An atheist was told to join a church or be denied citizenship. Margaret Doughty, an elderly British atheist and permanent resident of the U.S. for over 30 years, was told that she must join a church by Friday to be allowed to stay in the country.

Margaret Doughty's atheism should be incidental, but immigration authorities said she must join a church that forbids violence or her naturalized citizen application will be rejected.

The mandate was handed down after Doughty stated that she objected to the pledge to bear arms because she is morally opposed to war.  The authorities said that she needed to prove she was a conscientious objector "due to religious beliefs"...but she doesn't have any.  Thus...the entire point of atheism.

Margaret Doughty was ordered to document that she is "a member in good standing" of a nonviolent religious organization. A note "on official church stationary [sic]" needs to be furnished, or Doughty will be denied citizenship at her June 21 hearing.

Apparently, the government thinks all deeply held beliefs must be religious in nature to be valid.

Separation of church and state? What's that?

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, an atheist foundation, called the immigration official's decree "illegal and unconstitutional."

Doughty explained that she would not be willing to bear arms because of an "objection to participation in war in any form" and that my beliefs are as strong and deeply held as those who possess traditional religious beliefs and who believe in God ... I want to make clear, however, that I am willing to perform work of national importance under civilian direction or to perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States if and when required by the law to do so."

Atheist groups have threatened litigation. A petition was started in Doughty's name at the Daily Kos. Still, Doughty may lose her citizenship bid if she doesn't join a church and be forced to leave the country that has become her home.

Margaret Doughty wrote on her Facebook,

"Over the past two days not only good friends but people I don't even know have sent notes of support."

"They are people with a wide range of beliefs, beliefs that I respect - Christians, Moslems, Jews, Atheists, Agnostics and others. I think that is part of what has always appealed to me about America -- that people of all beliefs can live together accepting and respecting each other and working together for the common good."