American Atheists Press: Statement concerning death of Jerry Falwell

[Synnical]

Received via E-mail, also available at http://www.atheists.org/

For Immediate Release: May 15, 2007
Statement From American Atheists Concerning the Death of Rev. Jerry Falwell

ELLEN JOHNSON, President of American Atheists issued the following statement this afternoon regarding the death of televangelist Jerry Falwell.

“While we recognize and respect the grief of friends and relatives, it must be acknowledged in the wake of Rev. Falwell’s death that he and the organizations he founded, especially the so-called Moral Majority, were serious threats to our Constitution and, specifically, the separation of church and state.”

“Jerry Falwell was instrumental in galvanizing millions of American evangelicals into an intolerant, sectarian and authoritarian political movement. Gays, women, secularists, civil-libertarians and other groups who did not fit in to his plan to construct ‘One Nation Under God’ were stigmatized and attacked. Civil liberties were in jeopardy. Falwell and other religious right leaders advanced their political agenda in the name of Christianity, while demonizing their opponents.”

“Perhaps the most ignominious moment in Falwell’s career was his appearance with Rev. Pat Robertson on a television program which blamed the terrorist attacks of September 11 not on Islamic fundamentalist fanatics, but on a wide swath of the American people -- women (because of their support for abortion), gay and lesbian Americans, and individuals and organizations like American Atheists which labor for the separation of church and state.”

“We cannot and must not lionize Rev. Jerry Falwell because he is now dead. We expect that some politicians beholden to the religious right, who perhaps owe their political careers in part to Falwell, will praise him for his religiosity or avuncular style. The truth is, however, that the Rev. Jerry Falwell was a dangerous man who opposed and worked against many of the key values underpinning our secular American democracy.”

– Ellen Johnson, President
AMERICAN ATHEISTS

American Atheists is a nationwide movement which defends the civil rights of nonbelievers, works for the separation of church and state, and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

American Atheists, Inc.
P. O. Box 5733
Parsippany, NJ 07054-6733
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[KG]

1. well said. the truth plainly spoken.

[Synnical]

5. I thought so, too.

Thanks. Ellen Johnson is one class act.

[malaise]

2. Lovely statement

The worm has turned. Today's honesty has been refreshing. Let this be a lesson to men who promote hatred - you will not be eulogized.

[mzmolly]

3. Hear hear!

:toast:

[Madspirit]

4. k&r!!

I worked for Madalyn a long long time ago...
Lee

[Grandrose]

6. Very well said!

:kick:and recommend.

[Gelliebeans]

7. Hear hear!

[blondeatlast]

8. Amen (sorry). But seriously, she spoke volumes even for those of us who

believe in the Constitutional separation of church and state and the freedom to worship as we please.

Nice work, Ms. Johnson. :patriot:

[Synnical]

12. Ditto,that, my friend

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[progressoid]

9. Avuncular!!

Damn atheists and their big words.

K&R!

[Kurovski]

10. K&R. (nt)

[JNelson6563]

11. Can I get a witness?!?!?

Amen! :toast:

[DeSwiss]

13. A big ol'

K & R!!!!!!!

[Synnical]

14. Ellen Johnson now quoted on CNN Website

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/us/0705/gallery.falwell.reaction/frameset.exclude.html

The death of the Rev. Jerry Falwell has brought mixed reactions.

Click through the gallery to see how Falwell’s legacy is being viewed by others, including longtime friends and political opponents.

Sources: CNN, Reuters

[Synnical]

15. And you have to love the Rev Barry Lynn

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, a religious liberty watchdog group
"Falwell manipulated a powerful pulpit in exchange for access to political power and promotion of a narrow range of moral concerns. I appeared with him on news programs dozens of times over the years and, while I disagreed with just about everything Falwell stood for, he was a determined advocate for what he believed."

[Maat]

17. I love Rev. Barry Lynn (J.D.)!

I'm a proud monthly donor to A.U.S.C.S.!

www.au.org

And I like the O.P.'s quote too!

[Pacifist Patriot]

16. That is a response I respect.

[ComerPerro]

18. way more polite than they needed to be, lol

[Arugula Latte]

19. Great statement!

:applause:

[provis99]

20. why do atheists have to be so nice and controlled?

My news release would have simply read: "Good riddance".

[Bluebear]

21. You said it. nt

[Synnical]

22. . .

[me b zola]

23. k&r

:applause:

[Forkboy]

24. K&R

[YellowRubberDuckie]

25. He'll be replaced by someone worse.

It's just like when we kill or capture an Al Qaeada leader. Someone crazier takes over. There's always someone in line to take over for the nutter. It's not going to get any better until people stop being idiot sheep and actually start reading, questioning what EVERYONE tells them, and thinking for themselves.
Until then, we're fucked.
Duckie