From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: urgent legislative alert Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 00:27:48 -0500 (EST) We only do these on very rare occasions: H.J. Res. 78, a Constitutional amendment that ultimately threatens everyone's religious freedoms, is expected to come up for a vote in the House any day now. The proposed amendment is as follows: To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: The people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed. The Government shall not require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity, initiate or designate school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny access to a benefit on account of religion. It's called the "Religious Freedom Amendment." We've already got one, called the First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Some day, no matter what faith you are, you may find yourself living in a town where you are a religious minority. H.J. Res. 78 would not prevent public schools or local governments from plastering their walls with sacred texts from religions radically different from yours, or bringing in proselytizing clergy as guest speakers, as long as no one is "forced" to pray (although your children would be forced to listen). Nor does it prevent people from other religions reading prayers over the school loudspeaker. To many people, praying involves fervent wishes for the smiting of the unpopular (including people of other religions, which could be you or your family), and telling someone not to say that kind of prayer would constitute discrimination on the basis of religion (under the new amendment). For more information visit Americans United for Separation of Church and State and read the ACLU's legislative analysis. http://www.au.org http://www.aclu.org/congress/lg072297a.html Then Contact Your Congressperson. http://www.berkshire.net/~ifas/activist/index.html The House Switchboard Number is 202-224-3121 If you feel comfortable doing so, tell your congressperson about your religious affiliation and/or any religious titles you hold. -- Interfaith Working Group Religious organizations, congregations iwg@libertynet.org and clergy supporting gay rights, http://www.libertynet.org/~iwg/ reproductive freedom, and the 215-235-3050 separation of church and state.