Religious Freedom

I’m unclear as to why you would assume that your email would not be read in its entirety.  Every email received at the MRFF gets read, typically by multiple people, and virtually every email also gets a response.  I don’t know if you have heard from others already, I got tied up this week and I’ve been slow in responding to emails myself.  As for who I am — I’m a volunteer who supports the MRFF in a variety of ways; I’m a lifelong, committed, and active Christian; I’m a USAF Academy graduate (’85); and I’m a USAF veteran.

To start with the question that you pose near the end of your note —

Question – ” What makes you think you have the right to attempt to tell me that I cannot be faithful to my religious beliefs where ever I am? ”

Response – Neither I nor anyone at the MRFF would ever presume to suggest such a thing.  With respect, it seems clear to me that you misunderstand what we are all about.  And I can tell you, from a personal perspective, that I practiced my Christian faith every day that I was in the Air Force.  I did so in how I treated others, and by striving to be a servant leader, and by trying at all times for my thoughts, words, actions, and attitude to be imbued with my Christian values.  But at the same time, I recognized that I had  an obligation as a military leader to avoid any actual or perceived proselytizing, promotion, or preference of my personal religious beliefs over those of other military members, particularly my subordinates.

I’m going to guess that you were motivated to write to us after reading about the Maj Gen Olson situation, so let’s look at those specifics for a moment.  Some of what you may have heard or read from conservative news outlets, which I also follow, did not tell the whole story.

First, you should know that the MRFF is neither anti-God nor anti-religion.  Many, in fact a majority, of MRFF supporters and clients are people faith, including me (as I’ve already mentioned).  We do not oppose any particular religion beliefs.

Equally importantly, you should also know that we fully support Maj Gen Olson’s right to his religious beliefs, as well as his right to express those beliefs in an appropriate time, place, and manner.

Our mission is to ensure 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.  Part of that focus is to expect that all military leaders, especially those at the most senior level, are cognizant of their professional obligations and that they act appropriately.

So if all of the points that I just mentioned are true (and they are), then why did we object so strongly to Gen Olson’s speech?

The key issue with Maj Gen Olson’s participation in the NDP Task Force event (which, by the way, was a private, sectarian event) is that he did it in an inappropriate manner, one which I believe is a pretty obvious violation of Air Force Instruction 1-1, Section 2.12 which governs the actions of all USAF leaders in this area.  It may help to read the specific guidance in that AFI:

“2.12. Balance of Free Exercise of Religion and Establishment Clause – Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for their own free exercise of religion, including individual expressions of religious beliefs, and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. They must ensure their words and actions cannot reasonably be construed to be officially endorsing or disapproving of, or extending preferential treatment for any faith, belief, or absence of belief.”

There are two important things to take away from that paragraph.  First, military leaders do not possess an unfettered right to free expression of their religious beliefs at any time, in any place, or in any manner.  While that may be true for civilians, not so for military members and especially for leaders.  So, all of the commentary that is flying about claiming that Maj Gen Olson has an absolute First Amendment right to express his beliefs is uninformed and incorrect.

Second, the final sentence of Section 2.12 is critically important.  Please take a moment to read that sentence, then reflect upon the particulars of the General’s speech at the NDP Task Force event

— He appeared in full uniform

— He did not make any statement to suggest that he was speaking strictly as an individual and not as a USAF leader, even though he was speaking to a private, sectarian group and was not there in any sort of official capacity

— Most seriously, at the end of his speech he expressed a belief that the Defense Department, and all US troops, all should “depend on Christ”     (as an aside… how do you think that went over with the many non-Christians in Maj Gen Olson’s chain of command?)

Put it all together, and he was over the line that is plainly described in AFI 1-1 for all USAF leaders.

So again, the issue is not that he spoke about his faith — it’s that he did so in a manner that conflated his personal views with his official position, and that was inappropriate.  As a Christian and former USAF officer myself, I understand very well the sentiment that he expressed in his speech — but again, the specific content of what he shared is not the issue.

Personally, I’m glad that Maj Gen Olson has such strong, heartfelt beliefs.  But I’m sad that he didn’t take the time to consider how the manner in which he appeared at this event might be construed, and that he didn’t take more care to ensure a clear delineation between his personal religious beliefs and his professional obligations.

You mention in your note that during your own military tenure you never missed a chance to go to a Church service on a Sunday.  It makes no difference what denomination, I had the right to do so.  I accepted and exercised that right.  For what it’s worth, I did the same (and still do to this day)… but you should understand that the MRFF has no interest in taking that right away from anyone. All we ask is that military leaders follow the Constitution, and their own Instructions, with respect to religious expression.

Hope this information is helpful. I’d be happy to continue this dialogue if you are interested.

Peace,

Mike Challman
Christian, USAF veteran, MRFF supporter