Sunday, June 05, 2005
AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org
For more information, please contact:
Ellen Johnson, President (973) 625-6900
Dave Silverman, Communications Director (732) 648-9333
Edwin Kagin, Kentucky State Director (859) 384-7000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2005
CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP URGES KENTUCKY JUDGE TO DROP
"RELIGION EXEMPTION" OVER TREATMENT
American Atheists today called upon Kentucky District Judge Michael
Caperton to stop offering those sentenced on drug charges the "option"
of attending church services as alternative to jail or rehab treatment,
saying that the policy discriminates and runs afoul of the
First Amendment separation church and state.
Caperton was described as a "devout Christian" in the May 31, 2005
edition of the Courier-Journal newspaper ("Judge lets some defendants
attend worship as sentencing option.") The story quoted the judge as
saying "I don't think there's a state-church issue, because it is not
mandatory and I say worship services instead of church." He added that
"any denomination is acceptable."
Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists said that Caperton is
letting his personal religious beliefs spill over into the courtroom. "He is
still promoting religion and religious belief even if he masks this policy by
claiming it is 'not mandatory,' or talks about 'worship" instead of what it
is -- going to church."
Edwin Kagin, an attorney and Kentucky State Director for American
Atheists said that Caperton is not only violating the Constitution
but misleading the public as well.
"There is nothing voluntary about this," said Kagin. "It amounts
to a bribe on behalf of the court to get defendants to attend religious
services."
Kagin said that Judge is clearly promoting religion, and putting it on
an equal footing with drug rehabilitation. "He is forcing his religion
into the courtroom where it does not belong."
Edwin Kagin is available for comment on this story.
Contact him at: 859-384-7000, or through ekagin@atheists.org
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: (908) 276-7300 Fax: (973) 625-6901
