To:

Governor Tim Pawlenty
Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

Governor Pawlenty:
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights announced that it is purchasing and shipping to every governor a crèche, with a request to display it in a government building to commemorate the Christmas season.  An accompanying letter by league president Bill Donohue claims that the displays would pass constitutional muster because they were purchased and donated by a private organization.

 

By George Kane

When I drive my car I often listen to Christian radio station KKMS, because I like to hear what the opponents of church/state separation are up to. In early October, I heard their drive-time host, Pastor Brad Brandon, announce his plan to challenge the tax code regulation that forbids tax-exempt organizations from endorsing candidates for election. Under the 501(c) regulations, churches as well as educational organizations such as Minnesota Atheists are permitted to argue for positions on political issues, but not to engage in electoral politics by directly endorsing or donating to any candidate.

 

By Steve Petersen

In part one of the two-part show, host James Zimmerman interviewed Eric Jayne. Eric organizes and heads up the south-of-the-metro bookclub (a.k.a. Burnsville Book Club). Eric gave details on where and when the bookclub meets and how many people usually attend. Eric then discussed some of the books the club has discussed in recent months, include Sam Harris' The End of Faith and John Allen Paulos' Irreligion.

 

By Jacob Budd

I want to make it clear that I do not hold ill will toward the United States Army, or any branch of the military for that matter. I enjoy being a part of something larger than myself, and hopefully having the opportunity to make a difference. I have never regretted my decision to enlist, or to start my commissioning program in the Army National Guard. That being said, any organization a person can be a part of may reflect ideals that are contradictory to one's own values. The military is no different.

 

By August Berkshire

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you! We received such a large increase in members and other financial supporters last month that, had any of us prayed for it, it would have caused us to rethink the power of prayer.  Instead, as Dan Barker would say, we tried not praying – and it worked!