christianity Today reports that the Bush administration
has devised a strategy to use executive orders in order to circumvent
restrictions imposed by the Senate on his faith-based initiatives, known as
the Charity Aid, Recovery, and Empowerment Act (CARE). Bush already issued
one such order in December 2002 allowing direct federal support for
religious groups.
“It is incredible that Bush is announcing his administration’s intentions to
bypass and, if necessary, override Congress in order to enact of the
sectarian provisions of his faith-based agenda. This will thwart the
decisions of our elected representatives who stripped Bush’s legislation of
the most sectarian provisions, including those allowing faith-based groups
to reject job applicants based on their religious faith,” continued Hileman.
Hileman concluded, “With his actions, he blithely disregards the separation
of church and state, which it should be added, has served this country quite
well for over two centuries. Humanists and all who support religious freedom
are justifiably outraged.”
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The American Humanist Association is the oldest
and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to
ensuring a voice for those with a positive outlook, based on reason and
experience, which embraces all of humanity.
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