“one religious scripture, the constitution”?

Published On: May 23, 2015|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|0 Comments|

Accessibility Notice

This post was created on the previous version of the MRFF website, and may not be fully accessible to users of assistive technology. If you need help accessing this content, please reach out via email.
The Constitution of the United States of America protects religious liberty in America, and that includes in the military. If a soldier fights to defend America, it is also constitutional protections for which he fights. Your point of view is contradictory. 
 
The first amendment of the Bill of Rights says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”.
(name withheld)

Dear (name withheld),

 

I am writing in response to your May 19, 2015 email to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (“MRFF”).  I have had the privilege of responding to many emails received by MRFF and I usually explain the mission of MRFF, as well as the requirements of the Constitution.  When the letter to which I am responding includes questions, I answer them, and when it includes statements that are misinformed, I correct them.

 

Yet, I am at a loss for how to respond to your email – specifically because everything you say is perfectly in line with the mission and work of MRFF.  You are correct that the brave men and women in our military have the right of religious freedom and that they fight for Constitutional protections.  MRFF is devoted to protecting and defending the religious freedom of all soldiers, sailors, Marine, cadets, and veteran and it has assisted thousands of service members who have suffered religious discrimination or persecution at the hands of their superiors.

 

You also correctly quote the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment, which set forth the exact rights MRFF seeks to defend.  These clauses work together to preserve religious liberty.  Thus, one of the ways MRFF protects the religious freedom of service members pursuant to the Free Exercise Clause is by ensuring that military leaders respect and adhere to the mandates of the Establishment Clause, which prohibits wrongfully endorsing one religious belief over others.

 

The only hint you give as to why you find MRFF’s point of view is in your subject line, “one religious scripture, the [C]onstitution?”  I assume you are referring to MRFF’s slogan, stating that, for members of the military, the only religious symbol is the flag, the only religious scripture is the Constitution, and the only religion is American patriotism.  Additionally, it seems that you are comparing this slogan somehow contradicts the Establishment Clause.  Of course, MRFF’s slogan is actually a metaphor, highlighting that service members, while free to practice the religious beliefs of their choice (or no religion at all), are sworn to uphold the Constitution as opposed to their personal religion.  This meaning should be plain since the flag, Constitution, and patriotism are clearly not religious symbols – and it would be impossible to violate the Establishment Clause by “establishing” that its mandates must be followed.

 

It seems to me that you agree entirely with the mission and work of MRFF.  Welcome!

 

Blessed be,

 

Tobanna Barker

MRFF Volunteer

Share This Story

Leave A Comment