September 19, 2005

Steve Bellone, Supervisor and Members of the Town Council
Babylon Town Hall
200 E. Sunrise Hwy.
Lindenhurst NY 11757

Dear Sup. Bellone and Members of the Town Council:

On behalf of local complainants, our national association working to keep religion and government separate is writing to protest the town sponsorship of three "God Bless America" displays. These include the 10-foot banner over the front entrance of Babylon Town Hall, and two adjacent, very large kiosks on public property.

"God Bless America" is a prayer. A prayer conceived, hosted and advocated by a publicly-supported government does not pass constitutional muster. The phrase "God Bless America," uttered by a government body, amounts to a declaration of orthodoxy in religion. It is a phrase that falsely unites patriotism with piety.

More than 14% of adult Americans do not believe in a god who blesses anyone (The American Religious Identification Survey 2001). The sign assumes a common god, yet imagine the consternation had you posted "Allah Bless America" at town hall! It is equally inflammatory and inappropriate to endorse "God Bless America."

The Establishment Clause in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits, among other things, government "sponsorship" of religion. See Walz v Tax Commissioner of New York, 397 U.S. 664, 688 (1970). That prohibition applies to government actions that favor one religion over another or that favor religion in general over nonreligion. See Committee for Public Education & Religious Liberty v. Nyquist, 413 U.S. 756, 771 (1973).

The size of the displays, their prominence, its placement next to the entrance of the building, clearly marked Town Hall, make this a government endorsement of orthodoxy. Allegheny County v. ACLU of Pittsburgh 492 U.S. 573, 1989.

The "God Bless America" displays need to be removed from public land immediately. The fact that the town has not routinely placed editorial banners and kiosks makes religious entanglement all the more conspicuous. Replace them with a flag, or a unifying message appropriate to a government body, such as "United We Stand or "We, the People."

May we hear from you on this matter at your earliest convenience?

Sincerely

Annie Laurie Gaylor
Co-President
Freedom From Religion Foundation
PO Box 750
Madison WI 53701