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GOP lawmakers question constitutionality of State Department grants to spread atheism abroad
Just the News ^ | 7-23-22 | Natalia Mittelstadt

Posted on 07/25/2022 10:18:26 AM PDT by DeweyCA

Republican lawmakers are questioning the constitutionality of a Biden State Department program to fund the spread of atheism and humanism internationally.

At the end of June, a group of 15 Republican members of Congress wrote to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken about a State Department funding program from April 2021 that "would award grants of up to $500,000 to organizations committed to the practice and spread of atheism and humanism, namely in South/Central Asia and in the Middle East/North Africa."

Noting that both atheism and humanism "are official belief systems," the GOP legislators wrote, "Any such program — for any religiously-identifiable group — in the United States would be unconstitutional."

One of the lawmakers, Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wisc.), told the John Solomon Reports podcast on Thursday that the rest of the world looks up to the United States for various reasons, such as its freedoms and material wealth, and wonders what the secret is to America's success.

"And the Biden administration is going to make it clear that they believe one of the reasons for our success is our acceptance of atheism and humanism," he said. "That's what they're going to do. That's what they're going to do with your tax dollars, you religious Americans — the Biden administration is going to take your tax dollars and promote atheism and humanism around the world."

Separation of Church and State? GOP lawmaker: Biden administration using tax dollars 'to fund atheism' worldwideSeparation of Church and State? GOP lawmaker: Biden administration using tax dollars 'to fund atheism' worldwide

While the program claims to promote atheism and humanism under the guise of religious freedom, "This is not 'religious freedom,'" the GOP letter argues.

The grant program, "like others we have reviewed, prioritizes atheists and humanists above all other potential recipients," the representatives wrote. "Not only does such a priority violate both the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses, but also the No Religious Test Clause of Article VI of our nation's constitution."

The grant program would have been just as constitutionally problematic if it had promoted religious freedom for Christians in China "with the express goal being to build a corresponding missionary network," the lawmakers explained.

In a footnote, however, the letter cites a Heritage Foundation report regarding "the preeminence of faith, and Christianity in particular, in America's founding and history."

Observing that atheism has long been the shared "religion" of progressives and communists, Grothman said, "[A]s our country becomes more and more close to Communist, as we get more and more progressives in the government, I don't think it should be surprising that Joe Biden wants to educate the world that one of the reasons for our success is, apparently, our belief in atheism."

He urged the "slumbering America clergy" to "wake up" and warn Americans of the Biden administration's promotion of atheism.

If the "administration were giving out grants to promote Catholicism" or Mormonism, "the liberals would be up in arms," Grothman argued. "But when we send out grants to promote atheism, the mainstream media, the popular culture, they are quiet."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: atheism; atheists; biden; religion
The vast majority of Dem activists are basically atheists. It is just a fact.
1 posted on 07/25/2022 10:18:26 AM PDT by DeweyCA
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To: DeweyCA

Portland


2 posted on 07/25/2022 10:25:14 AM PDT by Cold Heart (Save The Grid, Phase Out EV's)
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To: DeweyCA

So much for all that crap about separation from church and state the libtards are always squawking about


3 posted on 07/25/2022 10:25:18 AM PDT by NWFree (Somebody has to say it ðŸĪŠ)
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To: DeweyCA

Isn’t this the kind of “cultural imperialism” that the left supposedly condemns? Except when they are the ones doing it.


4 posted on 07/25/2022 10:25:39 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: DeweyCA

The vast majority of Dem activists are basically atheists. It is just a fact.


And on a practical level, at least a plurality of so-called “believers” are humanists in the public square.


5 posted on 07/25/2022 10:25:54 AM PDT by Hieronymus
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To: DeweyCA

The Biden administration can go to HELL!


6 posted on 07/25/2022 10:31:24 AM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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To: DeweyCA; lightman

biden is a fake Catholic, who spreads atheism and promotes abortion!!!!

May our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ send millions of catechumens into the Holy Orthodox Church—here in North America, and in every other country where the Dims want to promote atheism! AMEN!!!!


7 posted on 07/25/2022 10:31:48 AM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: DeweyCA

The Army of Satan continues to grow ... right in our own government.


8 posted on 07/25/2022 10:32:33 AM PDT by antidemoncrat
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To: Paleo Conservative
The Biden administration can go to HELL!

Seeing as how they are in Washington DC, I'd say they're already there.

9 posted on 07/25/2022 10:32:49 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: DeweyCA

Atheism is the defacto state religion of the Democrat party. Who can forget God getting booed and hissed at during their 2012 convention?


10 posted on 07/25/2022 10:34:00 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (The politicized state destroys aspects of civil society, human kindness and private charity.)
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To: DeweyCA

These demonically inspired democrats are bringing the wrath of God on our nation.


11 posted on 07/25/2022 12:40:22 PM PDT by Maudeen (https://ThereIsHopeInJesus.com)
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To: DeweyCA

and the upcoming strongly worded letter by GOPe will really make them take heed..../s


12 posted on 07/25/2022 1:18:34 PM PDT by slapshot (Coke wants me to act less white? Well I will not purchase Coke Products- Get woke go broke-)
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