US Rep Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) introduced the Military Religious Freedom Act (HR 3828), which aims to prevent chaplains and other troops from being “penalized” for failing to support homosexuals in the military.
It would exempt chaplains from functions that violate their Read more
From Fox News:
From the American Family Association:
“The Air Force and its Secretary, Michael B. Donley, have created the most hostile “anti-religious” environment in the history of the United States military.”
The Air Force’s decision to remove the Bible from the standard checklist for its military lodging facilities continues to get press (much to the chagrin of Michael Weinstein, who wasn’t involved in this story but has been trying to sensationalize another one).
A group of chaplains and chaplain endorsers, the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, has expressed its “concern,” saying that the decision has Read more
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey has reportedly ordered the entire Department of Defense to review its military education materials for content that might be offensive to Islam.
The order was precipitated by an elective course called “Perspectives on Islam and Islamic Radicalism,” offered Read more
Update: Liberty Counsel has agreed to defend the town of Woonsocket for free.
The awkwardly named Freedom From Religion Foundation has apparently demanded that a war memorial in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, be removed because it has a cross on it. The memorial
was erected nearly a century ago to honor the city’s war dead, including three brothers killed in World War I.
The town’s mayor had an interesting response to the call to tear down the 91-year old memorial:
Mayor Leo Fontaine told the Woonsocket Call he will not remove the cross “under any circumstances.”
However, the town is reportedly strapped for cash and may not be able to afford a legal defense.
Atheists and critics of various stripes — including Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and Jason Torpy — have Read more
The US House of Representatives recently introduced HR 3600, a bill that would repeal a portion of the IRS 501(c)3 code commonly known as the Johnson Amendment:
The Johnson Amendment was passed by Congress in 1954 [and] states that entities who are exempt from federal income tax cannot:
Participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of – or in opposition to – any candidate for public office.
This portion of law has been used as a tool to prevent churches Read more
As predicted, it didn’t take long for Chris Rodda to read last week’s write-up on the VMFA-122 Crusaders and manufacture some outrage. She called the renaming of the unit from the recent “Werewolves” back to the “Crusaders” “sheer stupidity” and a “constitutional issue.” Of course, everyone is aware of the clause in the Constitution that prohibits military units from having a cross on their patches. It must be in there somewhere…she said so.
Michael Weinstein was in regular form. Eliminating the unnecessary adjectives and adverbs, which constituted about a third of his statement:
“This…action…is…unconstitutional[] and…stupid[]. It [is]…propaganda…for our…Islamic foes and…a…national security threat…It will…hasten the maiming and deaths of our armed forces members…We’ll be seeing you in Federal Court, chump.”
“See you in court” from Michael Weinstein is about as threatening as “see you on the field” from the 2011 Indianapolis Colts. Being a perpetual loser kind of undermines your credibility.
Michael Weinstein, again, says that America’s extremist adversaries — not the US Constitution nor “Nature” nor “Nature’s God” — are the barometer by which Read more
The Alliance Defense Fund, a legal association which “trains, funds, and litigates” on behalf of religious freedom, has offered to defend the Camp Pendleton cross free of charge.
The Alliance Defense Fund [is] offering our services free of charge to the Camp to defend the rights of its Marines to prepare themselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, as they prepare themselves to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Legal counsel Joel Oster notes the ‘clause of unlimited liability’ nature of military service encourages troops to “come to grips with their emotional and spiritual [selves].”
That is why militaries have chaplains. It is simply a Read more
A group of US Army Africa chaplains have been engaging with the Liberian Armed Forces to help their chaplaincy:
Chaplain (Maj.) Allen Staley, and Command Chap. (Col.) Gary Brown …worked with more than 20 Liberian Armed Forces chaplains during a Chaplain Professionalization Seminar in Monrovia, Liberia.
The US military is helping Liberia develop its own chaplaincy, and they’re Read more