The proposed amendment states:

"To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: Neither the United States nor any State shall establish any official religion, but the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed. Neither the United States nor any State shall require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity, prescribe school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion."

Please urge your Representatives to oppose the so-called "Religious Freedom Amendment." Use these talking points:

H.J.Res 78 is not a "Religious Freedom Amendment." Rather, it is a blueprint for religious tyranny. The separation of church and state has served this country well for more than 200 years, bringing America interfaith harmony, incredible religious vitality and a high rate of attendance at houses of worship. The proposed amendment removes that vital principle from our Constitution.

No new amendment is needed to guarantee a student's right to pray in public schools. H.J.Res 78 is designed to permit coercive programs of group prayer in public schools. Students who do not want to participate will be forced to single themselves out by getting up and leaving the room. Provisions in the amendment barring government officials from compelling participation in prayer are insufficient. In public schools, student "volunteers" could impose religious worship on their peers by reciting prayers in class, over the loud speaker, and at every school event.

The provision in the amendment allowing "the people" to "recognize their religious beliefs, heritage or traditions on public property" is dangerously vague. Religious groups would be forced to compete with one another for government recognition and favors. Furthermore, private groups, including religious organizations, already have the right to acknowledge religion on government property under certain conditions.

H.J.Res 78 would force taxpayers to put their hard-earned money in the collection plates of houses of worship.

For example, the provision stating that government shall not "deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion" forces government to give tax aid to religious groups for schools, social services, and other ministries. It taxes people to support religions in which they may not believe and is therefore a religion tax - - a notion that this country did away with more than 200 years ago.

Under this amendment, every religious group that wants public funding would have a constitutional right to receive it. It is estimated that there are nearly 2,000 separate religious denominations in the United States. The government simply does not have the money to fund religion on this scale. Even if just half of the groups demanded public aid, financial chaos would result. Either taxes would increase dramatically, the budget deficit would soar or other government services would have to be cut or eliminated. In addition, since the government cannot play favorites among religions, every group that asks would have to funded, including unpopular groups or denominations with unusual doctrines.

H.J.Res 78 is a huge step toward government control of religion. Giving religious groups a constitutional right to public funding also guarantees that they will be regulated by the state. The government simply does not hand out money with no strings attached.

Changing the First Amendment is a radical step that has never been done in the 206-year history of the Bill of Rights. Yet H.J.Res 78 guts the First Amendment's religious freedom protections. These rights, bequeathed to us by the Founding Fathers, are precious and should not be tampered with. The First Amendment was drafted by James Madison and other visionary thinkers of early American history. It is the height of arrogance for Religious Right lawyers, TV preachers and far-right operatives to believe they can improve upon Madison's eloquence.

Please contact your U.S. Representatives using the following:

WRITE:

Representative

The Honorable (Your Representative's name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
CALL: Congressional Switchboard: 202/224-3121

Americans United for Separation of Church and State
1816 Jefferson Place, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Telephone: 202.466.3234 x215
Fax: 202.466.2587
WWW site: http://www.au.org/