Military Spouse Grateful to MRFF for Stopping Pressure for Daughter to Attend Commander’s “Purity Ball”

Published On: October 22, 2020|Categories: MRFF's Inbox, News, Top News|2 Comments|
Woman wearing wedding dress holding flowers, standing in front of man wearing suit

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From: MRFF Client/Spouse of Active Duty Service Member’s E-mail Address Withheld

Subject: Commander’s “Purity Ball”
Date: October 22, 2020 at 10:27:05 AM MDT

To everyone at the MILITARY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOUNDATION.

I am the wife of a military member in the U.S. (branch withheld) stationed at (military installation name withheld).
 
We are Christian and attend base chapel services occasionally.
 
My husband and I have (number of children withheld) kids. The reason I’m writing to thank you all is about our eldest daughter (name withheld) who is a teenager now.
 
A short while ago my husband and I were very pressured by his commander to participate in what is called a Christian “purity ball”.
 
This event was being put on by the commander’s hardline Christian church (off installation) and was supposed to “celebrate” our daughter’s virginity and have her make a pledge to remain sexually abstinent until her “wedding night”.
 
I just cannot tell you how distraught and appalled we were to have the commander pester and “encourage’ us nonstop to have my husband and our daughter attend and participate. I cried my eyes out as did our daughter.
 
This caused much anxiety and lost sleep for my husband myself and our daughter. I mean that guy is THE commander after all.
 
As if we needed more there was also enough of an issue about how the commander’s church would have handled social distancing in light of COVID at this event as that church (and my husband’s commander) is very very outspoken pro-Trump and anti-COVID protection measures. 
 
Our local MRFF Rep at (military installation name withheld) got us in touch with Mikey Weinstein who spoke to us late that same evening.
 
Mr. Weinstein got the contact information for my husband’s commander’s boss and we gave Mr. Weinstein the green light to try to fix this.
 
Two days later my husband was advised by our unit’s (military title withheld) that my husband’s commander was being fired and given a written reprimand for his advocation of attending his church’s  “purity ball” and his constant vocal support for Trump at official unit meetings and field exercises.. Turns out he was also using his command position during duty hours to pressure other (military branch withheld) families under his command besides ours to attend this “purity ball” and to vote for Trump..
 
Our whole family just cannot thank the whole MRFF enough for swooping in and saving the day for us and the other families here at (military installation withheld)!
 
Our local MRFF rep was also so accessible and willing to help.
 
My husband and I are so just sorry that the MRFF receives such hateful messages and threats. We cannot understand why that is?
 
You are wonderful people who help so many military families when no one else inside or outside of the military will do so.
 
We will spread the word about the MRFF far and wide. (Spouse’s name, address, phone number and military installation name & location all withheld)

 

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2 Comments

  1. Old_ColdWar_MP October 23, 2020 at 3:59 am

    Dear Military Family,
    It truly is a shame that you and those who serve in your spouse’s unit, and especially your children, have been put through this episode of bias and intrusion.

    I wish that our military leaders would find it within themselves to focus on the mission to train and support those under their command and refrain from using their command to impose their personal beliefs.

    The rigidness of respect for rank can make it quite difficult for those like us (I to experienced similar pressures when I served).

    Everyone in service today has volunteered for this duty in uniform. The beliefs of individual service members, and their families must be respected and done so without the service member fearing any repercussions, professionally or personally.

    I am happy that you found resolution to your problems and not at all surprised that MRFF was able to provide you assistance. It is a shame that your spouse’s commander did not understand the fullness of his professional responsibilities before losing his command. Perhaps this will be a learning opportunity for others in a similar situation.

    With Kindest Regards,

  2. Tom O October 23, 2020 at 2:55 pm

    “Perhaps this will be a learning opportunity for others in a similar situation.” More likely, it will be used by Trumpist theocrats to scream about how the evil atheistic MRFF is using the “coronavirus hoax” to justify “attacking Christianity,” and “promoting sexual promiscuity.”

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