Gay Marriage Law in Argentina Shows Erosion of Catholic Power

Written by AAI President | 22 July 2010

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – The Catholic Church's failure to derail a gay marriage law in Argentina shows once powerful clergymen losing their influence in Latin America, where pressure is growing for more liberal social legislation.

The law, which lets gay couples marry and adopt children, was approved last week to the cheers of hundreds of gay couples gathered outside Congress despite opposition from churchmen, who called gay families "perverse."

"We shouldn't be naive: this isn't just a political struggle, it's a strategy to destroy God's plan," Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, the head of the Church in Argentina, said in a letter before the vote, urging lawmakers to reject the bill.

Mexico City and Uruguay upset the conservative Catholic hierarchy by passing similar legislation last year, and more liberal laws on social issues are likely in the region.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100721/wl_nm/us_latam_catholics_1

 

EU Leaders to Meet with European Atheists

Written by Administrator | 21 July 2010

http://euobserver.com/9/30506

BRUSSELS - Brussels is to hold an EU summit with atheists and freemasons in the autumn, inviting them to a political dialogue parallel to the annual summit the bloc holds with Europe's religious leaders.

While the EU is a secular body, the three European presidents, of the commission, parliament and EU Council, alongside two commissioners, on Monday met with 24 bishops, chief rabbis, and muftis as well as leaders from the Hindu and Sikh communities. The annual dialogue, which has taken place since 2005, is for the first time this year made legally obligatory under Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty.

Under pressure from Belgium, which constitutionally protects and financially supports humanist organisations as well as churches, the EU has been forced to hold a mirror-image summit, but of atheists, scheduled for 15 October.

However, in a move that perplexed and annoyed humanist groups, the EU atheist summit will also welcome under the rubric of ‘non-religious groups', the Freemasons, the secretive fraternal organisation, according to commission spokeswoman Katharina von Schnurbein.

Preregistration Open for AAI 2010 North American Convention

Written by Atheist Alliance | 02 June 2010


AAI is pleased to announce the opening of preregistration for its 16th annual North American convention, Atheists Without Borders, to be held in Montréal, Quebec the weekend of October 1-3, 2010.

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Polish Pop Star Faces Two Years Prison for Blasphemy

Written by Atheist Alliance | 24 May 2010

May 7, 2010 - Controversial singer Doda is facing the prospect of doing two years behind bars for alleging that the Bible was written by people with a fondness for drinking too much wine and smoking herbal cigarettes.

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Latest Actions on Mojave Desert Cross in US Disclose Damage Done by Veterans to National Preserve

Written by AAI President | 11 May 2010

The public learned today that the "Veterans' Memorial" Christian cross that had been the subject of a recent US Supreme Court ruling last month had been removed from its perch over the past weekend, apparently by vandals.

Damaging and the taking of another's property is, of course, reprehensible behavior and not to be condoned. AAI certainly condemns that action.

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Why Would Anyone Still Claim To Be A Catholic?

Written by AAI President | 23 April 2010

If there’s anyone still out there who is willing to call themselves Catholic, I’d sure like to know why.

One would think that the ongoing pedophile scandal would be more than enough evidence to show that Catholicism is not just a false religion, but a pretty depraved one at that.

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Nothing Fails Like Prayer, Pastor Warren

Written by AAI President | 12 February 2010

Put this under the "Doh!" category.

The Christian Post reported today that over half of a list of up-and-coming pastors identified by US Mega-pastor Rick Warren 10 years ago were no longer in any ministry.

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The New Atheism: Taking a Stand for Science and Reason
by Victor J. Stenger
The New Atheism: Taking a Stand for Science and Reason In this new book, Victor J. Stenger, whose God: The Failed Hypothesis was on the New York Times bestseller list in 2007, reviews and expands upon the principles of New Atheism and answers many of its critics. He demonstrates in detail that naturalism--the view that all of reality is reducible to matter and nothing else--is sufficient to explain everything we observe in the universe, from the most distant galaxies to the inner workings of the brain that result in the phenomenon of mind.
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Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe
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Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe In Good Without God, Greg Epstein presents another, more balanced and inclusive response: Humanism. With a focus on the positive, he highlights humanity's potential for goodness and the ways in which Humanists lead lives of purpose and compassion. Humanism can offer the sense of community we want and often need in good times and bad, as we celebrate marriages and the birth of our children, and as we care for those who are elderly or sick. In short, Humanism teaches us that we can lead good and moral lives without supernaturalism, without higher powers . . . without God.
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