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Diverse Viewpoints on 'God and the Government' to Fuel Heated Panel Discussion
January 3, 2003
MIAMI ? Michael Newdow, named Time Magazine's Person of the Week earlier this year for sparking a nationwide debate over the legality of forcing public school students to recite the phrase "Under God" during the Pledge of Allegiance, will join local community leaders in a panel discussion on the relationship between religion and government.
Entitled, "God and the Government," the panel discussion sponsored by the Greater Miami Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will spark debate on everything from religious declarations and holiday nativity scenes at state-sponsored events to Bible study classes in Miami-Dade high schools and faith-based mentoring programs to help public school students with their homework.
"At a time when state and federal officials are proposing to spend tax dollars on faith-based initiatives to deliver government services, the question of where to draw the line between church and state becomes all the more relevant and important to every taxpayer, regardless of whether you're a devout worshipper or a non-believer," said Lida Rodriguez-Taseff, president of the ACLU Miami Chapter.
The forum will be at 7:30 p.m. January 23, 2003 at the Coral Gables Congregational Church, 3010 DeSoto Blvd., located across the street from the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.
Newdow, a doctor with a law degree and an avowed atheist, filed a pro se lawsuit against the Sacramento school district for requiring that his elementary school daughter use the phrase "Under God" when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals agreed with Newdow and ruled against the school district for violating the U.S. Constitution's requirement of separation of church and state.
Joining Newdow will be former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald Kogan, Reverend Donna Schaper, Senior Pastor at the Coral Gables Congregational Church, and Bernie Diaz, TV talk show host and Director of Communications for the Miami Coalition for a Safe and Drug Free Community. John de Leon, the former president of the ACLU Miami Chapter, will moderate the discussion.
The event is free and open to the public. For further information on the upcoming forum, call Lida Rodriguez-Taseff, President of the Miami Chapter at 305-960-2242 or Board members William Silver at 305-665-5124 or Angela Sherrill at 305 - 857 - 9797.
Contact:
Lida Rodriguez-Taseff, President of the Miami Chapter at 305-960-2242
or
Board members William Silver at 305-665-5124 or Angela Sherrill at
305-857-9797
