[NYTr] Georgia Gov Hosting Prayer Service for Rain

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Freedom From Religion Foundation - Nov 12, 2007
http://ffrf.org/news/2007/perdueprayer.php

Nothing Fails Like Prayer Action Alert - Nov 12, 2007

FFRF Chides Gov. Perdue for Hosting Prayer Service to Pray for Rain

(Madison, Wis.) The Freedom From Religion Foundation, the nation's
largest association of atheists and agnostics, has endorsed and
publicized the Atlanta Freethought Society's counter-protest of Gov.
Sonny Perdue's religious service to pray for rain, taking place on
Tues., Nov. 13, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta from 11 a.m to
1 p.m.

In a letter to Gov. Perdue, Foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor
wrote, "Our hearts go out to everyone affected" by the crisis drought.
Yet the situation "does not excuse the use of government office to
sponsor a prayer service."

The Atlanta Freethought Society, along with the Council for Secular
Humanism and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, will engage in a
polite and peaceful protest on Washington Street near the intersection
with Martin Luther King Drive SW (the north corner of the Capitol
grounds), from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gaylor noted "the illogic of appealing to a 'higher power' for rain,"
since an omnipotent, omniscient (and sadistic) deity would be
well-aware of the effect of the drought, since he by definition caused
it!

"You have a history of making prayer proclamations," she added. "It is
time to quit confusing the office of governor with that of 'state
preacher.' "

"The problem is not that they are praying for rain, it's they are doing
it in our name," said Ed Buckner of the Atlanta Freethought Society.
Among the picket signs Buckner suggested: "Sonny -- Pray on your own
time and on your own dime!"

Please contact Gov. Perdue's office to protest this misuse of public
office to organize, plan and pay for a prayer service:

The Honorable Sonny Perdue
Office of the Governor
Georgia State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Office Phone: 404-656-1776
Fax: 404-657-7332

E-mail (fill out form):
http://www.gov.state.ga.us/contact_dom.shtml

Locals can get more information from: Ed Buckner (AFS Treasurer and
Southern Director for the Council for Secular Humanism) at
404-284-3478, ext. 114.