MRFF Advisory Board Member Larry Wilkerson, along with other MRFF Advisory Board Members, a MRFF Board Member, and MRFF supporters correct a woefully misinformed detractor about the “Intentions” of MRFF

On Apr 8, 2023, at 2:50 PM, (name withheld) wrote:

Your organization only promotes atheism as the government religion.  It is the extremism supported and pushed by you.  I find it disgusting that the sole focus of this organization is to attack and promote vicious hostility towards Christians, and you show show no tolerance for any belief but your own, which is just bullying.  Where this country was once a melting pot of people and ideas, you have become the fascists of our time.

(name withheld)

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Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Larry Wilkerson

From: Larry Wilkerson
Subject: Fwd: Intentions
Date: April 9, 2023 at 9:53:31 AM EDT
To: (name withheld)

(name withheld):

Mikey Weinstein asked me to respond to your email below.  I’m a member of the advisory board of the MRFF, a 31-year veteran of the US Army, a former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, and of late an outspoken critic of U.S. foreign and security policy, particularly regarding such activities as state-sponsored torture and unwarranted aggression — but also, and as energetically as I can manage, so-called “Christian Nationalism”, as much a peril to the sanctity of our democracy as any external threat. 

Combating such activity is part of the MRFF’s mission.  Please note that I did not say “combating genuine Christianity”, or in other words what Christ himself taught.  Christian nationalism has nothing to do with Christ and everything to do with advocating for war in the Middle East in order to bring about “The Rapture”, or “The End Times”.

In no way, fashion or form does the MRFF promote atheism, as you contend.  Nor does it promote any other form of religion at the exclusion of others, or absence of religion or agnosticism about such things.  It does promote the U.S. Constitution, separation of state and religion in accordance with that Constitution, and thus freedom of religion.  Every citizen is free to elect whatever belief they choose in that regard, or no belief at all.  Unlike the Christian Nationalists, we do not believe government has any role at all in religion except to ensure that very freedom to the extent it can.   So, you are dead wrong in your assertions.  It is you, in fact, who are the fascist.

It is the MRFF’s defined purpose to ensure the melting pot of which you speak is intact — with every religion under the sun practiced therein, or no religion whatsoever, if that is what some of the people choose. And history reflects clearly that such a melting pot will allow “a hundred flowers to bloom”, as Mao Tse Tung once described such prolific choice.  Mao later corrupted his vision by cracking down ruthlessly on those who “bloomed” with whom he did not agree.  That is not MRFF’s intention; but it does seem to be yours and many others like you.  

Lawrence Wilkerson
Colonel, US Army (Retired)
MRFF Advisory Board Member 

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Response from MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein

From: Mikey Weinstein
Subject: Re: Intentions
Date: April 8, 2023 at 2:52:29 PM EDT
To: (name withheld)

…don’t know where you’re getting your information from, (name withheld), but it’s 100% wrong, lady!!…get your damn facts straight before throwing stones!!!…..Mikey Weinstein….

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Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Martin France

On Apr 8, 2023, at 4:01 PM, Martin France wrote:

(name withheld) where do you get that we’re all atheists?  Please cite your source.  In fact, well over 90% of all MRFF clients and staff members are practicing Christians.  In fact, however, they are practicing Christians that happen to have a deep belief and commitment in our Constitution and the oath all in the military take to protect and defend the Constitution as part of their service obligation.  We fight so that ALL may serve on an equal basis.  We believe that there is no single religious perspective that is a necessary or sufficient condition for military service.  As one who’s felt the sting and consequences of religious bias and seen it inflicted on others, I’m committed to make sure that the MRFF accomplishes its goals.  You initial assumption is just flat wrong–it’s a logical error on your part.   What is our “own” belief?  Some are Jewish, some are Muslim, some are atheist, others agnostic, some Hindu, MOST are Christian.  And remember, a “melting pot” doesnt’ mean that all adapt to YOUR Christian beliefs to integrate into our society and serve our nation.  We push no specific belief because the Constitution MANDATES that there be no established religion in our nation nor any religious TEST to serve.  Please read the Constitution, and my words.  I look forward to your response once you have.

Sincerely
Marty France, PhD
Brigadier General, USAF (Retired)
MRFF Advisory Board Member 

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Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Mike Farrell

On Apr 8, 2023, at 6:09 PM, Mike wrote:

Dear (name withheld),

You apparently know very little about our organization. I find it’s often true that people who attack the MRFF do so because they’re ignorant of the facts and, as is commonly the case, have been misinformed about us by people of ill intent. Others who choose to do so are just stupid.

