The Old Post Chapel at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall has undergone a substantial renovation and will re-open in the coming month.
While a building renovation may seem insubstantial, the Old Post Chapel is unique: It is where funerals are held for burials at Arlington National Cemetery. As noted at the awkwardly-named Pentagram military paper: Read more
According to an ongoing story covered at FoxNews, Utah Air National Guard TSgt Layne Wilson was reprimanded after writing a letter to a West Point chaplain regarding a post-DADT chapel ceremony, which presumably occurred last December. The text of his letter does not appear to be completely available, but it said in part
Our base chapels are a place of worship and this is a mockery to God and our military core values. I have proudly served 27 years and this is a slap in the face to us who have put our lives on the line for this country. I hope sir that you will take appropriate action so this does not happen again.
Apparently, West Point complained to the Utah Air National Guard, and Wilson’s supervisor gave him a Letter of Reprimand because he
“failed to render the proper respect to a commissioned officer.”
Given that only part of the story is public, it is difficult to fully discuss. On the other hand, another part of the conversation is public and may stand on its own. As noted in a memo from LtCol Kevin Tobias, 130th Engineering Installation Squadron commander, following this incident [emphasis added]:
“We talked about his feelings about DADT and Read more
Former Army Captain and current atheist Jason Torpy is keeping busy. While currently claiming to act as the endorsing agent for a proposed humanist chaplain, he’s also trying to act as an officiant for a humanist wedding at the US Naval Academy. The only problem for the “Reverend” Torpy: Annapolis reserves its Christian chapel for Christian ceremonies.
Jennifer Erickson, an academy spokeswoman, said in an email that the Naval Academy Chapel is a religious venue that has been used for Protestant and Catholic services since its dedication in 1908.
“The chapel contains permanent Christian architectural features that make it inappropriate for non-Christian or non-religious wedding ceremonies,” Erickson wrote in response to questions about the request. “For requests involving non-Christian and non-religious wedding ceremonies, the Naval Academy offers alternative venues, such as the non-denominational chapel and the Naval Academy Club.”
Because the Christian chapel has unmatched “grandeur” — including the crypt of famed seaman John Paul Jones — the humanists complain that nothing else will do. The non-theists apparently admire theistic architecture.
To be clear, there are several chapels at Annapolis, including a Jewish Read more
A high ranking member of the Air Force tears down posters at his base because he disagrees with their religious viewpoint. Think that’s actionable?
Michael Weinstein’s research assistant, Chris Rodda, once railed against a group of military Christian officers who had the gall to publicly state their Christian beliefs to an audience of fellow believers. Weinstein himself called for a General officer to be court-martialed for telling his subordinates about the ‘life rules’ he lived by — which included references to God. In these and other cases Weinstein and his acolytes have decried as illegal and unconstitutional the words of military members expressing portions of their religious faith. To be clear, there were no actions involved — only words consistent with the protected exercise of religious liberty.
It seems for a couple of military atheists, though, there’s certainly some action — and thus far, Weinstein has yet to defend “religious freedom” from their conduct:
An enlisted Airman recently introduced himself by his name and rank to a group of like-minded military atheists: Read more
A Bagram-based Chaplain “travels the base” — including working alternating day/night weeks — to make sure every Airman is “spiritually fit.” Chaplain (Capt) Myung Cho and his Chaplain Assistant, Staff Sgt. Frank Rivas, constantly work the base and even provide nearly a dozen opportunities for worship: Read more
Pentagon spokesman Nate Christensen stressed that the Defense Department celebrates religious diversity and that military personnel have the full right to exercise their religious beliefs, as long as doing so does not negatively affect the military’s mission or other individuals’ rights.
Tom Carpenter is a co-chair of the Forum on the Military Chaplaincy — a group that advocated for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — a 1970 US Naval Academy graduate, and a former US Marine A-4 pilot. He recently came out against religious freedom legislation now supported by the endorsing bodies of the vast majority of US military chaplains. (Carpenter recently repeated near-verbatim atheist talking points rebutting some of the most recent claims of hostility toward religious freedom in the military.)
In apparent shock, Carpenter said, for example: Read more
Michael Weinstein has threatened to file a lawsuit if Congress passes the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act with the religious liberty amendment intact.
Weinstein said that he would immediately sue if the amendment passes, calling it “completely unconstitutional.”
No one need worry. It seems every time you turn around Weinstein is threatening to sue someone. (For a short list, web search “Mikey Weinstein tell it to the judge.”) Weinstein followed through on his threats against the US military only four times (and lost every time). He then promised to appeal (“Technicality!” he cried)… and he then did nothing. He appears to know that saying “I’ll sue” will get him quoted in the press, which is all he really wants.
As an aside, it is somewhat entertaining to see how the Religion News Service described Weinstein: Read more
In a little noted message in April, the US Marine Corps quietly tweaked their uniform policies. One of the changes dealt with the wear of religious items.
According to the Marine Times,
According to the changes announced in Marine administrative message 207/13, signed April 17, Marines may now wear:
– Articles of religious apparel that are not visible or apparent when worn with the uniform.
– Visible articles of religious apparel with the uniform while attending or conducting religious services or while in a chapel or other house of worship.
– Visible articles of religious apparel with the uniform, but only with special approval.
The Marine Times staff writer, James Sanborn, was in awe Read more