Tag Archives: religious freedom

DoD Publishes Transgender Implementation Handbook

transbookThe Department of Defense has published “An Implementation Handbook” to “Transgender Service in the US Military” (as a PDF). While apparently trying to be helpful, it contains a lot of “it depends” type answers. For example, will a Soldier get in trouble for using the “wrong” pronoun with respect to someone who is a male but claims to be female [emphasis added]?

Question: What pronouns should I use with transgender Service members?

Answer: This will vary by individual and unit. Transgender Service members should Read more

Air Force Chaplain, US Troops Gain Perspective on Deployment

chaphonduras1US Air Force Chaplain (Capt) Timothy Dahl was recently deployed to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, with Joint Task Force Bravo. Though not a traditional “combat” deployment (which makes the reference to “outside the wire” awkward), the trip provided many opportunities for both Dahl and those he served to expand their perspectives on the world:

We had nine orphanages that we were responsible for getting volunteers for. Almost every Saturday and some Sundays we had a group going out.

“One time we went into the mountains to check out a potential hike location beforehand and we saw a family bathing in a very deep ditch with lots of nasty water,” said Dahl. “They have no [plumbing] system in the mountains. I felt very blessed about where I got to sleep and bathe that night.

“It’s really easy for me to complain about my life,” added Dahl. “It’s really Read more

Mikey Weinstein Accused of Clickbait — by His Own Supporters

Most people who follow military issues know US Army MajGen Wayne Grigsby was fired suddenly this week for an undisclosed reason. The mystery around why has attracted and kept the media’s attention, particularly as they’ve looked into his past and noted he was a relatively uncontroversial commander at Fort Riley, Kansas. The only newsworthy event, in fact, was a complaint from Michael “Mikey” Weinstein months ago about retired LtGen Jerry Boykin speaking at a prayer event.

And that’s enough of a connection for Mikey Weinstein, who has vaunted the same story a half dozen times over the past week. While he has repeatedly proclaimed “MRFF in the news!”, he’s left even some of his own supporters scratching their heads. Referring to one of Weinstein’s self-aggrandizing posts, a supporter said [emphasis added]:

This…has some serious click bait issues…There is no real meat to the story. There is mention of Gen Boykin but nothing links Grigsby to any MRFF Hot Button issues.

That’s an astute observation by someone who normally defends Weinstein. Weinstein is Read more

Sikhs Still Seeking Tolerance, Acceptance by US Military

sikhtrioDespite claims by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter that tolerance is “a practical necessity” in the US military — and that nothing unrelated to someone’s qualifications should prevent them from serving — people who are prevented from serving for reasons other than sexuality aren’t reaping the fruits of that newfound practical “tolerance.”

Maj. Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi was recently in the news — and at the Democratic National Convention — highlighting the continued fight for Sikhs to gain Read more

Donald Trump, “One God,” and Religious Liberty in America

NPR’s Weekend Edition recently ran a story in which it highlighted “divisive” Presidential candidate Donald Trump for his use of the mantra that America should unify under “one God.”

Donald Trump has been repeating the phrase “One people under one God.” Critics say it could be interpreted as running counter to the American tradition of religious freedom.

The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty — a liberal leaning Baptist organization — took up that cause, saying it “raise[d] religious liberty concerns” [emphasis added]: Read more

US Government Launches “Broadside Against Religious Faith”

A stinging rebuke of the American government’s take on religious liberty was recently launched not from self-righteous, supremacist Christians, but from two Rabbis of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights group. Rabbi Abraham Cooper and Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein targeted the recently released, 300-page report (PDF) by the US Commission on Civil Rights, saying [emphasis added]:

[The report says], in part, is that Americans need to be protected from Bible-thumpers, and anyone else whose beliefs run afoul of the administration’s PC police. Religious folk need not apply.

The pair took aim at the report’s citation of President John Adams having said Read more

Homosexuality has made the US Military Stronger than Ever

Multiple news outlets reported on Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter’s statement about the 5-year anniversary of the repeal of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The most quoted line:

I am proud to report that five years after the implementation of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” our military…is stronger than ever…

In reality, that statement doesn’t say anything. Insert just about any subject matter and time period and the sentence’s assertion wouldn’t change.

The implication, though, and the conclusion trumpeted by gay rights advocates, is that the US military is stronger because of the repeal of DADT.

Naturally, Read more

Column: US Military Silencing Christian Chaplains

Andrew Miller of the Philadelphia Trumpet — a “prophetic” magazine of the Philadelphia Church of God — recently wrote the US military is making it “illegal for Christian chaplains to give Bible-based advice“. While consistently (and unnecessarily) tying his argument to President Obama, Miller cites three specific events:

The military…has made it known that Christian chaplains are expected to enthusiastically endorse homosexual activity in the ranks, regardless of their religious beliefs.

In 2010, Adm. Michael Mullen told a chaplain who opposed the repeal of the military’s ban on openly homosexual service members, “If you cannot get in line, resign your commission.”

Miller also cited the case of US Navy Chaplain Wes Modder, who was “targeted” by a fellow Sailor who tried to get him kicked out over the tenets of his faith.

Finally, he recalls the case of US Army Chaplain (Capt) Joseph Lawhorn:  Read more

1 … 83 84 85 86 87 … 286