ATHEIST’ SON APOLOGIZES FOR ACTIONS

Austin, Tex. May 1980 — Atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair’s son says he wasted 33 years of his life without faith and without God, and deeply regrets the time and effort he spent helping his mother develop the American Atheist Center and editing her “anti-God magazine.”

William J. Murray, who now lives in Houston, publicly apologized for his actions in a letter to the editor of the Austin American-Statesman Friday, and said that because he was the plaintiff in the suit that banned school prayers he feels responsible for the destruction of the moral fiber of today’s youth.

“I would like to apologize to the people of Austin for the part I played in the building of the personal empire of Madalyn O’Hair. My efforts to that end were an affront to the people of Austin, the people of this nation and to God,” Murray said.

“Looking back on the 33 years of life I wasted without faith and without God, I pray that I may be able to correct just some of the wrong I have created.”

Murray said his crime was twofold because he was aware his actions on behalf of atheist causes were wrong, yet he continued them for financial gain.

“I was continuing to practice the hateful and antimoral way of life I had learned from birth in an atheist home,” he said.

The mother and a second son, Jon Garth Murray, are leaders of the American Atheist Society in Austin, and Mrs. O’Hair has had custody of William Murray’s daughter Robin.

She was unavailable for personal comment on her son’s public letter Friday, but issued a sarcastic statement through the American Atheist office on behalf of herself, Jon Garth Murray and Robin Murray O’Hair saying, “We note in the news that William Murray has retired early. We are happy to see an atheist getting religious dollars and wish him the best. We anticipate that he will tithe to the American Atheist Center.”

Murray’s letter was printed in the paper directly below one from his mother commending the action of the pope in ordering priests and nuns out of political offices.

O’Hair currently is defending herself against a criminal charge for disrupting the prayer at a city council meeting, and is seeking a court-appointed attorney to defend her on grounds she is indigent.

Murray said in his letter he deeply regrets streamlining the atheist society and moving it from a threeroom house to a new office complex.

“I loathe the idea that I lowered myself to editing her anti-God magazine,” he said.

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