A political action committee specifically geared towards filling the halls of Congress with atheists and agnostics and those friendly to their cause was launched Wednesday in Washington.
The “Freethought Equality Fund” already supports five congressional candidates, including Democratic Reps. Bobby Scott of Virginia and Rush Holt of New Jersey, NPR reported.
“We already know of more than two dozen closeted atheists serving in Congress today,” Maggie Ardiente of the American Humanist Associated said Wednesday at a rollout for the PAC. “The fact that they’re in the closet about their nonbelief says a lot about why this PAC is greatly needed. The time to come out is now and the Freethought Equality Fund will help make it happen.”
NPR reports that 20 percent of the U.S. population now identifies as “nonreligious.”
“We’re actively looking for all candidates regardless of their affiliation who will protect the separation of church and state and defend civil liberties,” said PAC coordinator Bishop McNeil. “[But] based on our 2013 scorecard that we just completed, there are currently no Republicans in the House that would fit that.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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