The Secular Coalition for America, the "only organization in the nation whose primary purpose is lobbying Congress on behalf of atheists, humanists, freethinkers, and other nontheistic Americans," has announced the winner of its "Find an Atheist, Humanist, Freethinker Elected Official" Contest. The contest was launched "to explore visibility and respectability challenges for nontheists in public office," and the winner was determined by whoever "came out" as "the highest level atheist, agnostic, humanist or any other kind of nontheist currently holding elected public office in the United States."
The winner was Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.).
The SCA press release said in part:
"There is only one member of Congress who is on record as not holding a god-belief.
"Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), a member of Congress since 1973, acknowledged his nontheism in response to an inquiry by the Secular Coalition for America. Rep. Stark is a senior member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and is Chair of the Health Subcommittee.
"Although the Constitution prohibits religious tests for public office, the Coalition's research reveals that Rep. Stark is the first open nontheist in the history of the Congress. Recent polls show that Americans without a god-belief are, as a group, more distrusted than any other minority in America. Surveys show that the majority of Americans would not vote for an atheist for president even if he or she were the most qualified for the office.
"Herb Silverman, president of the Secular Coalition for America, attributes these attitudes to the demonization of people who don't believe in God. 'The truth is,' says Silverman, 'the vast majority of us follow the Golden Rule and are as likely to be good citizens, just like Rep. Stark with over 30 years of exemplary public service. The only way to counter the prejudice against nontheists is for more people to publicly identify as nontheists. Rep. Stark shows remarkable courage in being the first member of Congress to do so.'"
The Secular Coalition for America suggests that "It is very important that you, other nontheists and our theist allies, contact Rep. Stark to thank him for his brave and historic decision."
See their Action Alert HERE.
Contact Pete Stark to thank him here: http://www.house.gov/stark/contact/
