Tag Archives: Public Expression

Chaplain’s Website Needs Disclaimer, Critic Seeks Board Position

A few months ago the Chaplain for the Spring Hill Fire Department came under fire for having a webpage, on the department’s website, with religious-specific content.  Ken Fagan, a local citizen, complained that Chaplain Jack Martin broke rules with his page:

The matter was brought to the attention of the Florida Department of Community Affairs in January after resident Ken Fagan complained Martin broke “ethics rules” with his website and that he has “crossed the line regarding the separation of church and state.”

Now, the assistant attorney general for Florida has said the website (here) must have a disclaimer, and that it may have “information that arguably Read more

Some Government Prayers Bring Lawsuits, Others Ignored

The city of Lancaster, California, has been criticized by the ACLU and sued by the Jewish Defense League for “sectarian Christian prayers” at city meetings.  In an interesting contrast, it does not appear either the ACLU or the JDL have said anything about the city of Vacaville doing the same thing in Sanskrit:

Acclaimed Hindu leader Rajan Zed will deliver invocation from Sanskrit scriptures before Vacaville City Council on [July 27th]. After Sanskrit delivery, he then will read the English translation of the prayer.

Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism Read more

Wall Street Journal Highlights Faith in Battle

A frontpage photo on the Wall Street Journal a few weeks ago highlighted the presence of faith even in the struggle of war.  From the caption:

RESCUE AND PROTECT: Staff Sgt. Edward Rosa reads the Bible and extends a cigarette to Pfc. Jorge Rostra Obando, who was stunned by an explosion in Afghanistan’s Arghanab Valley. One comrade was killed and two injured in the blast. Pfc. Rostran asked the sergeant to read Psalm 91, a favorite from his childhood. (Ricardo Garcia Vilanova for The Wall Street Journal)

Wall Street Journal photo

Wall Street Journal photo

In the comments on the WSJ site, a poster who said he was Obando’s father chimed in with pride for his son’s faith; someone who said they were a Gideon even pointed out the fact it was a freely distributed (and well worn) Gideon Bible the two Soldiers were sharing.

Of course, some organizations have demanded that the military “close their doors” to the Gideons, and the publication of the photo brought out similar detractors:  Read more

Greater Love Has No Man Than This…

Marines at Twentynine Palms paused to remember the loss of two of their own during their deployment to Afghanistan:

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends,” quoted Navy [Chaplain] Lt. Michael Taylor…from John 15:13, in the New American Standard Bible.

The two memorialized Marines were Lance Cpl. Cody Stanley and Lance Cpl. Joshua H. Birchfield.  The company first sergeant had a moving description for what the Marines witnessed: 

Read more

Festival Denied Flyby over Religious Content

Several sources report that the Nampa, Idaho, God and Country Festival that occurs annually during the Independence Day holiday was again denied a flyby by US military aircraft because of the religious content of its festivities.  The festival was denied the flyover for the first time in over four decades just last year.  The policies relating to the decision-making process can be seen in the discussion on the original controversy.

Interestingly, the organizers have pointed out that they probably could have gotten a flyover if they’d minimized religion within their event.  Still, they note the military is supporting the event with other means, including administering the oath of enlistment, and the theme of this year’s event is “honoring our nation’s WWII veterans,” a decidedly patriotic purpose.

Like Being in a Motorcycle Gang, but…

It’s been said that being a fighter pilot is like being in a motorcycle gang — except your mother is still proud of you.  In a vaguely related story, the Chapel community at Fort Rucker took an opportunity to integrate their faith with a “gang” of motorcycle riders in a local “fellowship ride.”  One of the mentors, Dave Peterson, explained why faith meshes so neatly with the motorcycle “gang:”

Because we share so much in common, it bonds us. We live out our faith. We enjoy motorcycle riding and we enjoy being together and building those bonds of friendship and sharing the things that mean the most to us.

Peterson may not know it, but that is an appropriate description of the community of believers in the military, as well.

Military Sponsors NASCAR…and Religious Complaint?

Few things go together as well fast cars and fighter jets.  The US military knows this, which is why the Air National Guard is sponsoring a car in NASCAR this year. The ANG will be the primary sponsor of the Latitude 43 team’s #26 for five races.

If this sounds vaguely familiar, it should. The MRFF’s David Miller complained of the military’s support for NASCAR just a few months ago, apparently because of its ‘overt Christianity.’

Interestingly, Latitude 43’s #26 already has several other sponsors, including Sacred Power, a Native American spirituality-themed energy company.  Sacred Power’s logo — which appears to be derived from the Thunderbird, from Native American spiritual belief —  is just below the ANG’s pitch on the side of the car:

It is unclear when Miller will complain or Michael Weinstein will file a lawsuit over the US military’s “unConstitutional support” of Native American spiritualism, as Read more

Religion and the Military in Pictures: Prayer

Following the first installment of pictures documenting religion and its place in the US military, the second is now posted on the Resources page.  These photos largely show uniformed military members in prayer, practicing their right to free exercise of religion, even while in the US military.

Men and women of faith can be — and express their faith — in the US military.  These pictures and those to come — all of which are publicly available — show that faith has a fitting and integral role in many lives in the military.

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