Ignorance can be cured by information, which we’re happy to provide. Stupidity, on the other hand, tends to be either stubbornly maintained or, in too many cases, permanent.

So, in hope, let me provide you with some information.

The MRFF does not promote atheism. We feel all are welcome to whatever belief system they choose and should be free to do so. As it happens, most of those involved with the MRFF are Christians, some of them members of the clergy.

The MRFF does not support extremism. It supports the U.S. Constitution and the laws and principles derived therefrom, most particularly the separation of church and state.

Contrary to your assertion, our “sole focus” has nothing to do with attacking or promoting “vicious hostility towards Christians”, it is to promote and support the separation of church and state so that all members of the U.S. Military are not only free to believe as they choose but are safe in doing so.

As you may be aware, Christianity is the predominant religious belief system in our country, as our supporters demonstrate. It is not the only one, however, and some tend to forget that others’ beliefs are just as important to them as, for example, yours are to you.

To avoid any confusion as to the rights we all have, the separation of church and state was established to ensure that the U.S. Government and all its attendant parts, agencies and agents, do not in any way, either implicitly or explicitly, appear to support or promote one belief system over others.

Our work is to help ensure that that is the case.

While you or those who misled you may find the MRFF to be weighing in in situations that put us at odds with a person or group that is or appears to be promoting Christianity, it is not the faith we are contending with, it is the attempt to improperly promote said faith, to do so in a manner that suggests the U.S. Government is endorsing it over others.

As you may be aware, people quite often take their beliefs very seriously. Some do so so seriously that they feel impelled to proselytize, to spread what is to them the one true faith far and wide.

We have no problem with that, except when it involves, or appears to involve, an element of the United States Government, which cannot be engaged in such behavior.

I hope this helps you better understand the work of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

Mike Farrell
(MRFF Board of Advisors)

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Response from MRFF Board Member John Compere

On Apr 8, 2023, at 7:14 PM, John Compere wrote:

Your acrimonious attack and nefarious name-calling against fellow Americans you do not know reflect only on yourself and reveal only your ignorance.

For your enlightenment, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is an American non-profit civil rights advocacy organization, founded in 2005, nominated 7 times for the Nobel Peace Prize and composed of 900 volunteer and paid staff of Americans (84% are Christians). We have represented over 83,000 American military men and women (95% are Christians) who requested their right to religious freedom guaranteed them by the United States Constitution, Department of Defense directives and Armed Forces regulations be protected. We represent the religious freedom of military members of all faiths and beliefs when requested by them and will continue to do so.

Hate mail such as yours only encourages us to work harder and only increases our support among patriotic Americans with knowledge of our efforts.

Sincerely,
Brigadier General John Compere, US Army (Retired)
Disabled American Veteran (Vietnam Era)
Board Member, Military Religious Freedom Foundation

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Response from MRFF Supporter Rabbi Joel Schwartzman

On Apr 8, 2023, at 8:04 PM, Rabbi Joel Schwartzman wrote:

Dear (name withheld) (or Whatever Bot wrote this Email):

I must begin by wondering if you are literate?  Are you?  If so, how can you read the MRFF’s web page and not understand that the MRFF promotes all religions and no religion just as long as no one is using the military and their rank or position to foist their views on subordinates and force them to attend religious gatherings, read religious books and say religious prayers (or non-religious prayers and the like) just because these subordinates’ careers might otherwise be in jeopardy.

What concerns the MRFF above all things is that military members follow the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) and that all military personnel and their civilian counterparts adhere to the their oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.  How could you even begin to imagine that the MRFF promotes atheism? Furthermore, I can’t fathom from what comic book you derived the absurd notion that the MRFF is anything remotely fascistic.  I wonder if you even know what the word, “fascist,” means?

Lastly, the idea that the MRFF is an anti-Christian organization would be altogether laughable if you could quote anything other than Christian-supercessionist literature to prove your point ( and you don’t even do that!).  To be taken even remotely seriously, you ought to do better than to throw around words you don’t seem to understand and accusations you can’t seem to substantiate.

My advice is: 1) learn to do some research before you begin throwing epithets and making baseless assumptions; 2) read some source documents like the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights and 3) make a donation to the MRFF because you need to have someone more learned than you obviously are school you so that you do not again come off sounding like the misinformed and misguided person your email makes you out to be.

