Humanists Call On Obama To Stop Taxpayer-Funded Religious Discrimination

Contact: Brian Magee, 202-238-9088 ex. 105
bmagee@americanhumanist.org

(Washington, DC – December 7, 2011) — As part of the Coalition Against Religious Discrimination (CARD), the American Humanist Association (AHA) is asking the Obama Administration to fulfill a campaign promise and fully reverse religious discrimination policies put in place by the previous administration. These policies give a pass to organizations that receive federal funds but discriminate in their hiring practices on religious grounds. Other than a promise to review instances on a “case-by-case” basis, the Obama Administration has not officially reversed this policy.

The American Humanist Association and CARD are asking for a clear answer to “how the Obama Administration determines whether religious organizations may discriminate when hiring for government-funded positions.”

“It is time that the country knows with certainty what guidelines the Obama Administration is using when it comes to anti-discrimination policies based on religion,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. “This is an issue that needs to be clarified and made public.”

The American Humanist Association opposes policies that allow organizations receiving federal funds to discriminate against potential and current employees on the basis of their religion–or lack thereof.

The letter is being sent to 13 federal agencies: USDA, Commerce, Labor, HHS, HUD, Education, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, EPA, SBA, USAID, Corporation for National and Community Services, and DOJ. The letter can be found online here.

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The American Humanist Association (www.americanhumanist.org) advocates for the rights and viewpoints of humanists. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., its work is extended through more than 100 local chapters and affiliates across America.

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity.