Thursday, May 05, 2005
Irigonegaray: Bringing Light to These Hearings
At a news conference Sponsored by the Science Coalition in Topeka tonight, attorney Pedro Irigonegaray, outlined his strategy for the evolution hearings that begin tomorrow. Irigonegaray, will cross examine the intelligent design witnesses who are being brought to Kansas -- at taxpayer expense -- by the Seattle-based Discovery Institute and John Calvert's ID Network. He will also introduce exhibits, and present statistics to support the vote taken by the majority of the science curriculum writing committee, led by Dr. Steve Case, to reject the revisions proposed by the intelligent design proponents appointed to the committee by conservative board members.
Irigonegaray is honoring the boycott by mainstream scientists and educators and therefore will call no witnesses of his own. "I will not take one penny of taxpayer money," he said, adding that his opposition to funding the hearings had already cut the amount budgeted by the board from $20 thousand to $5 thousand dollars.
Asked by a reporter how he would respond to statements by the Discovery Institute that scientists are afraid to debate, Irigonegaray said, "Those who say we're afraid to fight, don't know me well."
Irigonegary also characterized the hearings as a Kangaroo Court into which he would shine a light.
"Science and faith," said Irigonegaray, "are not incompatible, but they are different."
Irigonegaray is honoring the boycott by mainstream scientists and educators and therefore will call no witnesses of his own. "I will not take one penny of taxpayer money," he said, adding that his opposition to funding the hearings had already cut the amount budgeted by the board from $20 thousand to $5 thousand dollars.
Asked by a reporter how he would respond to statements by the Discovery Institute that scientists are afraid to debate, Irigonegaray said, "Those who say we're afraid to fight, don't know me well."
Irigonegary also characterized the hearings as a Kangaroo Court into which he would shine a light.
"Science and faith," said Irigonegaray, "are not incompatible, but they are different."
