POLITICUSUSA – Religious Right Freaks out When Air Force Academy Obeys Constitution

Published On: October 29, 2013|Categories: Top News|0 Comments|

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Selected Article Excerpts:

  • For Tony Perkins, religious freedom is FORCING Air Force cadets to say “So help me God” at the end of their Honor Oath. The Air Force says cadets are no longer required to do so, though they MAY do so if they wish. Tony Perkins says “anti-Christian crusader” Mikey Weinstein is to blame for the Constitution being followed.The oath is as follows: “We will not lie, steal or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does. Furthermore, I resolve to do my duty and to live honorably, so help me God.”The Military Religious Freedom Foundation had objected to the oath. As Mikey Weinstein pointed out, the oath violated the “no religious test” clause, Article VI of the U.S. Constitution.”You cannot have anyone swear an oath to a supreme being to take a position in the federal government.. What we’re talking about is civil rights.”
  • The final decision was a compromise. Mikey Weinstein wanted the words dropped from the oath altogether because those choosing to not say the words will feel pressured. “It exacts an unconstitutional toll on religious objectors. Everyone knows you’re not playing for the right team.”The Air Force Academy’s Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, said in a statement Friday that dropping the requirement to say “so help me God” – but not dropping “so help me God” from the oath, respects cadets’ freedom of religion.
  • But Tony Perkins said yesterday, in effect, “how dare you NOT force your cadets to be Christians! That VIOLATES our religious freedom to force everybody to be Christian!”You’d think even Tony Perkins would be shocked by his reaction. How does anyone take the idea of religious freedom to mean the opposite of religious freedom?
  • No more clearer example exists of what we can expect should Perkins and his crowd prevail: forcing everybody else to be a Christian is the Religious Right’s idea of “religious freedom.” To add insult to injury, Perkins used an invented story about George Washington to sustain his myth (I covered the Religious Right’s need for a fantasy world in yesterday’s post). Perkins claimed,Lieutenant General Michelle Johnson said the oath is being reviewed because the Academy values an inclusive environment that promotes dignity and respect for all. Really? Does that include those like General George Washington who initiated the phrase, “So help me God,” or does that inclusion only make room for those who want to dismantle America’s Christian heritage?
  • But Washington never said “So help me God.” The claim that he did was never made at the time, or even in his own lifetime.

Click to read at PoliticusUSA

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