Reverend Dr. Michael Newdow and Dr. Chris Leland to Discuss the Separation of Church and State
Contact: Lisa Anderson, 719-548-5883, publicity@family.org
COLORADO SPRINGS, April 19 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Freethinkers of Colorado Springs and Focus on the Family will co-sponsor a local debate titled Are We One Nation Under God? at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 23. The event will be held at Focus on the Family and is open to the public.
Debating will be Reverend Dr. Michael Newdow, physician and constitutional lawyer most widely known for his efforts to remove the phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" from U.S. currency; and Dr. Chris Leland, senior fellow for Christian worldview studies at Focus on the Family. Newdow and Leland will tackle issues of separation of church and state, focusing specifically on the use of "God" in government affairs.
"The Freethinkers promote equality and respect for all people, regardless of their beliefs, and feel the endorsement of religion in public schools and on our money violates the rights of individuals and families," said Stefanie Sanden, Vice President of the group. "We are pleased to bring Michael Newdow to Focus on the Family, and excited our organizations are working together, sharing the dedication to increase awareness and discussion within the community."
"We're happy to co-sponsor this debate with the Freethinkers of Colorado Springs," said Focus on the Family President and CEO Jim Daly. "Whenever we can be part of an open, fair and reasoned dialogue on issues that affect the family, especially issues as foundational to who we are as a nation as these, we are eager to do so. This debate will provide a forum for everyone involved to put the facts on the table and let them speak for themselves."
Doors for this event open at 6:15 p.m. and seating is limited. Admission is free. There will be time for audience Q&A at the end of the evening
The Freethinkers of Colorado Springs is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving religious freedom. Providing support to atheists, agnostics and humanists in and around Colorado Springs since 1993, the organization currently has an active hiking group, kids' group, women's group, and lecture series in addition to regular freethought publications and social events. The Freethinkers is affiliated with the American Humanist Association (AHA) and will receive additional sponsorship from the Humanist Action League (HAL) to provide this event. Learn more about the Freethinkers at www.freethinkerscs.com and the AHA at www.americanhumanist.org.
Reaching more than 220 million people in 155 nations, Focus on the Family is the largest Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to serving, strengthening and defending families worldwide. Founded in 1977, Focus on the Family provides practical tools, spiritual resources and emotional support to families at every stage of life. Focus on the Family is online at www.family.org.
