MRFF’s Ally California Church IMPACT Opposes former Chaplain Klingenschmitt’s petition…

April 27, 2010

Hon. Dr. Robert M. Gates
Secretary of Defense
1260 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330

Dear Secretary Gates:

It has come to our attention that former chaplain James Klingenschmitt is championing a petition drive asking that evangelist Franklin Graham be re-invited to pray with our nation’s troops at the National Day of Prayer despite his open anti-Islamic hostility. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation successfully worked to oppose Mr. Graham’s presence, and Mr. Klingenschmitt, an avowed enemy of MRFF and its founder, Mikey Weinstein, is merely seeking personal revenge in this matter. We wholeheartedly support the work of MRFF and Mr. Weinstein as champions of all religious freedom. We urge you to reject assertions to the contrary.

We live in troubled times, and giving priority in faith matters to Mr. Graham can make them only worse. We represent 5500 congregations within 21 mainstream Protestant denominations that have over 6.5 million members just within California. We have been offended by Mr. Graham’s portrayal of his own faith as “the” voice of Christianity. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mr. Graham certainly does not speak for us, the time-honored U.S. Christian traditions.

A significant part of our members’ work is building bridges with Muslims in America, and Mr. Graham does that harm. It helps no one to have prayers led by a man who systematically reviles and denigrates those who do not share his vision. Our military must not offer a platform for the dissemination of bias especially in front of our armed forces who are themselves trying to build bridges with Muslims overseas.

We ask that former chaplain Klingenschmitt’s petition be rejected and that you affirm our nation’s commitment to religious diversity by standing firmly on the existing decision to un-invite Mr. Graham. We want our military to be the first line of defense for religious freedom, and that makes it essential that whoever speaks embraces the vast diversity of belief under the First Amendment. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Rev. Dr. Rick Schlosser
Executive Director

Elizabeth Sholes
Director of Public Policy

California Church IMPACT: 5500 congregations within 21 mainstream Protestant denominations with over 6.5 million members

Represented Congregations:
African Methodist Episcopal Church • African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church • American Baptist Churches of the West • Armenian Church of America • Christian Methodist Episcopal Church • Churches of the Brethren • Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) • Community of Christ • The Episcopal Church • Ethiopian Orthodox Church • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America • Greek Orthodox Church • Independent Catholic Churches International • Metropolitan Community Church • Moravian Church in America • National Baptist Convention • Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) • Reformed Church in America • Swedenborgian Church • United Church of Christ • United Methodist Church • Church Women United • Orthodox Clergy Council