Chris Allen, a charter member of our Chapter, was featured in a March 22, 1992 story in the Salt Lake Tribune. The accompanying photo was captioned, "The Pledge of Allegiance statue near Salt Lake City-County Building is better without 'under God'," according to separatist Chris Allen. This is the article:

Chris Allen's mission in Utah has not been easy.

The 45-year-old director of Utah's Society of Separationists is a devout atheist who wants every reference to God erased from public view.

The "one nation under God" phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance, and court oath of "so help me God," get under his skin. Even the "In God We Trust" slogan on money gives him fits.

Mr. Allen used to stamp his own counter-slogans on currency, such as "Stop religious advertising on money." He stopped after a warning from U.S. Treasure agents.

The former Californian's conquests in Utah have been few. But he recently carved the first big notch in his belt.

Third District Judge J. Dennis Frederick issued a ruling March 4 that breathed new life into the Society of Separationists' efforts to build a wall between church and state.

The decision in the lawsuit filed by the society outlaws prayers before Salt Lake City Council meetings, and could result in abolishment of praying at the Utah Legislature, and scores of local government bodies.

"We are not trying to infringe on an individual's right to pray," said Mr. Allen, a soft-spoken computer programmer who describes himself as a science nerd. "We're against the government interfering in that right."

The City Council had gone to a lot of trouble to make the opening prayers as inoffensive as possible. Apparently too far. One city employee was paid to hunt for people of diverse religions to offer the prayers.

"That clearly violated the state constitution's prohibition against spending state money to promote religion," said Mr. Allen.

Many people, including most City Council members, resent a group representing a minority view telling them when they can and can't pray. The council voted 5-2 to appeal the district court-ruling to the Utah Supreme Court.

Other politicians side with Mr. Allen.

"People have plenty of opportunities to pray during the day," said Salt Lake County Commissioner Jim Bradley. "I don't think we have to make a public demonstration of prayer."

The 700-member society hopes its initial victory on the public-prayer front will be followed by another in a suit against the Alpine School District involving prayer at high school graduations.

"Religion stirs a lot of resentment in Utah," Mr. Allen said. "And public prayer has a lot to do with it. No matter how hard you try, it leaves some people out.