“You Just Don’t Like Christians”, and a response from Elizabeth Sholes, California Council of Churches/California Church IMPACT Public Policy Director and MRFF Advisory Board Member

Dear Military Religious Freedom Foundation:

I am kind of confused about your griping. You want religious freedom in the military but it already exists. Chaplains set up services for tree worshipers. Seriously. That happens. They allow a wicken person on base to administer the service. To perform or provide is what the chaplains do. Any religion is tolerated in the military. You want every one to have religious freedom except for Christians is (I think) your real complaint. To tolerate everyone except Christians. I am in the military and have not run into any problems or seen/heard of any problems that don’t boil down to the person didn’t have the courage to ask. Every command I have encountered whether I like them or not has handled these incidences with professionalism, whether they agree or not. The military goes to great length to meet the spiritual needs of all it service members and you know that. Just have the courage to say you can’t stand Christians and that is who you are trying to wage war against. If you have a personal problem and want to vent about it, don’t hide behind the false accusation of no religious freedom. Religious freedom exists in the military. You just don’t like Christians and don’t want them to be able to practice their beliefs. At least be honest about that, because it is blatantly obvious from your web site. Thank you for taking the time to read my email. I look forward to hearing from you.

(name withheld)
Romans 1-3
Acts 17:30-31
1 John 3:23

Dear (name withheld)-

Mikey Weinstein asked me to respond to your email because of course the issues you raise are of concern to all of us, Mikey included.

Our objections are NOT to the presence of Christian worship or activities at all.  We surely would not be supportive of MRFF if that were true!  It would be a little self destructive!  In fact Mikey likes Christians a lot – we ARE Christians – but what I am so very glad you personally don’t see is the numbers of people who are coerced into following a set of beliefs, attending events not of their choosing, signing on to statements that reflect religious values not theirs – it’s pretty daunting.

I read the thousands of mostly anonymous (not always) emails from troops here and overseas who have been forced to participate in very conservative Christian events and practices.  What got our attention were the letter from our own men and women in uniform who were told by commanding officers who were conservative Christians that our folks were “not good enough Christians”.  They were reprimanded for NOT attending services, for not reciting pledges they did not agree with that were Christian in nature, for resisting being forced to listen to people proselytizing things we all do not believe.  I have in my files some of the most chilling stories I’ve ever read of our TROOPS being beaten up by other troops for not being “Christian enough”.  I have corresponded with some of them directly, and it makes me incredibly sad.

I met the father of a young man just back from Afghanistan who’d been wounded (and would recover fully very glad to say) who put his life on the line for us – how can we allow him to be coerced because he’s Catholic and not born again?  I’ve heard the stories of demotions because the person in place was not willing to be converted.  Converted!  Our troops are there for our Constitutional rights to be free to practice however we choose.  How can they be denied the right for which they are so bravely giving their time, service, and maybe even lives?

We are fine with everyone following his or her own inner spiritual and religious lights.  Anyone, any time, anywhere.  But we are NOT fine with one group of Christians telling others as well as non-Christian Jews, Muslims, and other believers or non-believers how to worship?  Our ideal is exactly what YOU see – and we’re so glad you do – that everyone does what their inner lights tell them is right.  We do have a diversity of chaplains, and that is good – unless and until those chaplains themselves are shunned, bullied, or otherwise denied the right to practice their faith with their followers.  That has happened, and it cannot go on.

Mikey is NOT anti-Christian.  He’s anti-coercion.  He opposes people in uniform using their command power to push religion.  That’s all.  He’d be just as furious if a Rabbi swooped down and tried to convert or coerce troops into following rabbinical law and attending Saturday sabbath services.  That is the bottom line – NO coercion.  Not against anyone, not ever.

I hope this clears things up for you?  Your observations are very heartening since that is our goal – everyone free to do as they believe.  Let us know if that changes, but your eyes are our witness that we are getting the goals we want.

Thank you for your observations.  And if you are in the service (Mikey deleted details about you) please accept my deepest thanks for your contributions to our nation.  Be safe.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Warmest regards and blessings-

Elizabeth Sholes
Director of Public Policy
California Council of Churches/California Church IMPACT