Council for Secular Humanism Sues Governor Jeb Bush for Subsidizing Religious Groups with Florida Taxpayer Funds

Cites Violation of the Blaine Amendment

(July 22, 2005 - Tallahassee, Florida) The Council for Secular Humanism today filed suit in the Leon County Courthouse to stop Governor Jeb Bush from continuing to violate the prohibition in the Florida State Constitution against “directly or indirectly” using Florida tax dollars to fund churches, synagogues or mosques.

“Our lawsuit is simple: Governor Jeb Bush has set up a network of state- funded entities to channel government funds to religious organizations in the State of Florida, and we want it stopped,” said David Koepsell, Executive Director of the Council for Secular Humanism from their Amherst, New York headquarters.

Koepsell noted that in short, the Council agrees with the late Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, who said: “A union of government and religion tends to destroy government and degrade religion.” See Engle v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421, 431 (1962). Concluded Koepsell, “Since the Florida Constitution is clear, we are confident of a successful outcome, but we are equally certain that it will be a long fight.”

Kenneth Berquist, Esq. of West Palm Beach, Florida is representing the Council in the Florida courts in this case.

Kenneth P. Bergquist
444 29th Street
West Palm Beach, Florida 33407
Telephone: 561-308-9458

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The Council for Secular Humanism is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization promoting rational inquiry, secular values, and positive human development through the advancement of secular humanism. The Council, publisher of the bimonthly journal Free Inquiry, has a Web site at www.secularhumanism.org.

Press Contact:	Nathan Bupp
Tel:	(716) 636 4869 x218
Fax:	(716) 636 1733
E-mail:	nbupp@centerforinquiry.net