Question

OUR CONSTITUTION, THE MILITARY & ANY RELIGION

The military mission is to defend our nation against its enemies – not promote any religion. The sworn military service oath is to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States…and bear true faith and allegiance to the same” – not to a religion or its writings. The US Constitution Bill of Rights (1^st Amendment) prohibits our secular government or its representatives (which includes the military) from promoting religion.

Religion is private whereas military service, funding and pay are public. Military personnel may privately practice a religion or no religion, but they may not lawfully use their military service, office or position to publicly promote private religious beliefs or impose them on other military members. This problem seldom arises when military leaders demonstrate intelligence, integrity and loyalty to the mission, oath and regulations.

Those who disrespect, disregard or deny our US Constitution, the sworn service oath and military regulations subject themselves to disciplinary action. Additionally, a Constitution introductory class and briefing on the legal significance of their sworn oath need to be mandatory. Those who choose not to support and defend our Constitution, honor their sworn oath or follow regulations have the right to seek a career in the civilian sector for private pay.

The United States Constitution Bill of Rights (1^st Amendment) provides 3 basic religious liberties, respectively, for all Americans:

1. Freedom from religion – our secular government is prevented from “respecting ” an establishment of religion (promoting, supporting, favoring or endorsing any religion). It is the right of all Americans to be free from religion imposed by the government or its representatives;

2. Freedom of religion – our secular government is prevented from “prohibiting” free exercise of religion. It is the right of all Americans to privately practice any religion or no religion provided it does not violate the rights of other Americans. It does not include the right of the government or its representatives to impose religion on Americans; and

3. Freedom to speak about religion – our secular government is prevented from “abridging” freedom of speech. It is the right of all Americans to speak publicly about religion provided it does not violate the rights of other Americans. It does not include the right of the government or its representatives to impose religious speech on Americans.

There should be no misunderstanding of the operative verbs in these first three clauses of the 1^st Amendment. All one has to do is first read them and then read the definitions of “respecting ”, “prohibiting ” or “abridging ” in any American dictionary.

Historic separation of church and state is a fundamental liberty of free people that keeps private religion out of public government and public government out of private religion. It was clearly the intent of our Founders as confirmed by the Constitution, indisputably documented by countless public records over 3 centuries, publicly acknowledged by every American President since Thomas Jefferson, continuously confirmed by our courts, and permanently embedded in the established law of our land. The Constitution also pointedly provides “no religious test ” shall ever be required as a qualification to any public office or public trust (Article VI). These are self-evident American truths history deniers and religious revisionists intentionally ignore and deceitfully dispute.

Simply stated, we Americans have the right to our own private religious or non-religious beliefs, but we must respect the right of others to determine and enjoy their beliefs (common sense clue – the same right we cherish for ourselves). This is timeless universal wisdom predating institutional religion known as the “GOLDEN RULE” and preached by Jesus in every New Testament version (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31). The self-righteous obsession of radicalized religionists to publicly force their private religious beliefs on others without extending them this basic human liberty exhibits the height of hypocrisy, rejects all moral teaching and creates continuous conflict.

The late American populist philosopher Will Rogers’ wisdom and warning  remain relevant today – “There is no argument in the world that carries the hatred that a religious belief one does.” (The Best of Will Rogers, Bryan Sterling, M. Evans & Company, 1979, page 193).

Founder and 3rd President Thomas Jefferson publicly penned and proclaimed the classic confirmation – “Believing…religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God…legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion’…thus building a wall of separation between church and state.” (Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress, January 1, 1802).

The late Republican President Ronald Reagan publicly acknowledged and applauded this critical Constitutional liberty in a public speech – “We establish no religion in this country, we command no worship, we mandate no belief, nor will we ever. Church and state are, and must remain, separate.” (Valley Stream, New York, October 26, 1984).

Christian evangelist Billy Graham publicly preached and praised constitutional separation of church and state in a sermon – “We enjoy the separation of church and state and no sectarian religion has ever been and we pray God, ever will be imposed upon us.” – (Washington National Cathedral, 1985).

John Compere

Brigadier General, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, US Army (Retired); former Chief Judge, US Army Court of Military Review; disabled American veteran (Vietnam); Military Religious Freedom Foundation Advisory Board Member; and Texas rancher.

Response from MRFF Supporter Mike Challman

Good Afternoon,  (name withheld) –

Thanks for taking the time to write to the MRFF, and thank you for your service.

Yes, I have served as a USAF officer.  In fact, a great many of us who support the efforts of the MRFF are either former or current military.  Some of us are also graduates of military academies (in my own case, USAFA Class of ’85).  So rest assured, when we talk about military service, we speak from a position of direct experience. Your email indicates you are a man of faith — blessings for that. I am a lifelong Christian myself and, like you, I credit God with protecting me and keeping me safe during many challenging times in my life, both inside and outside of the military.

But being a devout Christian does not mean that I don’t recognize and respect the Constitutional rights of non-Christians. On the contrary, I believe that I have a special obligation as a member of the majority religion in our country to ensure that we Christians do not trample upon the rights of the minority. Sadly, too many of our fellow Christians believe the lie that American is a Christian nation.  We are not.  We may have a majority of citizens who profess to be Christians, yet we are a nation of many beliefs (including non-belief). Our founding generation was prescient in crafting a Constitution which ensures that no particular religious belief is favored by our government (including our military). When such favoritism is inappropriately given, it threatens the foundation of all of our rights and protections.

That is why the MRFF exists and that is why we do what we do. We are 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. There is nothing complicated about that mission — we support ALL members of the US military, Christian and non-Christian, religious and non-religious, believer and non-believer.

Hope this information is helpful.  Thanks again for writing.

Peace,

Mike Challman

Christian, USAF veteran, MRFF supporter

Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Joan Slish