Barry Lynn Speaks to Bay Area ACLU Chapter
By Kevin Schultz

A number of AU-Sacramento members made a day-trip to Berkeley to hear one of the 
nation's most articulate and vocal supporters of church-state separation on 
November 24.  Rev. Barry Lynn, Executive Director for Americans United For 
Separation of Church & State, has an amazing ability to garner media attention. 
 After meeting him and hearing him speak personally, I can understand why.

As we entered the North Berkeley Senior Center, Rev. Lynn stood relaxed near the 
front desk, exchanging small talk with some of the local ACLU 
Berkeley/Albany/Richmond/Kensington (BARK) area members.  A number of us from 
the Sacramento area introduced ourselves, and Rev. Lynn responded warmly, 
demonstrating approachability coupled with a genuine willingness to get to know 
people.

A standing room only crowd of about 200	 attended Rev. Lynn's 45-minute talk, 
entitled "Politics, Patriotism, and Religion: Dangerous Mixtures Ahead."  

Lynn discussed several major victories which stopped -- at least temporarily -- 
the further integration of church and state.  He first mentioned the strong 
bipartisan rejection (239-178) of Rep. Walter B. Jones' "Houses of Worship 
Political Speech Protection Act" (H.R. 2357).  He also mentioned the failure of 
the "Charity, Aid, Recovery and Empowerment Act" (S. 1924) (a.k.a. Bush's 
"faith-based" initiative).  

Lynn stated that while legislators may re-introduce these bills in the next 
session, he believes that the education which went into their defeat will help 
stunt similar legislation in the future.

He believes that the integration of religion and politics produces hypocrites, 
and joked that the most dangerous place to be after the Ninth Circuit decision 
was between a politician and a television camera.  He related a personal story 
in which he had asked a member of Congress during a televised panel discussion 
why they (or anyone else, for that matter) had failed to attend the recitation 
of the Pledge of Allegiance the day before the Ninth Circuit pledge decision.  
The member of Congress told Rev. Lynn that they thought such a question was 
"outrageous."

Another notable hypocrite Rev. Lynn mentioned was Pat Robertson, who at one-time 
sharply criticized faith-based funding.  In October, Mr. Robertson accepted a 
$500,000 grant for his "Operation Blessing" program.  Lynn stated, "Robertson 
was one of the earliest critics of the "faith-based" scheme, but I guess 30 
pieces of silver was enough to change his mind."

He mentioned some disappointments, including President Bush's comment (in 
response to the Ninth Circuit decision) "I believe that it points up the fact 
that we need common sense judges who understand that our rights were derived 
from God. Those are the kind of judges I intend to put on the bench."  Rev. Lynn 
believes the Democratic party should have tossed out all of the White House 
nominations after such un-Constitutional arrogance.  

He also mentioned his disappointment that appellate court nominee McConnell 
passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, even though he publicly states he wishes 
to immediately pass two new Constitutional amendments!

Rev. Lynn ended by commenting that the what the Religious Right wants most is 
for people like us to just give up, because then they could then get everything 
they want.  

An active question and answer session followed the talk.