SKOWHEGAN — The Margaret Chase Smith Library will host Tom Waddell, president of the Maine Chapter of Freedom from Religion Foundation, at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, at the library, 56 Norridgewock Ave. His talk will take place in the central meeting area.
One in a series of four monthly presentations, the discussion is focused on bringing people together in mutual respect and defense of everyone’s religious freedoms. The Maine Chapter-FFRF has a long history of helping people recognize threats to their Constitutional right to freedom of and freedom from religion.
Freedom of and freedom from religion are opposite sides of the same coin; one cannot exist without the other. Freedom of religion means people may worship as they choose and are free from other religious views forced upon them. This discussion includes examples of how Christian Nationalists, working through groups such as the Congressional Prayer Caucus, Project Blitz and the Good News Club, are attempting to repeal the Johnson Amendment with the goal of turning their religious beliefs into laws everyone must follow.
Waddell is a Vietnam combat veteran and has been helping people protect their religious freedom for more than 10 years in Maine. He is a religion and politics columnist for the Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel and the first person to give a secular invocation to both the Maine House and Senate.
The 45-minute power point presentation, followed by a 45-minute open discussion, will help answer questions. For more information, call the library at 207-474-7133.
