Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, a local partner of American Atheists, worked with PA State Representative Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia) to craft two legislative actions in Pennsylvania to work towards balancing the recent religious expression put forward by the PA General Assembly. Last week, Rep. Cohen introduced HR 351 (Public School Religious Freedom Month for June 2013), and HB 1511. The resolution honors the Supreme Court cases Abington v. Schempp and Murray v. Curlett, which were decided 8-1 in 1963 to remove compulsory prayer and bible readings in public school. The bill repeals the PA state law, which is STILL on the books after 50 years, even though it is superseded by that Supreme Court decision. Madalyn Murray O’Hair, the founder of American Atheists, was the plaintiff in the case started in Maryland, Murray v. Curlett, which earned her the nickname “The most hated woman in America”. On Monday, June 10th, a press conference was held at the PA State Capitol. Participating were Dave Silverman, President of American Atheists, Ellery Schempp, the plaintiff in the PA Court case Abington v. Schempp, Brian Fields, president of Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, Rep. Mark Cohen, and Rabbi Carl Choper, president of the Pennsylvania Interfaith Alliance. The local ABC affiliate, ABC 27 covered the conference in their June 10th news broadcast (link below). After the news conference, Rep. Cohen honored Ellery Schempp, Brian Fields and Dave Silverman by recognizing them at the General Assembly, AND outlined the contribution that Ellery Schempp made from the floor.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:25:57 +0000
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