Action Alert: First Freedom First

The recent Department of Justice (DOJ) initiative called "First Freedom Project" sounds an awful lot like the First Freedom First campaign I have been supporting. Sadly, it turns out that this is far from the truth. While First Freedom First is about maintaining church-state separation, the DOJ's First Freedom Project is a typical Bush policy in that the title ends up mocking its true purpose, much like No Child Left Behind or the Patriot Act. Fortunately, there is something you can do.

Bush's DOJ appears to have rolled out its misleading initiative right before the Supreme Court hears Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation next week. You are going to want to follow this case because our Christian extremist government will argue that we taxpayers should not have the legal right to challenge faith-based initiatives and other government spending that clearly favors religion. For more information, see here and here.

So what can you do? Join the 100,000 and growing who have already signed the First Freedom First petition. The heart of the petition says the following:

• Every American should have the right to make personal decisions -- about family life, reproductive health, end of life care and other matters of personal conscience.

• American tax dollars should not go to charities that discriminate in hiring based on religious belief or that promote a particular religious faith as a requirement for receiving services.

• Political candidates should not be endorsed or opposed by houses of worship.

• Public schools should teach with academic integrity and without the promotion of religious preference or belief.

• Decisions about scientific and health policies should be based on the best available scientific data, not on religious doctrine.

In addition to signing on yourself, you can help spread the word by contacting friends and family and by blogging about this.

Tags: church and state, Bush, religion, Freedom From Religion Foundation, atheist activism, atheism, religious freedom

Action Alert: First Freedom First