Posted on 12/12/2006 6:19:34 AM PST by Bulldawg Fan
(CNSNews.com) - Christian military officers who share their faith at work in the Pentagon pose a threat to national security, according to a group that advocates for religious neutrality in the military.
Public displays of faith by high-ranking military officers project an image of a Christian nation waging war on non-Christians, both inside and outside the United States, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation said Monday.
This created an "internal national security issue every bit as great as the one we're fighting outwardly," said the organization's president, Mikey Weinstein.
"The jihadists, the insurrectionists, everybody from the head of Hamas, Hizballah, the Islamic Jihad, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, they see us as invading American imperialists and crusaders," he told a news conference in Washington, D.C.
Weinstein, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy who has been critical of proselytizing at the academy, called for an investigation into several officers who appeared in a promotional video for a Christian organization while in uniform.
In addition to creating a national security threat, Weinstein said, evangelistic efforts by Christian officers directed toward their colleagues or subordinates amounted to "coercion" and "fanatical unconstitutional religious persecution."
"There's a time and place to celebrate your faith or no faith," Weinstein said. "There's so many times and places you can do it ... but there's a few times you can't, one of which would be when you wear your uniform during the duty day and duty night and you outrank somebody else and you're trying to push your religious faith on them."
He called on incoming Defense Secretary Robert Gates to investigate a promotional video for the Christian Embassy, an organization that ministers to members of Congress, ambassadors, presidential appointees and Pentagon officials.
Christian Embassy, established in 1975, works with government leaders "not only because of their personal needs, but also because of their position as decision-makers to influence our families and freedoms," according to its website. At the Pentagon, the group holds weekly prayer meetings and Bible studies every weekday.
In the promotional video cited by Weinstein, four generals and three colonels appear wearing their uniforms. Among them is Lt. Col. Lucious Morton, who says that Christian Embassy-led Bible studies benefit the military as a whole because they create "Godly men" who will lead others into battle.
Maj. Gen. Jack Catton also appears in the video and says he shares his faith with people he meets in his office: "I start with the fact that I'm an old-fashioned American, and my first priority is my faith in God, then my family, and then my country."
Weinstein said the video raises questions about whether the officers followed military regulations that restrict appearances in uniform for non-military purposes.
Their professions of faith violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits Congress from making laws "respecting the establishment of religion," he argued.
The video, which appears on Christian Embassy's website, carries a disclaimer that says "the views expressed by any government officials in this video are their personal views and are not intended to represent the U.S. government nor any department in which they serve."
Catton, director of requirements for Air Combat Command (ACC) at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, has been criticized for sharing his faith before. Last May, he used his military e-mail account to support a retired general who was running for U.S. Congress.
In that e-mail, Catton wrote: "We are certainly in need of Christian men with integrity and military experience in Congress."
Lt. Col Brian Maka, a spokesman for the DOD inspector general, declined to comment Monday on whether an investigation is underway, although media reports in May suggested that there was.
'No evidence of coercion'
Maj. Laurel Tingley, a spokeswoman for ACC, told Cybercast News Service Catton would not be commenting about the video because "it's going to be something bigger than Air Combat Command or even something bigger than the Air Force." She referred further questions to the Department of Defense.
Maj. Stewart Upton said Monday the DOD inspector general's office had received the complaint from Weinstein's group but added that it would be "inappropriate ... for us to speculate as to what, if any, actions will be taken at this point."
Upton added that DOD "does not endorse any one religion or religious organization but we do provide opportunities for military service members to practice their faiths."
Calls placed to Christian Embassy requesting comment for this report were not returned Monday.
Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, criticized Weinstein for asking the DOD inspector general's office to spend time investigating the video.
She said that because the video is accompanied by a disclaimer and does not ask for money, it doesn't raise concern with her.
"The Department of Defense inspector general has an awful lot of issues on their plate, on their agenda, and I don't see this as something so important that everything else should be put on hold," Donnelly told Cybercast News Service after viewing the video. "The DOD IG has a lot more important things to do."
She called it a "stretch to talk about anything coercive," noting that a soldier engaging in religious activity such as prayer "appears to be purely voluntary on the part of anyone who wants to participate."
"I don't see any evidence that this is a coercive type of environment," Donnelly said.
"Another Jewish attack on Christianity"?
Did I read you right?
You're insane, and failing that, extremely bigoted.
"And He shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 13:42
IMO, the only reason the trees are back is because it wasn't a Muslim who complained in the first place.
Could we rename this org the Silly Military Religious Unified Freedom Foundation? SMURFF. Cute little blue guys.
......................................__................................................
.............................,-~*`¯lllllll`*~,..........................................
.......................,-~*`lllllllllllllllllllllllllll¯`*-,....................................
..................,-~*llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll*-,..................................
...............,-*llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll.\.................................
.............;*`lllllllllllllllllllllllllll,-~*~-,llllllllllllllllllll\................................
..............\lllllllllllllllllllllllllll/.........\;;;;llllllllllll,-`~-,...........................
...............\lllllllllllllllllllll,-*...........`~-~-,...(.(¯`*,`,..........................
................\llllllllllll,-~*.....................)_-\..*`*;..)..........................
