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 | No State Aid for Islamic Mosque and Social Center! Posted by Luke Setzer on 8/12, 7:07am | |
| AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC. http://www.atheists.org http://www.americanatheist.org For more information, please contact: Ed Buckner, President 908-499-9200 (cell) or 770-803-5353 (office/fax) Dave Silverman, Communications Director 732-648-9333 ATHEISTS: NO STATE AID FOR ISLAMIC MOSQUE and SOCIAL CENTER! Patterson Scheme for Land, Other Aid to Build Relocated "Ground Zero" Mosque Violates First Amendment An Atheist public policy group is denouncing a proposal by New York Gov. David Patterson that could make a discounted parcel of public land available for the construction of an Islamic mosque if proponents move their project further away from Ground Zero. Patterson floated the idea on Tuesday as a possible compromise between those who view the $100 million Islamic social center and mosque as an affront to 9/11 victims, and groups defending the mosque as an example of religious freedom. "Whatever his intentions, Governor Patterson has no right to use public money or other taxpayer resources to assist ANY religious group to build a house of worship," said Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists. "Government must stay out of the business of subsidizing mosques, churches, temples, and synagogues. This amounts to imposing a 'religion tax' on the public, including on millions of Atheists, Freethinkers, agnostics, Humanists and other non-believers. In fact, the various income and property tax exemptions afforded religious organizations are already massive--and we think unconstitutional--subsidies of religion." Buckner added that American Atheists sees no more problem with Islamic groups building mosques and cultural centers on their own property and with their own funds than there would be with Christians building churches on their own. David Silverman, Vice President of American Atheists and Communications Director, said that Patterson's proposal, if allowed, "establishes a bad precedent and encourages religious groups to seek other avenues of public assistance." "If Gov. Patterson chooses to raid the public treasury in support of any religious group, we'll be looking forward to seeing him in court." AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists, Freethinkers and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy. American Atheists, Inc. PO BOX 158, Cranford, NJ 07016 Tel.: (908) 276-7300 Fax: (908) 276-7402 | ||
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