Air Force General

Dear (name withheld),

I am writing in response to your May 17, 2015 email to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (“MRFF”).  Your letter demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of religious freedom in this country and I hope I can provide some clarity.

While you are correct that the exact words “separation of church and state” do not appear in the Constitution, the concept of this separation is clearly embodied in two sections of the document.  First, Article VI states, “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust.”  Second, the First Amendment clearly prohibits the establishment of any particular religion.  The actual phrase “separation of church and state” was used by Thomas Jefferson in a January 1, 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut, in which he wrote:

“I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.”  (emphasis added)

The phrase “separation of church and state” has since been repeatedly cited by the U.S. Supreme Court.  Perhaps we use different dictionaries, but I sincerely doubt that the words of Thomas Jefferson and the U.S. Supreme Court constitute “made up propaganda.”  Indeed, the words of the U.S. Supreme Court actually constitute controlling law.

MRFF works tirelessly to protect the religious freedom of all soldiers, sailors, Marines, cadets, and veterans by ensuring that those in their command adhere to the above-referenced Constitutional mandates.  Although our Founding Fathers may have been religious, God-fearing men, they clearly created a government based on democratic principles, rather than religious principles.  The key to our country’s greatness is not that we are a “God loving, God fearing nation,” as you claim.  I believe our country is great for many reasons, including that our Founding Fathers recognized the dangers creating a government based on religion.

On the note of greatness, you claim that MRFF and its supporters are “key contributors to the downfall of this once great country” (emphasis added).  I am dismayed that you no longer believe that this country is great and that you believe that its “downfall” is the fault of people who insist on adherence to the Constitution.  Despite asserting that you do not believe this country is great, you then advise, “If you dislike this country please please [sic] go somewhere else.”  Protecting the rights of service members who sacrifice so much to protect our rights demonstrates a clear love for this country and the principles on which it was founded.  I assure you, MRFF is not going anywhere.

Blessed be,

Tobanna Barker

MRFF Volunteer