PAGAN RELIGIOUS

Dear Mikey,

I understand that you guys hate GOD, and the GOD of the Bible, that you have “Historical Ignorance” on how and why our country was founded.

its sad but I Get it. I have been ignorant on many things. Jesus said. ” if the world hates you, remember they hated me first.

I Cant make you believe in GOD.

I don’t attempt to. but why can you run all over the places spending your money on hate towards Christianity?

going to this base and that base having the ‘nativity scene taken down because you hate it?

BUT you never say anything about “santa claus” “halloween ” the “easter bunny” their is absolutely nothing on your web site about getting these PAGAN RELIGIOUS traditions taken out of the bases, every base I have seen has Santa visits, tree lighting, easter egg hunts, halloween parties and dress up days. and its all supported by the Government.

BUT YOU AND YOUR GROUPIES don’t say a word about it.that I have seen. NOTHING.

but yet you hate christianity, and that kind of thing.

so you really should call yourselves

“the freedom from CHRIST in the military Organization” LOL.

if you don’t like our country then leave go to Iraq and if you don’t believe in Allah you no what happens. in the U.S. WE HAVE FREEDOM to believe in what we want even our military members. NO BODY forced You to look at the Nativity. so if it offends you, TURN YOUR HEAD and leave our country alone. If i have to turn my head when I see a fat fake “santa clause” on base because we live in a FREE country. then you and your American haters can turn your head. thank you. good day.

(name withheld)

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Dear (name withheld),

Mikey has read your email and asked me to respond.

Where in the word did you get the idea that we hate God and the God of the bible?

Let me tell you what the media won’t tell you because it wouldn’t get you as angry as you are now.

Mikey and the MRFF DO NOT act on their own but on the COMPLAINTS OF SOLDIERS who see the blatant disregard for the Constitution and military law where religion is concerned. Maybe I should forward your email to the Military Times – complete with your email address – and have them contact you directly. I’m sure the soldiers would love to hear from you.

We are not an atheist organization nor are we anti-Christian. Mikey is Jewish and 75% of the Board, Advisory Board, volunteers and supporters of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) are Christians. In fact, 96% of our almost 36,000 soldier clients (1 can represent 50) are Christians. So, we fight for the rights of Christians more than any other religion.

If you go to our website and click on “About” and the “Foundation Voices” you will see that we also have distinguished military personnel on our Advisory Board that we rely on for their expertise on what can and cannot be done on military bases. I think they know more than you do.

We follow the strict guidelines of the Constitution, military law, and the Supreme Court.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment (Establishment Clause) of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise (Free Exercise Clause) thereof . . . “(1st Amendment)

The Supreme Court heard the Lemon v. Kurtzman case in 1971 and ruled in favor of the Establishment Clause.

Subsequent to this decision, the Supreme Court has applied a three-pronged test to determine whether government action comports with the Establishment Clause, known as the “Lemon Test”

Lemon Test:

1. Any law or policy must have been adopted with a neutral or non-religious purpose.
2. The principle or primary effect of any law or policy must be one that neither advances nor inhibits religion.
3. The statute or policy must not result in an “excessive entanglement” of government with religion.

If any government entity’s actions fit into one of these three, then it is a violation of the Establishment Clause.

The Nativity scene at GTMO was placed in the secular dining hall against the law. It is now on Chapel grounds.

As far as Shaw AFB, there are strict rules on religious neutrality.

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
Air Force Instruction 1-1
7 August 2012

2.11. Government Neutrality Regarding Religion. Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for an individual’s free exercise of religion or other personal beliefs and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. For example, they must avoid the actual or apparent use of their position to promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion. Commanders or supervisors who engage in such behavior may cause members to doubt their impartiality and objectivity. The potential result is a degradation of the unit’s morale, good order, and discipline. Airmen, especially commanders and supervisors, must ensure that in exercising their right of religious free expression, they do not degrade morale, good order, and discipline in the Air Force or degrade the trust and confidence that the public has in the United States Air Force.

The Commander at Shaw AFB allowed an outside church – not airmen – to place the Nativity scene by the lake which is a secular area. We had 41 OFFICERS complain and 39 of them are CHRISTIAN.

Our military is a government entity and must remain secular. All religious holidays, feasts and obligations are to be in the hands of the Chaplains on Chapel grounds – not Commanders. This is legal and we encourage it. The Christians can put up a tree, a Nativity scene and any other decorations they want on their grounds – not just any place on base they want.

The Nativity scene is back on Chapel grounds where it belongs.

This country doesn’t belong to only you and Christians. It belongs to everyone and every religion. The majority doesn’t rule this country where religion is concerned.

“so you really should call yourselves ‘the freedom from CHRIST in the military Organization’ LOL.”

You think this is funny??? Well, I don’t think so and neither do the other Christians involved with the MRFF and the Christian soldiers we help.

Save your pitiful jokes for someone who cares about what you think.

Pastor Joan (ordained in the Assemblies of God)
MRFF Advisory Board member