Metroplex Atheists
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METROPLEX ATHEISTS
PRESS RELEASE/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atheist group calls for public apology from Governor Rick Perry

DALLAS, June 6, 2005 -- Metroplex Atheists is calling for a public apology from Governor Rick Perry to the citizens of Texas after an appearance in Fort Worth where the Governor insulted and mischaracterized Americans devoted to the separation of church and state.

Gov. Perry appeared at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Worth on Sunday, June 5 to sign the Parental Consent bill into law, and also to ceremoniously sign a marriage definition amendment that will go to Texas voters in November. During the appearance, Christian hymns were sung, and Rev. Rod Parsley of Columbus and Rev. Don Wildmon of Tupelo, Miss. spoke prior to Gov. Perry’s speech.

Hundreds of protestors appeared at the church to voice their opposition.

After the rally, Gov. Perry told the press: “Those people would be complaining, it didn’t make any difference where we signed this piece of legislation. As I said in my remarks, if we’d been in a Wal-Mart parking lot, they’d still be gripin’ about it.”

Metroplex Atheists points out that the location is the issue, and that there would have been no objection to Gov. Perry’s appearance if he had chosen a Wal-Mart or any other non-religious location.

“Signing legislation in a church is a clear violation of the separation of church and state,” said John Hattan, secretary of Metroplex Atheists. “Gov. Perry downplayed citizen concerns about his violation of this important policy, and we believe he owes the citizens of Texas a public apology.”

“Separation of church and state was important to our founding fathers, and it should be important to Gov. Perry, too,” Hattan said. “We find it interesting that Gov. Perry’s own press release about the event, issued this morning, makes no mention of the location.”

Metroplex Atheists is a Dallas/Fort Worth state-church separation advocacy group, affiliated with American Atheists and Atheist Alliance International. Web site: www.metroplexatheists.org.

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Metroplex Atheists
Web site: www.metroplexatheists.org
Telephone: 817-473-8213
Press contact: John Hattan, (817) 329-1441