Free Thought Group Responds To Ted Cruz's Views On Atheists

The Free Thought Equality Fund issued a press release yesterday decrying a statement made by Republican presidential contender Ted Cruz:

Senator Cruz made his remarks this weekend in Des Moines, Iowa, at the 2015 National Religious Liberties Conference, organized by Generations with Vision. When asked how important it is for the President of the United States to fear God, Cruz responded that “any president who doesn’t begin every day on his knees isn’t fit to be commander-in-chief of this nation.”

“By claiming that those who do not pray are not fit for office, Senator Cruz is perpetuating the prejudiced myth that humanists and atheists are not moral people,” said Bishop McNeill, manager of the Freethought Equality Fund PAC.

Atheist Activist Will Use RFRA To Challenge "In God We Trust" On Money

Atheist activist Michael Newdow is looking for individuals who will act as plaintiffs in a new set of challenges to "In God We Trust" on U.S. coins and currency.  For the first time, the suits will rely primarily on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.  In a post last Friday on Friendly Atheist, Newdow says suits are being prepared in states in the seven federal circuits that have not already upheld the constitutionality of the national motto on coins and currency. The cases will argue that being forced to carry a message that violates one's religious ideals is substantially burdensome, and that the government has no compelling interest in having the motto on coins and currency. As pointed out by Inquisitr,  this is the latest recent attempt to turn state and federal RFRA's-- which have been strongly supported by conservative Christian groups-- into tools to oppose the conservative Christian agenda.

Atheists Can Now Perform Marriages In Minnesota County; Challenge Is Moot

In Atheists for Human Rights v. County of Washington, Minnesota, (D MN, May 13, 2015), a Minnesota federal district court dismissed as moot a constitutional challenge to Washington County's refusal to accept marriage celebrant credentials issued by Atheists for Human Rights to Rodney Michael Rogers because AFHR did not profess to be a religion. The court said in part:

Washington County has clearly and unequivocally changed its allegedly wrongful practice. The County has not gone through a formal amending process because there was no formal written policy in place. Rather, Washington County’s prior practice was based on the advice of Washington County’s legal counsel. The County’s legal counsel has clearly and definitely changed that advice.

According to a report on the decision by the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

The county’s change in policy came four days after the Star Tribune published an article about the suit and reported that Hennepin, Ramsey and Anoka counties certified atheists to conduct weddings. Meanwhile, the county had registered people belonging to groups with tongue-in-cheek names, including, “The Church of the Latter Day Dude” and the “Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.”

Faith Healer Sues Atheist Activist Claiming Misuse of YouTube Video

In Arizona last week, Adam Miller, a "spiritual transformational healer," filed a federal lawsuit against Joel Guttormson, an activist in the atheist and transgender communities, who allegedly obtained and misused Miller's promotional video by hacking into a private YouTube account.  The complaint (full text) in Miller v. Guttormson, (D AZ, filed 4/28/2015), alleges that Guttormson misappropriated a video titled "Healer Adam Miller – Explanation of the Healing Work," inserted into it allegations attacking the truthfulness of statements in it, and uploaded it to Guttormson's own publicly available YouTube channel under the title "Adam Miller: Con Artist." At the end of the doctored video, Guttormson promotes a website and an online atheist audio bookstore. The doctored video then appeared at the top of any Google search for Adam Miller. Guttormson subsequently uploaded two additional videos attacking Miller to YouTube. The complaint alleges copyright infringement, intentional interference with business expectancies and defamation. Techdirt blog criticizes the lawsuit at length.

Madison, Wisconsin Bars Discrimination Against Atheists, Agnostics, and Nonbelievers

As reported recently by AP, last month the city of Madison, Wisconsin enacted amendments (full text) to its Equal Opportunities Ordinance adding "nonreligion"  to the protected classes covered by its employment, housing and public accommodation anti-discrimination law (final action 3/31, enactment date 4/9). The ordinance defines "nonreligion" as "atheism, agnosticism, or other disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods."  Under the ordinance, non-profit religious organizations can still give preference to members of their own, or similar, denominations in hiring for instructional or policy-making positions, including hiring chaplains or counselors. According to a Freedom From Religion Foundation attorney, one of the reasons for enactment of the amendments is the recent increase in Madison of religiously-owned housing.

Atheist Group Sues Pennsylvania Transit System Over Refusal To Accept Ad

The ACLU of Pennsylvania announced that it has filed suit on behalf of an atheist group against the County of Lacawana Transit System (COLTS) over its advertising policy. The complaint (full text) in Northeastern Pennsylvania Free Thought Society v. County of Lacawana Transit System, (MD PA, filed 4/28/2015) contends that COLTS rejected an ad submitted for the outside of its buses reading: "Atheists. NEPAfreethought.org." COLTS advertising policy originally barred ads that are derogatory to any religion, or are objectionable, controversial or generally be offensive to COLTS’ ridership.  The policy was subsequently amended to bar ads that promote the existence or non-existence of a supreme deity; promote or criticize a religion or lack of religious belief; that quote or cite scriptures; or that are otherwise religious. COLTS policy was to maintain its advertising space as a nonpublic forum and not to allow its transit vehicles to become a platform for debate, or discussion of public issues or issues that are political or religious in nature.

The suit contends that COLTS has violated plaintiff's free expression rights by favoring commercial speech over speech on matters of public concern; and by in fact having a policy that accepted all ads until the Freethought Society attempted to advertise.  The complaint claims that COLTS policy is viewpoint based and unreasonable.

