Air Force Cadets

What problem specifically do you have with military cadets exercising their FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTED RIGHTS to freely practice their religious beliefs?

This is ON THE RECORD
Best Regards,
(name withheld)

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Good Day, (name withheld) –

Because of the volume of emails received by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), it is not possible for Mikey Weinstein to reply personally to each one. But Mikey has read your email, and he has asked me to respond. I’m happy to have the opportunity to do so — I am a volunteer who supports MRFF in a variety of ways, one of which is email correspondence.

I am also a graduate of the USAF Academy (Class of ’85), a former AF officer, and a Christian.

There are several thoughts that I’d like to share with you. I will endeavor not to make this email too lengthy, but First Amendment rights of military members is certainly an important topic and worthy of thoughtful dialogue. At the same time, I hope to be able to clear up what seems to be a misunderstanding on your part about the mission and goals of MRFF.

You have asked, “What problem specifically do you have with military cadets exercising their First Amendment protected rights to freely practice their religious beliefs?”

The answer is simple and unequivocal – MRFF has no problem with USAFA cadets (or any military member) being able to freely practice whatever religious belief (or non-belief) they may hold.

In fact, protecting the right to religious freedom of military members is at the very heart of our mission. MRFF is dedicated to ensuring that all members of the United States Armed Forces fully receive the Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom to which they and all Americans are entitled by virtue of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

As I alluded to in my introduction, I am a lifelong, devoted and active Christian myself. My involvement with MRFF came about as a result of my hearing of Mikey and MRFF in news stories related to my alma mater, USAFA. To be frank, my going-in posture was very much inclined toward dismissing and disagreeing with Mikey and MRFF. But by the end of my research and educational efforts, I had concluded that the efforts of MRFF to protect the religious freedom of all military members were legitimate, sincere, and necessary.

It seems to me that one reason there is a misperception about MRFF stems from the way it is misrepresented by some media outlets. Fox News Channel, for example, regularly describes MRFF as an “atheist organization” and often refers to Mikey Weinstein as a “prominent atheist”, when both assertions are provably false. The fact that an organization like FNC would continue to promote information that it knows is not true is a topic for another time. But what is pertinent to our dialogue here is that the vast majority of MRFF’s supporters (>75%) and clients (>96%) are people of faith, most of them Christians. Mikey himself is Jewish.

What brings all of us together is a deep love of our country, and a steadfast respect for the US Constitution. We desire nothing more than for the US military to protect the rights of every service member, and that includes respecting equally the religious beliefs (including non-belief) of each person. By both constitutional mandate and specific regulation, the US military must maintain a position of neutrality with respect to religion. When the balance tips, someone needs to speak up on behalf of military members who cannot easily speak for themselves — that is why there is a need for an organization like MRFF.

So what, then, does MRFF oppose? Again, the answer is simple and unequivocal – we oppose sectarian efforts to advance any specific religion or religious philosophy over any other religion or religious philosophy within the US Armed Forces.

The American people are a diverse bunch when it comes to religion. Christianity remains the dominant force (although even within the ranks of Christians there is a considerable range of dogma), but nearly a quarter of Americans align with other faith traditions or with no belief at all. Similarly, our military is comprised of a diverse group of patriots who follow a variety of religious beliefs (including non-belief). Each of these beliefs is entitled to equal consideration and protection, and each service member is entitled to live and work in an environment that is free of unwanted religious proselytization, evangelization or persuasion.

It is important to note that the standards that govern when and how an AF leader can express personal religious beliefs are clearly established by the Air Force’s own rules. Specifically, Air Force Instruction 1-1 requires AF leaders at all levels to avoid “the actual or apparent use of their position to promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates.” Note that there is no restriction on what an individual believes or how an individual chooses to practice personal religious beliefs – that right are sacrosanct and, as I mentioned already, MRFF fully supports every military member’s right to religious freedom. AFI 1-1 provides only a very reasonable level of control to prevent a leader from using his position of authority to promote a sectarian agenda, even if he is driven by good intentions.

There is much more that I could share, but hopefully this information will adequately answer the question you posed in your email. I’d be more than happy to have further dialogue with you, if you feel that I have not addressed something that is important to you.

Thanks again for writing to MRFF.

Peace,

Mike Challman
Christian, Veteran, MRFF Supporter

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If this “Mikey” as you call him has to delegate a VOLUNTEER to reply to an email from a member of the media with nothing more than feel good double speak then I will report what I will report based on the information I have from other sources.

(name withheld)

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I’m sorry to hear that. You should know that the vast majority of the MRFF organization is comprised of volunteers. While you seem to hold a puzzling disdain that role, it’s a very honorable American tradition and one that has served well many organization in our country for generations.

As to your assertion that my response is “nothing more than feel good double speak”, I’d beg to differ. What you received from me was a specific response to your specific question. Seems to me that perhaps you were already predisposed to reject whatever response was provided.

In any case, I don’t regret having taking the time to provide a thoughtful answer to your question, even if that is not what you were hoping to receive. As I mentioned in my previous email, this is an important issue and one that is near-and-dear to my own heart, both as a military veteran and as an involved US citizen.

I wish you well.

Mike

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Sadly, there are some Christians who believe that they have broken the code on who is a “true Christian” – unfortunately, that sort of sectarian bias only serves to create further division and even greater misunderstanding among Americans.

Given that you know nothing about me, I can only deduce that you are one of those individuals and so I will forgive your rudeness.

Again, I wish you well.

Mike

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When someone in the heirarchy of an organization prefers to delegate to a volunteer a response to a very pointed question from a member of the media, volumes can be deduced. I will leave that at that. As for your claim that not only was your answer thought provoking but that yoi are a Christian as well, frankly, I call BS on both counts. Tell your boss to try to be more forthright in the future.

(name withheld)

I’m sorry to hear that. You should know that the vast majority of the MRFF organization is comprised of volunteers. While you seem to hold a puzzling disdain that role, it’s a very honorable American tradition and one that has served well many organization in our country for generations.

As to your assertion that my response is “nothing more than feel good double speak”, I’d beg to differ. What you received from me was a specific response to your specific question. Seems to me that perhaps you were already predisposed to reject whatever response was provided.

In any case, I don’t regret having taking the time to provide a thoughtful answer to your question, even if that is not what you were hoping to receive. As I mentioned in my previous email, this is an important issue and one that is near-and-dear to my own heart, both as a military veteran and as an involved US citizen.

I wish you well.

Mike

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pray for yourself and your boss kid. And be advised I have requested you cease emailing me. ANY future emails will be immediately forwarded to the United States Attorney’s office as internet harrassment.

(name withheld)