White House hosts secular leaders today

By Michelle Boorstein

Secular Americans took heart when President Obama gave them a shout-out - believed to be a first - during his inaugural address, now they're looking to push the White House a bit more.

A group of secular leaders is coming to the White House today for what they say is a very rare meeting, a chance for them to speak directly to the administration. Among those who will be there, according to the umbrella group Secular Coalition of America: Sean Faircloth, executive director of the coalition; Kathleen Johnson, vice president of American Atheists and Jason Torpy of Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers.

And from the administration, scheduled to be there are: Tina Schen and Paul Moteiro of the Office of Public Engagement; Bryan Samuels of Administration on Children, Youth and Families; and Mazen Basrawi, assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department.

The secular groups say they'll focus on three priorities: making sure there are no legal loopholes for parents who deny their children medical care and claim it's for religious reasons; shielding people in the military from unwelcome proselytizing and discrimination because of their religious beliefs; and forbidding religious social service providers who receive public money from being allowed to discriminate in who they hire.

By

Michelle Boorstein

 |  February 26, 2010; 10:24 AM ET  |  Category:  God in Government Save & Share:                 
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