.................\,-*`¯,*`)............,-~*`~................/.....................
..................|/.../.../~,......-~*,-~*`;................/.\..................
................./.../.../.../..,-,..*~,.`*~*................*...\.................
................|.../.../.../.*`...\...........................)....)¯`~,..................
................|./.../..../.......)......,.)`*~-,............/....|..)...`~-,.............
..............././.../...,*`-,.....`-,...*`....,---......\..../...../..|.........¯```*~-,,,,
...............(..........)`*~-,....`*`.,-~*.,-*......|.../..../.../............\........
................*-,.......`*-,...`~,..``.,,,-*..........|.,*...,*...|..............\........
...................*,.........`-,...)-,..............,-*`...,-*....(`-,............\.......
......................f`-,.........`-,/...*-,___,,-~*....,-*......|...`-,..........\........
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric? - George Washington, Farewell Address
. . . and where is morality more necessary than in the branch of government which wields the power of the sword?
I think there is a misconception that because someone identifies himself as Jewish or Christian, he must actually practice the faith and adhere to its standards. Among my fellow practicing Catholics, I find there to be a great kinship between Jew and Christian. Our faith emanates directly from Judaism, and follows the same path for much of history.
The US "Christian military" are the only ones in the world ready to defend Israel and its people. Who else is willing to lay down their lives for them?
**crickets**
Religious freedom is fine, but not in uniform and not during duty hours. In the military, discussing religion or politics in uniform and during duty hours is a major no-no, and when it happens the level of discomfort goes through the roof.
The highest ranking officer, a LTC Chaplain, I saw relieved was for just such an offense. He made two grave errors: he wavered from his non-sectarian function, and he confused his particular sects' beliefs with army policy. In the same speech in front of the Post Commander.
A brief mention of Jesus would not have offended, but he went on about Jesus being the only path to salvation in front of a group of officers. A Jewish officer sat to my right and seethed, and a Moslem officer sat to my left and seethed. The Chaplain also had some unkind things to say about Catholics.
He then went on a rant about "sins" forbidden by the UCMJ, many of which weren't in any way unlawful, such as abortion, fornication, and not attending church on Sunday.
Okay, so he was probably insane. But the principle still holds, that military people are creatures of rank and hierarchy, and anything that even creates the appearance of impropriety raises tension levels in a hurry.
And religion and politics are improper things to discuss.
"...religion and politics are improper things to discuss."
A STUPID Victorianism! Those are the only subjects that really matter. Everything else is superficial.
"...a misconception that because someone identifies himself as Jewish or Christian, he must actually practice the faith..."
MISCONCEPTION? WTF?
Sorry, if you don't follow Christ, you're NOT a Christian; and an atheist cannot be a Jew or Christian!
Gates, fortunately, will be a short termer. His record at A&M demonstrates that he is a social leftist - aggressive on "diversity" and the rest of the Gramscian agenda.
When the Western Christian Culture rises up against those who would try to bury it, look out.
There are many brave and valiant warriors, utterly fearless in battle, who think twice before annoying their seniors.
The worst the enemy can do is kill or maim you. One's seniors can ensure that you are never promoted, and that you are eventually forced to leave the service under a cloud ("if he were worth a damn, he wouldn't have been forced out.") Hell, if one has a family to support, not annoying the boss becomes job one.
"Religious freedom is fine, but not in uniform and not during duty hours. In the military, discussing religion or politics in uniform and during duty hours is a major no-no, and when it happens the level of discomfort goes through the roof."
Not sure if you're aware of this or not, but the Military is on Duty Hours 24 and 7, 365 days out of the year. In Uniform or not.
Denying them the right to their religious freedom at ANY time to pray, read the bible or even talk amongst themselves about their beliefs is a direct violation of the 1st Amendment.
Now, within reason, a superior officer should not preach to a subordinate, unless that subordinate is in his or her church. But your assertation that they should not be allowed to practice their faith in uniform and on duty is incorrect.
That cannot be correct. Among other things, getting a drink at the Enlisted Club becomes "being drunk on duty."
Closeting, denying or abandoning our own dominant faith is as much a practical victory for those of an opposite belief as adopting theirs; just not as satisfying in terms of long range goals.
The military distinguishes on-duty and off-duty, and does provide many accommodations to religious practices. However, there are many restrictions that distinguish when and where religious practices are authorized.
For example, proselytizing is completely forbidden in the entire overseas CENTCOM region of operations. And any extraneous conversation may be restricted during a mission cycle, for obvious reasons.
If objections are made by someone who has been approached to discuss religion, then the advocate may be directed to not approach them again.
And if soldiers or officers are required to be in attendance, then it is inappropriate for them to be addressed on the subjects of politics or religion, except as relates to military policies concerning these two.
The military does reserve the right to recognize only major religions.
These are not unduly restrictive, and are needed for the proper functioning of the military and its mission; plus there is ample opportunity for accommodation for those who feel a policy inhibits their religious practices.
I responded by saying, "Sir, I thought K of C membership was only for Catholics." It took him about 30 seconds to grasp my meaning, then he said, "Oh, yeah. We're through here, Major."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.