Donate   |   Facebook   |   Twitter    |   Meetup   |  YouTube 


Thanks to everyone for suffering through our last few email reminders for the survey. We understand it is annoying, but it is an important part of organizing a community of activists.  The survey is still underway so if you haven't done that yet, please do.

CFFC Special Event - Matt Dillahunty - 4 PM on Apr 16th at First Unitarian

We really hope you can make it out to this month's CFFC Event. Matt Dillahunty is coming all the way from Austin to talk about exactly what you want him to talk about.

That's right. You pick the questions he will be asked. This event will be held as a conversation with Matt so he can discuss whatever you like!  If you are subscribed to this email list, you can submit questions for him to answer by replying or emailing [email protected]. 

A $5 donation is suggested since our expenses for this event are higher than usual.

Matt is a debater of Christian theology and he is one of the hosts of The Atheist Experience. Read more about Matt on his Wikipedia page here. Click here for more information about the event including the address. We hope to see you there!

Read on for this month's update, local events, and lots of useful information about the CFFC.

Upcoming CFFC Events
Coming soon in the Central Florida Freethought Community

Arbor Day Party - Saturday, Apr 2 at 7 PM

This is the one party you don't want to miss. RSVP on  Meetup or reply to this email and we'll send you the address. This is in the Geneva area of Seminole County.

Casselberry Secular Invocation - Apr 11, 5 PM

The City tried but they couldn't come up with a way to keep us out. We'll conduct the first of many invocations in Casselberry this day so come out and join us. It will be followed by dinner and/or drinks afterwards. If you haven't been to one these are short and sweet!
 
Religious Liberty Panel Discussions - Apr 8 & 16

The ACLU of Volusia/Flagler will ask a diverse panel, "Is religious liberty under attack in America today?" CFFC founder David Williamson is on the panel. Friday, Apr. 8 at Stetson and Saturday, Apr. 16 at the City Island Library.

CFFC Special Event - Matt Dillahunty - Apr 16, 4 PM

The First Unitarian Church of Orlando's Social Justice Group is our generous host for this Special Event. A $5 donation is suggested.

CFFC VERY Special Event - David Silverman & Richard Carrier - May 15, 1 PM

What an amazing opportunity! David is in town on a book tour and Richard is here at the same time. We decided to team them up to bring you an entire afternoon of freethought! This event is at our usual venue, the University Club at Winter Park. We are renting the larger venue and have significant expenses for this fantastic even so please consider a $10 donation at the door.

Find CFFC events on Facebook  and Meetup.

News You Can Use
Local or regional news that matters to you!

Prayer Illegal in the City Beautiful

Back in January Mayor Buddy Dyer, Commissioners Tony Ortiz, Patty Sheehan, and Samuel Ings took their oaths of office to serve the diverse City of Orlando and uphold the U.S. Constitution and Florida Constitution. As you might expect they swore on a bible and said "so help me god." What you might not have expected is that this secular event began with an invocation and ended with a benediction as if this were some sort of Catholic ceremony. 

Since this event is not legislative in nature it is not discussed in the Supreme Court's decision in   Greece v. Galloway. Therefore, there is no basis under which the City can endorse religion at this event by incorporating prayer.  Remember, the Greece case is the 2014 Supreme Court ruling which conceded that legislative bodies may have (but are not required to have) religious prayer in the ceremonial portion of their legislative meetings. It makes no mention of oath ceremonies or any government events where prayer would be permitted so we see this as a violation of the Establishment Clause.

On behalf of the CFFC, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) wrote a letter to Mayor Buddy Dyer pointing out that the meeting was not legislative in nature. Unfortunately, the City's attorneys didn't agree.  Here is the FFRF letter of complaint and here is the City of Orlando's response .
 
So we need your help! Please write to the Mayor at  [email protected] and let him know what you think. Be polite and point out how it makes you feel when you are at an event when a prayer is held an how prayers are divisive since 1 in 10 people don't believe in god and more than 2 in 10 have no religious affiliation. We might expect these statistics to be even higher in urban areas such as Orlando.

