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(If you cannot view the video above within this news release, click here to view it on FFRF's youtube channel.)
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a state/church watchdog and the nation's largest freethought association, is placing its first national ad on the "CBS Evening News" tonight. This same ad debuted on "CBS Sunday Morning" yesterday.
The ad opens with footage of the speech by John F. Kennedy in his historic 1960 appearance before the Protestant ministers in Houston: "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute. . . . where no ecclesiastical body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly on the general populace." This is the speech which Rick Santorum averred "makes me want to throw up."
As the U.S. Constitution is displayed, the ad urges: "Let's restore respect for America's secular roots. Help the Freedom From Religion Foundation defend the wall of separation between state and church. Join us at FFRF.ORG. Freedom depends on freethinkers."
The song "America," plays in the background. The ad concludes with the strains, "Let freedom ring," as FFRF's emblematic image appears of a Lincoln penny with the words "In Reason We Trust" instead of "In God We Trust."
FFRF's name, website FFRF.ORG, and toll-free number, 1-800-335-4021, alternate on the screen.
FFRF Co-President Dan Barker, who played the musical accompaniment to the ad, said: "Kennedy was right. Separation between religion and government must be absolute, or there's no freedom or justice for all.
"The deterioration of respect for this constitutional principle is breathtaking. We've gone from a nation where candidates once had to show reverence for the First Amendment principle of separation between state and church to get elected to one where candidates wear religion on their sleeves and think they have to trash the Constitution to get elected," observed Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president.
That distinctive voice in the ad belongs to Buzz Kemper, who announces FFRF's Freethought Radio. The ad was produced for FFRF by John Urban Productions.
FFRF plans to place this ad on more stations as funds permit. To help FFRF educate via television, the most powerful mass medium, use the Donate button below.
