Dear Supporters & Friends, The following press release is from the national office of Americans United for Separation of Church and State in response to Istook's announced "religious freedom" amendment. Please feel free to foward it to any interested parties. I have already done a fax broadcast to local media outlets in the Atlanta area. Thanks! Skip Evans, President Americans United/Atlanta FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Joseph Conn March 24, 1997 Rob Boston ISTOOK PRAYER AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW GOVERNMENT TO RUN ROUGHSHOD OVER THE RIGHTS OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, WATCHDOG GROUP CHARGES A constitutional amendment proposed today by U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook would allow government intervention in religion and jeopardize the rights of minorities, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United Executive Director, said, "This amendment will give government officials power to run roughshod over the rights of religious minorities. It is a sham based on the false pretense that religious freedom is in jeopardy in America. This amendment will not increase free speech or make us a more reverent nation." Lynn, a United Church of Christ minister and long-time civil liberties attorney, charged that the proposal is the handiwork of TV preacher Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition and other Religious Right groups that want to impose their religious viewpoint on all Americans by force of law in public schools and elsewhere. "I don't want politicians and TV preachers telling my children and me when and how to pray, and I don't think most other Americans want that either," Lynn said. "Americans today enjoy more religious freedom than any people in world history. We can't let a few misguided politicians put that accomplishment at risk." Religious Right allies in Congress introduced several constitutional amendments on religion last year. None advanced, however, because Religious Right leaders fought over which version to support. "By lining up behind one proposal, the Religious Right is hoping to steam roll something through Congress," said AU's Lynn. "And even if the amendment fails, the congressional votes on the proposal are sure to show up on the Christian Coalition's biased voter guides. Opponents of the amendment will be falsely depicted as anti-religion and anti-God. This is hardball politics, pure and simple." Note to News Media: Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn will be available for comment on the Istook Amendment throughout the day. Lynn will appear at a press conference sponsored by the Coalition to Preserve Religious Liberty on the triangle in front of the Capitol immediately after the Istook press conference. Call Joe Conn at 202-466-3234 for information. _____________________________________________________________________ Nathan Rickard Chapters Coordinator, Eastern Region Americans United for Separation of Church and State 1816 Jefferson Place, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 202.466.3234 x215 202.466.2587 fax E-mail: rickard@au.org WWW site: http://www.au.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Americans United for Separation of Church and State Atlanta Chapter PO Box 79174 Atlanta GA 30357-7174 404-607-0660 tallulah@mindspring.com http://www.mindspring.com/~tallulah/au/