Your correspondence with the Mayor or your Commissioner will go a long way at helping them understand the problem that prayer presents in secular events.  Thanks for helping out and let us know if you get any replies from the City.


First Coast Freethought Society Offers Jacksonville's First Secular Invocation

Our allies in northeast Florida have been trying for months to obtain their rightful place behind the lectern at the Jacksonville City Council Meetings. They finally made it in the first of many secular invocations to come.  Click here to see the video and an article by The Friendly Atheist.

Earl Coggins, the group's founder offered up an invocation that acknowledged the value and dignity of everyone in the room--regardless of their religion. We look for more invocations at other towns and counties in the First Coast soon. Here is the group's website.


National Day of Prayer

Just a few years after he said " We establish no  religion in this country, we command no worship, we mandate no belief, nor will we ever " President Ronald Reagan signed a law setting aside the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer . 
At this time of year pastors and politicians are tripping over themselves to get involved in local community prayer events around the country. There's even a website for it (that we're keeping an eye on).

We also want your help to ensure that no government resources are used to promote these events. If you see something in your area taking place at a government building or public venue, let us know so we can check it out with you to ensure the group has the proper permits and is paying any applicable fees for the use of the facility.

Don't be shy. If you have questions, just ask.


Your Tax Money Promoting Religion

U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller of Pensacola has, for years apparently, used his taxpayer-funded newsletter to proselytize and preach. Most recently, Miller concludes his Easter email message with a verse from Romans. Back in December he cited Luke during the " Christmas Edition" email. This was brought to the attention of FFRF which sent him a letter this week asking him to stop attempting to further his religion in this illegal fashion and at the expense of the taxpayers.

While we're not betting he will see the light and repent soon so if you live in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, or Walton Counties (his district) let him know what you think about this. You can contact him here. Oh, and be sure to sign up for his newsletter! ;-)


Satanic and Atheist Literature in More Schools

At the time of this writing, it was confirmed that literature from The Satanic Temple would be available for students to pick up in Delta County schools in Colorado on Thursday, April1. No, this is not an April Fool's Day prank--this is confirmed. What we do not know as of this moment is how that distribution is going.  The Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers will also participate with literature and non-tracts from the FFRF.

As you might expect, the school board has found that portions of the FFRF literatures is somehow impermissible. As you might expect, they probably haven't read their bible cover to cover in a while (if ever) or they might have to censor that as well.  Here's a news release from FFRF yesterday responding to the censorship and a blog from The Friendly Atheist today.

This all sounds so familiar  for some reason.


And Finally...

Here's a new cartoon created by Troy Boyle, activist and founder of the former National Atheist Party. A pretty good update on everything in the news over the last year or so. What do you think?


Stay Informed and In Touch

As always, be in touch on any of these issues and report state/church violations on the  Contact Us page on the website.

If you aren't watching our  Facebook and Twitter pages, you're missing most of the news that we make happen. Be sure to find us there!

Something To Do
Coalition of Reason Member Events

Sun, Apr 24 at 9 AM
 
Sun, Apr 24 at 2 PM
 
Sat, Apr 30 at 6:30 PM
Florida's Dirty Dozen
School programming, including graduations, testing, choir recitals, award ceremonies, and plays should not occur in churches.
 
Watch your local public schools for this and the rest of  Florida's Dirty Dozen .
Friends of Ours. Friends of Yours.
Allied organizations which deserve your attention

Enjoy learning and reading about science, psychology, philosophy, sociology, history, and other big topics? Love learning? Good conversation? Relish meeting other ponderers, thinkers, and arm-chair scholars? 

Check out the Orlando Thinkers' Discussion on Meetup at meetup.com/Orlando-Thinkers-Discussion .
Secular Quotable


"[T]he Government of
the United States  of America
is not, in any sense,
founded on the Christian religion..."

The Treaty of Tripoli

CENTRAL FLORIDA FREETHOUGHT COMMUNITY 
PO Box 621123, Oviedo, FL 32762
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on the separation of state and church
Freedom From Religion Foundation Chapter
American Humanist Association Affiliate

  • A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
                  

Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.