Congressman says he doesn't believe in God

WASHINGTON — Cue the jokes about "godless politicians" and "Bay Area liberals."

Secular groups Monday applauded a public acknowledgment by Rep. Pete Stark that he does not believe in a supreme being, making the California Democrat the first member of Congress — and highest-ranking elected official — to acknowledge publicly that he does not believe in God.

Stark's declaration came in response to a search by the Secular Coalition for America to find the most prominent non-believing politician. The advocacy group calls for extending "religious tolerance ... to people of all religions and to those without religious beliefs."

In an e-mailed statement, Stark said: "When the Secular Coalition asked me to complete a survey on my religious beliefs, I indicated I am a Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being."

Stark, who has served in Congress since 1973, continued: "Like our nation's founders, I strongly support the separation of church and state. I look forward to working with the Secular Coalition to stop the promotion of narrow religious beliefs in science, marriage contracts, the military and the provision of social services."

Unitarian Universalism describes itself as creedless, meaning that it has no underlying authoritative statement of religious belief. While some members believe in God, not all do.

Ron Millar, associate director of the coalition, said the group wanted to highlight the difficulty politicians have in taking a public stance on nonbelief. He said members were "pleasantly surprised" with Stark's candor.

Fred Edwords, a spokesman for the American Humanist Association, said "nontheistic" Americans often face discrimination for their views.

A USA Today/Gallup poll last month found that only 45 percent of respondents said they would vote for a "well-qualified" presidential candidate who was an atheist. Ninety-five percent said they would vote for a Catholic candidate, 92 percent a Jewish candidate and 72 percent a Mormon candidate.