Toys for childlren

Dear MRFF:

As usual another left wing radical organization hides behind the constitution saying that it’s wrong to pass out presents to children at Christmas. I was in the US Air Force from 1968-1972. We did not have a problem with religion. We were concentrating on being the best airman we possibly could. To say it is a violation of the Constitution to pass out gifts to children by the AF Academy is ridiculous. Why don’t you people wake up and stop pushing your minority views on everyone else in America by hiding behind the Constitution? The purpose of the military is to defend our country. The founding fathers said that the country was not allowed to establish a national religion and people were FREE to practice and express what they believe. It did not mean that everything a Christian did should be called out and ridiculed. I get so tired of your ridiculous reasons for trying to prevent anyone from practicing their faith. Gen. Patton prayed during WWII for guidance and help. Abraham Lincoln prayed during the Civil War. Get with it folks and quit craming your views down everyone else’s throat. Just as you are free to express your opinions, so are those who believe in a higher power! You need to remember that. I would be very interested to know if any in your organization believe in this country or mainly believe in yourselves and how rich you have become. Get over it! What is wrong with giving gifts to children? Are you against that also? I’ll bet you wouldn’t have complained if they had a message about Islam in the gifts! Hiding behind the constitution because you are anti-faith is wrong. That is not the purpose of separation of church and state.

This is a quote from the article:
” The Military Religious Freedom Foundation said military commanders crossed the line when they promoted the gift program, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, an organization run by Franklin Graham.”
MikeyWeinstein, of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said an evangelical Christian message is also included in the boxes.
“This is a proselytizing entity of Franklin Graham,” said the group’s president, Mikey Weinstein. He filed a complaint on behalf of 132 Academy personnel including two sets of Muslim-American parents.”

(name withheld)

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Dear (name withheld)

Thank you for contacting the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).

We are not hiding behind the Constitution – we are defending it. And how do you hide behind the Constitution? It either means what it says or it doesn’t.

The first amendment in the Constitution states;
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion (establishment clause), or prohibiting the free exercise thereof (free exercise clause).”

The establishment clause stops the government from establishing one religion over another.

The free exercise clause gives people the freedom to believe in any religion they want or no religion at all.

No one has the right to impose their religion on other people.

First and foremost, we are not anti-Christian. In fact, there are many mainline Christians that volunteer with MRFF. I am one of them and I am an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God. Also, the California Council of Churches IMPACT with 5,500 churches supports us besides many individual churches, ministers and lay people. We are the most ardent supporter of the Constitution and the separation of church and state under the articles within it.

As a Christian I have filled and given many shoeboxes to Samaritans Purse. It filled my heart with joy knowing that some child was getting things he/she needed.

We at MRFF have absolutely no problem with the Chaplains instituting a call for “Samaritan’s Purse” within the confines of their church affiliation parishioner soldiers. What we do have a problem with is the Commander and other high ranking military endorsing an email to ALL soldiers – regardless of their religious beliefs or non-belief – for Christmas gifts under the guise of “Operation Christmas Child” which is deceptive in its true purpose.

The Commander is responsible for ensuring that soldiers and their families have the opportunity for the free exercise of religion.

The Chaplain is a special staff officer to the Commander and soldiers who want to attend church and receive religious support. It is the Chaplains job to alert his/her parishioners on any church activity.

There is a difference. The Commander’s job is to make sure his soldiers are free to exercise any religion they want or lack thereof. A Chaplains job is to be the religious guide for those seeking it.

The Gazette –

“The academy, which initially stood by its promotion of the charity, changed its tune Thursday evening, with an email to cadets that retracted an earlier missive asking for help with the program. The academy’s commandant of cadets Brig. Gen. Richard Clark called Weinstein Thursday with an apology.
“We agree that it was inappropriate,” said Lt. Col John Bryan, an academy spokesman.
The project has been handed over to the academy’s chaplains, who can legally take part and recruit support for religious endeavors.”
Brig. Gen. Richard Clark even admitted that it was inappropriate (illegal) and the academy’s Chaplains are now in charge, as they should be.

“Commanders have put “religious respect” training in place. In September, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz issued a memo to commanders that told them to avoid mixing religion with their military roles.
They must refrain from appearing to officially endorse religion generally or any particular religion,” Schwartz wrote.”
General Schwartz even issued a memo that supports our position.
We are not trying to take Christianity out of our military. If MRFF was attempting to do that I wouldn’t be volunteering for them. We are just trying to put religion back where it belongs – in the hands of the Chaplains.
I hope this clarifies what seems to be perceived as an attack on Christianity. We are more than grateful that those in charge at the USAFA have seen the illegality of their original position. Now the Chaplains are in charge and they can send the message on about their Christian activity to his/her parishioners.
My God bless your socks off!
Pastor Joan