Secular Group Heads To DC For 'Lobby Day'

By Kim Glovas

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Non-religious constituents are converging on Washington DC today, to lobby lawmakers on keeping church and state separate.

It's called the Secular Coalition for America's lobby day. The coalition's Amanda Knief explains what the group is working for, "Try to keep overly religious tones out of law, try to change laws that favor over religion non-religious entities and groups that have the same function, and just try to promote the non-theistic voice and say, hey, we are a legitimate part of the community and we have a voice that is just as valid as any religious."

Knief says the group is composed of non-religious secular-minded voters who will be trained to lobby lawmakers.

"There's definitely a need for people to stand up and say that I am your constituent and I need to be represented by you, and whatever religion or whatever religious voices are being heard right now, there's another side too, and that's non-religion."

Knief says there is a need for people to tell their legislators that non-religious people are also part of their constituency and they vote. She says policy does not have to be rooted in religion but in the common values and goals in society.