SC Atheist Lobbying Group Launches Today

Today, on the Christian Sabbath, a group of atheists and secularists will officially launch the South Carolina chapter of their national lobbying organization.

The Secular Coalition for South Carolina is the second chapter to launch as part of the national Secular Coalition for America's greater effort to establish 50 new state chapters throughout the country this year.

The SCA is a lobbying organization representing nontheistic Americans and advocating protecting and strengthening the secular character of government. The Secular Coalition for South Carolina will lobby state lawmakers in favor of a strong separation of religion and government.

Secular Coalition for South Carolina Executive Board Co-Chairs, Matthew Facciani, 23 of Columbia, and Amy Monsky, 37 of Summerville, were expected to sign the “Memo of Understanding” that marks the official launch of the chapter, on Sunday at the Carolina Secular Conference in Charleston.

Co-chair Facciani said he was excited to head up the new state chapter. 

“I believe it can create positive change for the secular population of our country and a more harmonious and egalitarian environment for all,” he said. “Our work will directly help defend the rights of secular Americans and provide a voice for those who are in the non-religious minority. This is especially important in an area like South Carolina which is located in the ‘Bible Belt.’"

A recent Pew Forum study indicated that 14 percent of South Carolina residents do not express an absolute belief in God, and 30 percent disagreed that “religion is very important to their lives.” 

According to the study, South Carolina is the second most religious state in the nation — tied with Alabama, and just behind number one Mississippi. 

In states where non-religious residents represent a small percentage of the population, as in South Carolina, the need for protections from religious influence on secular government grows, according to the SCA. 

"Separation of religion and government is something the majority of Americans value, regardless of their personal beliefs," according to a statement from the SCA. "Another Pew study found that 54 percent of Americans feel that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters, and 38 percent 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."

Facciani said the new state chapter has not targeted any specific legislation yet, but plans to focus on ensuring that government officials "rely on high science, logic and quality research — not religious beliefs — in decision making in their official capacities."

Facciani said the chapter will also work to prevent discrimination based on religious belief in a number of other areas, such as health care policy.

Since June, the SCA said it has successfully held initial organizing calls for new chapters in 38 states. The remaining 12 states will hold initial organizing calls in October. The Secular Coalition plans to have all chapters up and running in every state, D.C. and Puerto Rico, by the end of the year. A Secular Coalition affiliate is already functional in Arizona and the first chapter, in Colorado, was announced earlier this summer. The Secular Coalition for Pennsylvania is also launching today.

Edwina Rogers, Secular Coalition for America's Executive Director, said she is excited to see the South Carolina chapter launch. The state chapters play an integral role at the state level, as well as the national level, she said. 

“In our current U.S. Congress, 38 percent of Representatives held local office first,” said Rogers. “When we get to lawmakers at the local level, not only are we going to help curb some of the most egregious legislation we’re seeing, but we are also building relationships and working to educate legislators on our issues, before they even get to Washington.”