Secularists to start Texas lobbying organization drive

From an email:

The Secular Coalition for America is excited to announce the initial organizing efforts for a chapter in Texas this month. The state chapter will lobby state lawmakers in favor of a strong separation of religion and government.

The initial organizing call for the Secular Coalition for Texas will be held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET (2:00 PM CT). ...

The Secular Coalition for America—a lobbying organization representing nontheistic Americans and advocating for a strong separation of religion and government—will launch chapters in 48 states, as well as Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico by the end of 2012. Two state affiliates, the Secular Coalition for Arizona and Secular Coalition for Alabama, are already operational – the SCA has elected to adopt a chapter model, instead of the affiliate model, for the subsequent 48 state groups.

“Some of the most egregious violations of church state separation are being promoted and passed at the state level, and we absolutely must act to stop it,” said Edwina Rogers, Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for America. “There are 40 million Americans who don’t identify with any religion, but our political influence has been limited because we have not been organized. This year, that changes.”

A recent Pew Forum study indicated that 23 percent of Texans do not express an absolute belief in God, and 33 percent disagreed that “religion is very important to their lives.”  Another Pew study found that the majority of Americans (54%) say that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters, and 38% says that there has been too much expression of religious faith and prayer from political leaders – a number that has grown to its highest point since the Pew Research Center began asking the question more than a decade ago.

Among current law and recent religiously-inspired legislation the Texas legislature has considered are:

The Texas state constitution bars atheists from holding public office. “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.” (Texas, Article 1, Section 4)
SR 141: "In God We Trust" added to the wall behind lecterns in both Texas chambers. (2007)
HR 465: Recognizing May 5, 2011 as National Day of Prayer in Texas. (2011)