CSINDY – Weinstein: State ruling has big implications for AFA

Selected Article Excerpts:

• It only happened days ago, but the Colorado Court of Appeals’ decision to throw out Colorado’s Day of Prayer on the grounds that it’s unconstitutional, is already having an unexpected impact.

• Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, says the ruling means that the U.S. Air Force Academy should cancel its Annual Prayer Breakfast and related events to comply with the ruling. While federal institutions don’t normally need to comply with state laws in this way, Weinstein says the AFA should have to, because the military school already stated that it was following state law when it forbade same-sex couples from marrying on campus. (See “Wedding Bell Blues.”)

• Same-sex marriage is illegal in Colorado. Under a directive of the Department of Defense, same-sex marriages are only allowed on military campuses in states where the ceremonies are legal.

• But if the AFA is following state law when it forbids same-sex ceremonies, Weinstein reasons, than it should also follow the state’s lead in canceling government-sponsored religious events. Alternately, Weinstein says, the AFA could simply revert its position and reassert its right to operate outside of state law, by allowing same-sex marriages on the campus.

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