SW News: In the United States, members of Congress belonging to the Grand Old Party (GOP) have expressed grave concern over the Biden Administration funding given to an international group that promotes atheism abroad. The lawmakers said that the grant was given to Humanists International and it actively promotes atheistic ideology overseas and is closely associated with organizations that promote humanism in America.

In a letter sent earlier this month, Michael McCaul of Texas, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Chris Smith of New Jersey and chair of the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations; and Brian Mast of Florida, who chairs the Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability, expressed their worries over the funding to promote atheism. The letter was addressed to Acting Assistant Secretary Erin Barclay of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and Ambassador at Large Rashad Hussain of the Office of International Religious Freedom under the US Department of State.

GOP members of Congress alleged in the letter that Barclay and Hussain were not providing enough answers to earlier questions about the funding of humanism-related events in other countries. They also referred to a 2021 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) program named “Promoting and Defending Religious Freedom Inclusive of Atheist, Humanist, Non-Practicing and Non-Affiliated Individuals”.

NOFO has listed among its programs increasing the “capacity among members of atheist and heterodox individuals to form or join networks or organizations, implement advocacy campaigns, and to engage with the public on issues of tolerance and acceptance of all regardless of faith.”

In the letter, Congress members allege that this goes against the explicit rule of the Bureau and the OIRF not to give funding to any group with the intention of utilizing the money to propagate religious ideologies or beliefs.

“Nor may the [State] Department evade responsibility by claiming that a constitutional analysis is unwarranted, because humanism is not synonymous with religious belief,” they said in the letter.

“For over half a century, the courts have considered Humanism a ‘religion’ protected under the Establishment Clause, and therefore held that Humanism may not be specifically promoted using aid money from the government.”

“The awarding of the DRL NOFO to HI reveals major flaws in the Department’s screening process for potential constitutional violations,” continued the letter. “The Department’s efforts to combat religious persecution abroad do not entitle the Department to promote particular religions using taxpayer funds.”