Machar: the Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism

Machar's Madrikh Michael Prival and Rabbi Ben Biber accompanied other leaders of theSociety for Humanistic Judaism in participating in an historic White House staff briefing organized by the Secular Coalition for America on Friday, February 25; Michael and Ben were joined by SHJ's President Lou Altman, Executive Director Bonnie Cousens, and Rabbi Greg Epstein (who recently visited Machar on his book tour with his NY Times best-seller Good Without God). This was the first time ever that an Administration had invited and welcomed nontheist community leaders to the table to speak about our public policy concerns.

The key issues discussed were:

1) violations of civil rights and of the separation of 'church and state' in
the US military and in groups receiving public funds through Faith-Based Initiatives programs;
2) child neglect and abuse related to religion; and

3) religious institutions' exemptions fromregulations related to employment practices and even health and safety regulations.

For more on the Secular Coalition for America, and to donate to it, see http://www.secular.org/.

All Machar members are encouraged to support the work of the Coalition through donations and participating in Coalition advocacy efforts. The Coalition is the main voice of nontheists and freethinkers on public policy.

For more on the press coverage of the event:

Washington Post
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2010/02/white_house_hosts_secular_honchos_today.html
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2010/02/white_house_hosts_secular_honchos_today.html

US Today
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2010/2/atheists-meet-with-white-house-officials/1