Ch, Col, USAF (Ret) Joel R. Schwartzman
Charlottesville, VA

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Response from MRFF Supporter

On Apr 8, 2023, at 10:36 PM, (name withheld) wrote:

The MRFF supports the Constitution by guarding against ANY “government religion.” They are fighting the extremism of people who call themselves Christians but actually do not understand Jesus’s commands. I find it embarrassing, as a lifelong Christian & pastor’s daughter, that those so-called Christians are capable of being as hateful as they are. I’ve known Mr. Weinstein for over 50 years, and he has the utmost tolerance for our differences, and, in fact, gets more annoyed over our political disagreements than religious ones. Being a melting pot means that we all follow the Constitution, which is what the MRFF does. They don’t care whom or what you worship; they care that you aren’t forcing it on any other American. Remove the log from your own eye.

(name withheld)

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Response from MRFF Supporter Elizabeth Sholes

On Apr 9, 2023, at 12:48 PM, wrote:

Dear (name withheld)-

Happy Easter, a day filled with hope and renewal for those who embrace Christianity.  May you and your family have the peace and joy embedded in that promise.

I read your email to Mikey Weinstein and found it rather odd.  It’s certainly not why we support his work at all.  We represent 21 denomination in the mainline Protestant communities of faith including some that are evanglical.  MRFF gives power to the issue of religious freedom – freedom for all people – that allows us, as Christians, to observe every single aspect of our faith, however we see it.  That is a glory both as Christians and Americans.  What MRFF does is restrict “forced religion”, especially that exercised on our troops by command staff, that interferes with that very freedom embedded in the First Amendment.  I imagine you’re comfortable in your own denominational body of Christianity whatever it may be.  If you are Evangelical, I doubt you’d like to be forced to observe your faith – your Easter – through the prism of Catholicism, and vice versa. 

I have roots in the Puritans of early New England. They were quite wonderful people up to a point. But they forbade anyone to diverge from their Congregationalist views of predestination (with no hope of redemption on earth), of conformity, and of forced tax support of their churches. They expelled the first Evangelical, Roger Williams, and they forbade Catholics, Anglicans, and Quakers to exist in Massachusetts at all.  Forced compliance with a single view of faith was in no small part why the First Amendment exists.  Diversity within Christianity was forbidden in New England along with intolerance of any non Christian views.  Where would you be if we still had mandated religion?  

Many of our wonderful enlisted troops and officers aren’t even Christian, but they have the same First Amendment rights you and I do.  Those who are Christian are Evangelical, Pentecostal, mainline Protestant, and Catholic.  Even among us we have those differences, and we need to honor that, not impose one version over others.  MRFF celebrates our right to follow our own consciences, our own Light.  The whole point of MRFF’s work is freedom and liberty.  That is why we support him and his foundation.  It’s for all of us, Christian and non-Christian.   That’s what America is all about.

Joy to you and yours today and in the future.  

Elizabeth Sholes
Public Policy Advocate
California Council of Churches/IMPACT

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Response from MRFF Supporter Mike Challman

On Apr 10, 2023, at 9:41 AM, Mike Challman wrote:

Good Day, (name withheld) – 

Mikey Weinstein shared your email with me the other day and asked if I’d like to offer a response.  Sorry for the delayed reply, I just now saw his note to me.  But after reading your own note, I think it is important that you hear from someone like me.  I’m sure it doesn’t surprise you that I’m a long-time supporter of the MRFF.  What might surprise you is that I’m also a life-long, committed and active Christian, an Air Force veteran, and a Blue Star Dad (my youngest son serves on active duty today).

I can assure you that the MRFF does not “promote atheism as the government religion.”  I can also assure you that the MRFF does not now, nor never has, been intolerant toward anyone’s religious beliefs.  If that were the case, I guarantee that I would stand opposed to its efforts… but that is simply not what the MRFF does.  Rather, 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.  When we say “all members”, we mean ALL members – Christians, non-Christians, religious, non-religious, believers, non-believers, and so on and so on.  

When I first learned about the MRFF some years ago, I approached the organization from a perspective that was not unlike your own.  I assumed, based on what I’d read in some media, that the MRFF was anti-Christian specifically, and anti-religion generally.  I quickly learned that those media reports were inaccurate – in many cases intentionally so, in order to promote a false narrative.  After doing my own research, which included engaging Mikey Weinstein directly, I came to understand and appreciate the true purpose of the MRFF.  As I’ve already said, I became a supporter at that time and remain so today.

