Send Items for Newsletter:

Jan. 10, 2006: Our first hardcopy newsletter in several years is in the works. Send your items to our secretary (with digital wallet size photos, if possible), by email. The address is:
>>--> ansonchong@pobox.com

Thank you.

 

Charles Sumner visits Hawaii

Jan. 8, 2006: The founder of the Rochester, N.Y. American's United chapter, Charles Sumner, has been in Hawai'i visiting his son, Roger Sumner, a technician at the Keck Telescope. Charles, and wife Marj, visited the residence of Anson Chong, one of the founders of the Hawaii chapter, to exchange information about current American's United activity nationally and in Tennessee. Charles is also the founder of the Nashville chapter.

 

ALERT: June 23, 2006 - RELIGIOUS RIGHT LYING CONTINUES

Excerpts of a Message from Rev. Barry Lynn, today:

"... The latest claim coming out of the Religious Right is that there is a 'war on Christians.' TV preacher Pat Robertson, whose television show The 700 Club reaches millions of viewers, recently accused the nation’s federal courts of conspiring against evangelicals. “They [federal courts] are taking our religion away from us under the guise of separation of church and state. There was never any intention that our government would be separate from God Almighty,” declared Robertson.

"Give me a break. Far from being marginalized in public policy debates, the Religious Right is able to threaten and issue marching orders to the nation’s leading lawmakers. I am weary of these leaders claiming that they and their followers are victims, while at the same time meddling in our lives to an unprecedented degree. With your renewed help, Americans United will put a stop to it.

"The rhetoric revolving around a war on Christians is nothing more than a tactic by Religious Right groups to continue to persuade as many citizens as possible that religious conservatives are being persecuted, and at the same time, raise boatloads of money in their quest to maintain their influence on politicians on the state and federal levels. Each of the Top 10 Religious Right groups pictured here have annual budgets in the millions -- the two wealthiest groups taking in over $100 million each year!

"Americans who are committed to preserving the First Amendment principle of church-state separation cannot let down their guard. And very importantly, we can’t afford to be lulled into thinking that the nation’s Religious Right leaders voices have lost any influence, or are the victims of an organized, powerful effort to silence them.

"It is a daunting task to counter such powerful and influential dominant organizations, and why I hope you’ll stay committed to helping Americans United stay in front of their schemes in the important battle to protect our freedoms from the Religious Right’s onerous agenda..."

Stay alert, and speak up when you hear false statements being made about Freedom of Religion in this country. Silence is not a vitue when it comes to defending and protecting the Constitution of the United States! "

Flash: Danger of the extremist Christian Right by Goldberg, July 19, 2006, Click Here

 

EDWARD S. CLARK IS DEAD

Ed Clark died of heart failure on Friday, May 5, 2006 at Queens Medical Center. He was one of the original founders of the Hawaii Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church & State and a chapter past President.

"We could always rely on Ed to defend the principle of church-state separation, a fundamental bulwark of American democracy," said Anson Chong, chapter secretary and a co-founder of the Hawaii group with Ed back in 1997. "Hawaii and the nation will sorely miss this great American," noted Chong.

Click Here for Ed's obituary prepared by his family.

 

Officers & Directors 2006:

Pamela Collins, President; Robert Akamine, 1st VP & Treasurer; Anson Chong, 2nd VP & Secretary. Board members: Past Presidents,: Rev. Donald Swerdfeger, Donald Wessels, Jr., and Edward Clark. Other Board Members: Dr. Richard Chamberlin, James Bill (Oahu liaison person), and Jack Beck.

 

How the Religious Right pushing creationism is related to how big-corporate interests push confusion about global warming.

Click Here for an excellent summary of the conspiracy by Paul Kurgman of The New York Times. (Aug. 6, 2005)

 

Evolution vs. Creationism ... the controversy rears its head, again. Science vs. Norse Mythology. (Mahalo to J. Bennett sharing this comic strip, 8-4-05)

 

Mayor's Breakfast is Thurs. May 6, 2005 at 7:30 a.m. at the Naniloa Crown Room, Hilo. Americans United member, Baptist minister, the Rev. Richard Uejo, a major coordinator for this annual Big Island affair, has set aside one table for us. The theme is "Celebrating Body and Soul". The organizing committee is: Rev. Richard Uejo (Protestant), Michael Scully (Catholic) and Tatsuo Muneto (Buddhist). Members and the public are invited. Tickets are $10. Phone Rev. Uejo for more information (808) 959-2777.