Court Says Sun Worshipping Atheism Is Not A "Religion"

In Copple v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, (CA App., March 24, 2015), a California appeals court affirmed a trial court decision holding that Sun Worshipping Atheism is not a "religion" for purposes of California's Fair Employment and Housing Act.  Plaintiff Marshel Copple who had been hired as a correctional officer claimed that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s requirement that he work overtime violated a tenet of his belief system that he sleep at least eight hours per day.  He sued for religious discrimination and harassment, failure to accommodate religious practices, retaliation based on his religion, and constructive discharge for his religious practices. The court held that Sun Worshipping Atheism, which Copple created and of which he is the only member does not address fundamental and ultimate questions. Instead it merely deals with living a healthy lifestyle. Raw Story last week reported on the decision.

Group Releases 2014 World Report On Rights of Atheists and Humanists

As reported by Religion News Service, on Dec. 10 the International Humanist and Ethical Union released Freedom of Thought 2014: "A Global Report  on the Rights Legal Status and Discrimination Against Humanists, Atheists and the Non-religious." The 542-page report surveys country-by-country the rights and treatment of non-believers. The report highlights the "steady march" of militant groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram, as well as "a long-standing prohibition of 'apostasy' and 'blasphemy' associated with Islam that is perpetuated by many modern Islamic states."

Most of City Council Walks Out On Atheist's Invocation

In Lake Worth, Florida last Tuesday, the mayor and three of the four city commissioners walked out of the commission chamber as atheist Preston Smith approached the podium to offer the invocation.  WPTV News reports that yesterday Mayor Pam Triolo said her action was not because Smith was an atheist, but because of a Tweet Smith allegedly authored last summer giving an offensive interpretation of scripture. Smith's invocation (video included in article) called for building a better community without religious division.

NYT Surveys Atheists' Push To Remove Belief Requirement For Public Office

The New York Times posted an article yesterday titled In Seven States, Atheists Push to End Largely Forgotten Ban. Reporting on the bans in Maryland, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, it says in part:

Maryland and six other states still have articles in their constitutions saying people who do not believe in God are not eligible to hold public office. Maryland’s Constitution still says belief in God is a requirement even for jurors and witnesses.

Now a coalition of nonbelievers says it is time to get rid of the atheist bans because they are discriminatory, offensive and unconstitutional. The bans are unenforceable dead letters, legal experts say, and state and local governments have rarely invoked them in recent years. But for some secular Americans, who are increasingly visible and organized, removing the bans is not only a just cause, but a test of their growing movement’s political clout.

Suit Challenges Refusal To Approve Atheist To Perform Marriages

MPR News reports on a lawsuit filed last month in a Minnesota state court by an organization of atheists challenging Washington County, Minnesota's refusal to grant official certification to perform marriage ceremonies to a member who was granted a credential to perform marriages by Atheists for Human Rights. Three other counties have accepted the credential, but Washington County says it does not meet the statutory standard of being issued by a religious organization. Plaintiffs say this refusal violates the Establishment Clause as well as their free expression and equal protection rights. Atheists for Human Rights says that the alternative is obtaining online ordination in a phony religion. A bill to specifically permit atheist groups to perform weddings has been introduced in the state legislature, but has not yet passed.

Suit Challenges City's Denial of Equal Public Space To Atheist

The ACLU today announced the filing of a lawsuit against the city of Warren, Michigan on behalf of an atheist who was refused space for a table in the atrium of city hall for a "reason station,"  even though the city has permitted a local pastor to operate a "prayer station" in the atrium since 2009.  The complaint (full text) in Marshall v. City of Warren, (ED MI, filed 7/23/2014), sets out free speech and establishment clause challenges based largely on the letter sent by the city's mayor denying plaintiff's request. The letter reads in part:

It is my understanding that you are affiliated with Freedom from Religion, a group that has objected to the Nativity Scene, the Prayer Station in the atrium and the Annual Day of Prayer in front of city hall.

All of these events are allowed because of the right to freedom of religion constitutional amendment. We cannot and will not restrict this right for any religion to use the atrium, as long as the activity is open to all religions. Freedom from Religion is not a religion. It has no tenets, no place of worship and no congregation. To my way of thinking, your group is strictly an anti-religion group intending to deprive all organized religions of their constitutional freedoms or at least discourage the practice of religion. The City of Warren cannot allow this. 

Also, I believe it is your group’s intention to disrupt those who participate in the Prayer Station which would also be a violation of the freedom of religion amendment.

Report On Treatment Of Non-Believers Released For Human Rights Day

Today is United Nations Human Rights Day. To mark the day, the International Humanist and Ethical Union issued a report Freedom of Thought 2013: A Global Report on the Rights, Legal Status, and Discrimination Against Humanists, Atheists, and the Non-Religious. (Full text.) Here is an excerpt from the Introduction to the 244-page report:

Freedom of Thought 2013 is the first report to look at the rights and treatment of the non-religious in every country in the world. Specifically, it looks at how non-religious individuals—whether they call themselves atheists, or agnostics, or humanists, or freethinkers or are otherwise just simply not religious—are treated because of their lack of religion or absence of belief in a god. We focus on discrimination by state authorities; that is systemic, legal or official forms of discrimination and restrictions on freedom of thought, belief and expression.....

Our results show that the overwhelming majority of countries fail to respect the rights of atheists and freethinkers. There are laws that deny atheists’ right to exist, revoke their right to citizenship, restrict their right to marry, obstruct their access to public education, prohibit them from holding public office, prevent them from working for the state, criminalize their criticism of religion, and execute them for leaving the religion of their parents. In the worst cases, the state denies the rights of atheists to exist, or seeks total control over their beliefs and actions.

Reuters reports on the study.