The MRFF has never opposed the religious beliefs (or non-belief) of any member of the US military.  We ONLY oppose inappropriate ACTIONS, which unfortunately are most often committed by some of my Christian brethren.  As you probably know, the US military is a unique culture in which members surrender a lot of their personal freedom in support of the greater mission.  That means the leaders within military organizations have a tremendous amount of control over their subordinates.  I was an Air Force officer for a number of years after graduating from the US Air Force Academy, so I have direct experience as both a leader and a subordinate.  When a military leader improperly uses his or her position to promote a personal religious belief, that is an improper action.  Because of the strict hierarchical nature of the military, subordinate members cannot easily address such inappropriate actions.  That is the reason for the existence of the MRFF – to speak on behalf of those subordinate members.

There is much more I could share with you, if you are interested in having a dialogue.  And I’d be happy to address any specific questions or concerns about what you may have read or heard about the MRFF.  Just as the MRFF believes strongly in the right of military members to be free of inappropriate influence or pressure from their leaders, I believe in your right to form your own opinion about the MRFF.  I just think it should be based on accurate information.  So if you’d like to have a dialogue, just reply to this note which I’m sending from my personal email, and I’d welcome further conversation with you.

Peace, 

Mike Challman
Christian, Veteran, Blue Star Dad, MRFF Supporter

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Response from MRFF Supporter Fr Steve Dundas

On Apr 11, 2023, at 7:23 PM, Steve wrote:

Dear Ms (name withheld)

I am a retired senior Navy Christian Chaplain. I am also a published historian who knows quite a bit about the subject of religious liberty and its foundation in the Bill of Rights, the Virginia Statue on Religious Liberty, the Declaration other documents that demonstrate your ignorance of our basic laws.

That being said your note is absolutely paranoid and full of projections. Mr. Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation exist to secure the religious liberties of all, including Christians. The foundation has helped over 78,000 military personnel and their family members deal with religious persecution and prejudice. 96% of these people are Christians. Some 85% of the paid and volunteer staff are also practicing Christians. Likewise we have Jews, Muslims, and others from across the religious and political spectrum.

Sadly, as a Christian I have to say just how wrong you are about the alleged persecution of Christians by MRFF. It only serves to protect the religious and civil rights of all American military personnel from those that want to force their views upon them, or to use their “religious liberty” to deny rights, and even try to destroy the lives and careers of those who take their oath to the Constitution seriously, even Christian chaplains preaching in chapel services. I personally know of this. Mr. Weinstein and the MRFF defended me against false charges leveled by a military retiree who attended the chapel I served. The man was a Christian, but he tried to destroy my life because he disagreed with a sermon.

The truth is that Christians are doing the largest amount and most damaging religious persecution in our country. They have captured over half of the State legislatures, the US House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and use that political power to crush the liberties of all who do not share their views.

Our founders warned of this and attempted to place guardrails around the new Republic to ensure that no religious group or denomination could persecute citizens as they had throughout Europe. The great Virginia Baptist, John Leland, a friend of Jefferson and Madison who worked with them to draft the Virginia Statute on Religious Liberty and the Bill of Rights wrote:

“Is conformity of sentiments in matters of religion essential to the happiness of civil government? Not at all. Government has no more to do with the religious opinions of men than it has with the principles of mathematics. Let every man speak freely without fear–maintain the principles that he believes–worship according to his own faith, either one God, three Gods, no God, or twenty Gods; and let government protect him in so doing, i.e., see that he meets with no personal abuse or loss of property for his religious opinions. Instead of discouraging him with proscriptions, fines, confiscation or death, let him be encouraged, as a free man, to bring forth his arguments and maintain his points with all boldness; then if his doctrine is false it will be confuted, and if it is true (though ever so novel) let others credit it. When every man has this liberty what can he wish for more? A liberal man asks for nothing more of government.” – John Leland, “Right of Conscience Inalienable, and Therefore, Religious Opinions Not Cognizable By The Law”

Leland, whose Baptists in Virginia were being persecuted and violently attacked by Anglicans seeking to return Virginia to a state religion which they controlled as was the case prior to the Revolution understood the consequences of established religion. He wrote:“These establishments metamorphose the church into a creature, and religion into a principle of state, which has a natural tendency to make men conclude that Bible religion is nothing but a trick of state.”So, look in the mirror. What do you see?Eric Hoffer, the great American philosopher who Ronald Reagan honored with the award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom wrote:

“A doctrine insulates the devout not only against the realities around them but also against their own selves. The fanatical believer is not conscious of his envy, malice, pettiness and dishonesty. There is a wall of words between his consciousness and his real self.”Sorry if I offend you, but the truth is offensive to those who wish to crush it

Sincerely,Fr. Steve Dundas, CDR Chaplain Corps, US Navy (Retired)
Author of “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: Religion and the Politics of Race in the Civil War Era and Beyond”

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