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Published On: March 12, 2014|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|0 Comments|

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Dear Mikey,

Learn to read. You have freedom of religion not freedom from religion. A note on a cadet’s door is in no way breaking any rules or laws. This organization is just ignorant. Get a life and worry about yourself and stop worrying about other people’s business.

(name withheld)


Good Afternoon, (name withheld) –

Thanks for your email to MRFF. Mikey Weinstein has asked me if I’d like to reply – it is important to him that folks like you, who have taken the time to write, receive the courtesy of a direct response. I’m especially glad to reply because you mention something that is, in my opinion, one of the most misunderstood assumptions about the US Constitution and religion.

You say – “You have freedom of religion not freedom from religion.”

I’ve heard that said many times – probably even said it myself at one time – but it’s not accurate.

Rather – The US Constitution provides BOTH freedom of religion AND freedom from religion.

In more specific terms, there are two aspects to the protection of religious freedoms that is afforded to all Americans by our Constitution. They are the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause.

The first protection (Free Exercise Clause) means that each of us can hold whatever religious belief (including no belief) that we want – as you say, “freedom of religion.” The second protection (Establishment Clause) means that each of us is protected from the imposition of any particular religious belief by our government, either through laws or simply by promoting a particular dogma – in your words, “freedom from religion.”

The Establishment Clause is particularly important in our military, because the military is a government entity and as such it must remain neutral about religion. That also means that military members, particularly those in positions of leadership, have an obligation to balance their individual right of free expression with an obligation not to act in a way that favors or promotes one particular belief or religion.

Without a doubt, maintaining equilibrium between “freedom of religion” and “freedom from religion” is a delicate task, and it doesn’t take much to tip it out of balance – that can happen with as little as a scripture verse on a hallway whiteboard in a USAFA squadron area. But every military leader has a duty to support that balance at all times. One individual’s right to freely express a religious belief does not automatically trump another individual’s right to be free of undue religious influence. In the very hierarchical, superior-subordinate environment of the military, the leader MUST be the one to ensure that the Establishment Clause is honored, because the subordinate is in no position to do so.

It is for that reason that MRFF was founded and continues to operate – to help military members whose leaders have not upheld their part of the deal. And it is the protection of the rights of every military member that we who support MRFF worry about – we don’t believe it is someone else’s business, nor someone else’s problem. Personally, I am a USAFA graduate, and Air Force veteran, and a Christian – so these issues are very much part of “my business.”

When committed people decide to let it be someone else’s problem, the religious liberty of all of us will be imperiled.

Thanks again for writing.

Peace,

Mike Challman
Veteran, Christian, MRFF Supporter

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