Chaplain Bruno,
It has come to my attention that you are soliciting feedback on a “Cadets for Christ” ministry that operates on (or targets) USAFA (see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/cadets-for-christ-solicit_b_800382.html). I know religious freedom and the professional limitations of that freedom present a serious challenge. I don’t pretend to paint it as a simple issue. The First Amendment certainly leaves some ambiguity for citizens to debate. If it is correct that you are soliciting opinion on the “Cadets for Christ” ministry operating on USAFA, however, I would like to provide mine. The government should not be in the religion business and should dedicate no resources to the growth of religious movements. While the government must be sure not to “prohibit the free exercise” of religion by its citizens, it should not be facilitating it, beyond the degree to which it already facilitates free exercise for military personnel by providing the chaplain corps and chaplain services to meet the needs of individual airmen. That’s my opinion of course. As you know, others will differ with that assessment and some wish to make our government an armed missionary service. In my opinion, as a citizen, USAFA should not be opening its gates to any religious influences that peddle a religious agenda, including the Cadets for Christ. The government and the military have enough challenges to ponder beyond the spiritual and the goal of USAFA should be about a commission, and not the Great Commission. Cadets for Christ is not part of that commission and appears to be a hindrance to good order and discipline. Furthermore, USAFA facilitating this group gives the appearance of official favoritism toward Christianity. I urge you to consider any spiritual needs that are brought to you by individual cadets but to resist the marketing ploys and agendas of those who are ultimately unconcerned with the essential business of our military.
Very respectfully,
(name withheld)
