https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letters-to-the-editor-readers-react-to-airport-ceo-selection/article_49033d7c-36d7-11ea-9d39-837915b0cf48.html
An article in the Jan. 26 Post and Courier reported the recent death of former California Rep. Fortney “Pete” Stark Jr. It described some of his many political accomplishments, including expanding public health care. What the article did not mention was that Stark did something unique and bold in the history of Congress. He was the first openly atheist member of Congress. In 2007, he acknowledged being an atheist in response to a questionnaire from the Secular Coalition for America, of which I was then president.
After that, he was publicly open about his atheism, was named Humanist of the Year in 2008 by the American Humanist Association, served on the advisory board of the Secular Coalition for America and continued to get reelected. There is now a Congressional Freethought Caucus, but we can only guess how many current members of Congress are afraid to tell the truth about their nonbelief. I’m hoping for a day when candidates’ religious beliefs matter no more than what kind of car they drive.
An article in the Jan. 26 Post and Courier reported the recent death of former California Rep. Fortney “Pete” Stark Jr. It described some of his many political accomplishments, including expanding public health care. What the article did not mention was that Stark did something unique and bold in the history of Congress. He was the first openly atheist member of Congress. In 2007, he acknowledged being an atheist in response to a questionnaire from the Secular Coalition for America, of which I was then president.
After that, he was publicly open about his atheism, was named Humanist of the Year in 2008 by the American Humanist Association, served on the advisory board of the Secular Coalition for America and continued to get reelected. There is now a Congressional Freethought Caucus, but we can only guess how many current members of Congress are afraid to tell the truth about their nonbelief. I’m hoping for a day when candidates’ religious beliefs matter no more than what kind of car they drive.
