Atheist Seeking Citizenship told to join Church

[Mister Agenda]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/1 ... ef=atheism

Seems you can't be a conscientious objector unless a religous organization vouches for you. What if we need this older woman to fight in a war for us?

[Smartmarzipan]

I find it absolutely infuriating.

Doughty received the ultimatum after stating on her application that she objected to the pledge to bear arms in defense of the nation due to her moral opposition to war. According to a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services by the American Humanist Association on Doughty's behalf, officials responded by telling her that she needed to prove that her status as a conscientious objector was due to religious beliefs. They reportedly told her she'd need to document that she was "a member in good standing" of a nonviolent religious organization or be denied citizenship at her June 21 hearing. A note "on official church stationary [sic]" would suffice, they said.

You can't have morals without religion! Therefore, atheists don't have morals!

That's pretty much what they're saying. You can't be a conscientious objector unless you have religious reasons. Ugh.

[josephpalazzo]

Atheists are obviously agents of Satan.

 

[_Xenu_]

Easy to circumvent. She can even become a minister free of cost.

http://firstchurchofatheism.com/

[Mister Agenda]

I don't know that we want to promote atheism being a religion. Do they have UU congregations in England?

[Mister Agenda]

At least it didn't take long to fix:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/2 ... ef=atheism