DOD counters Internet posts on religion issue

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• Air Force Instruction 1-1, Air Force Standards

DOD counters Internet posts on religion issue

Posted 5/3/2013

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by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

5/3/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Internet posts making the rounds claiming that the Defense Department will court-martial service members who espouse Christianity are not true, a Pentagon spokesman said today.

"The Department of Defense places a high value on the rights of members of the military services to observe the tenets of their respective religions and respects, (and supports by its policy) the rights of others to their own religious beliefs, including the right to hold no beliefs," Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen said in a written statement on the issue.

"The department does not endorse any one religion or religious organization, and provides free access of religion for all members of the military services," he added.

Internet posts are attributing a statement that superior officers who try to convert those under their command should face court-martial to Mikey Weinstein, president of the Albuquerque, N.M.-based Military Religious Freedom Foundation, and are identifying him as a Pentagon advisor, Christensen noted.

"Mr. Weinstein is not part of any DOD advisory group or committee, nor is he a consultant to the Defense Department regarding religious matters," Christensen said. "Mr. Weinstein requested, and was granted, a meeting at the Pentagon April 23, with the Air Force judge advocate general and others, to include the deputy chief of chaplains, to express his concerns of religious issues in the military."

Some bloggers have taken sections of Air Force Instruction 1-1 "Air Force Standards" -- specifically, the section titled "Government Neutrality Regarding Religion" -- out of context in supporting their take, Christensen said.

"Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for an individual's free exercise of religion or other personal beliefs and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion," the instruction states.

Air Force leaders at all levels "must avoid the actual or apparent use of their position to promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion. Commanders or supervisors who engage in such behavior may cause members to doubt their impartiality and objectivity. The potential result is a degradation of the unit's morale, good order, and discipline," the instruction goes on to say.

The instruction further says all Airmen "are able to choose to practice their particular religion, or subscribe to no religious belief at all." It tells Airmen to practice their own beliefs while respecting differing viewpoints.

The right to practice religious beliefs does not excuse Airmen from complying with directives, instructions and lawful orders, the instruction says.

It adds that Airmen "must ensure that in exercising their right of religious free expression, they do not degrade morale, good order, and discipline in the Air Force or degrade the trust and confidence that the public has in the United States Air Force."

Comments

5/9/2013 11:23:33 AM ET
Religious faith and self-imposed church services are what got Vietnam POW's in the Hanoi Hilton through their years as prisoners. The senior leaders of those camps made it mandatory to attend. Any of those POW's will tell you that it helped them make it through. Now in today's DoD one can only imagine what would happen if US POWs tried to have some sort of service the ranks would quickly divide and I'd venture to say that the survival rate for POWs would be far below that of Vietnam. Organized religion does have a place.

Ryan , JBAB

5/8/2013 1:56:28 PM ET
I can think of quite a few situations where questions are asked in the work place and appropriate response is because of my faith or because my faith teaches me to be tolerant or because Jesus provided an example for me to followlove one another as I have loved you. I wouldnt consider the response inappropriate to give depending on the question asked. So confining my faith to church and home is not acceptable. I distinctly remember hearing a lot of prayers while the mortars were landing all aroundno one questioned it then.

SNCO Ret, Scott

5/8/2013 12:09:40 PM ET
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.Interesting. Seems like I recall swearing an oath to support and defend the document from which the above statement was taken...so help me God.Like freedom of speech this has to be situationally applied. I can't yell FIRE in a theater causing a stampede towards the exits causing injuries when a fire didn't exist eventhough I technically have the --right-- to do so.So goes for the free exercise of my religion. There's an appropriate time and place either in church or at home with my family for me to freely exercise my faith.The workplace is not one of those appropriate times or places to exercise that right just because I can.

Sgt Snorkle, USA

5/8/2013 11:15:23 AM ET
It is quite simple. You do not get to use your position to bully others into your religion. Believe what you want and leave others to believe what they want. You can have your religion just do not let it get in the way of the mission.

Analyst, USAFA

5/7/2013 8:47:30 AM ET
Mr. Weinstein is as dangerous as they come. We had to expend a whole bunch of time at a not-named base on things that were non-issues. He sees things that don't exist and his attempts to ruin good reputations and efforts is mean spirited. Not only is he disingenuous and has ulterior motives but his active duty son did as well. I laugh when his web site mentions he has been nominated for the Nobel Prize. Anyone can nominate anyone. Let's not give him the attention and pulpit he needs.

Retired Chief, Nebraska

5/7/2013 8:06:33 AM ET
Thankfully the armed forces of the United States have a long history of recognizing the fact that spiritual fitness is vital to the health of individuals and units.It is impossible for us to completely divorce ourselves from the core principles upon which we base our lives. Personally my most important core principle is my faith in God. It is the foundation for my interactions with others and the decisions I make.We can and we should be respectful to others without denying who we are at our core.

Ramon Sellers, Tyndall AFB FL

5/7/2013 8:05:47 AM ET
Thankfully the armed forces of the United States have a long history of recognizing the fact that spiritual fitness is vital to the health of individuals and units.It is impossible for us to completely divorce ourselves from the core principles upon which we base our lives. Personally my most important core principle is my faith in God. It is the foundation for my interactions with others and the decisions I make.We can and we should be respectful to others without denying who we are at our core.

Ramon Sellers, Tyndall AFB FL

5/6/2013 8:02:48 AM ET
Faith in captivity Vietnam War POW inspires AirmenWhat more is there to say Read this and then say we will Art 15 anyone that talks about religion. Get real.

Ed, USA

5/6/2013 3:40:37 AM ET
I am an Airman 24 hours a day seven days a week. It is not something I do it is something that I am. I am also a Christian 24 hours a day seven days a week. Also something I am not something I do. The two are not mutually exclusive. The Christian character I espouse is not far removed from the core values the Air Force claims to cherish. I do not walk around at work all day telling people to convert to Christianity or smacking my co-workers around with a Bible. On the other hand I do not apologize for thanking God for His blessings for the Bible on my desk or for a prayer that I say over lunch. If you ask me to eschew everything religious when I put on the uniform then I would have to let go of the character and ethics that are also the foundation of our Air Force core values. Fortunately that has not happened and I pray that it never does.

Realistic, Remote

5/6/2013 2:46:58 AM ET
It is noted at least in Christianity that a private religion is a dead religion. I do not think it is right to ask someone to smother their own faith in order to make the workplace slightly more about work. It would be a double standard since other conversations often take place at many work places which are not strictly professional. The concept that religion is a personal thing that should never be discussed in society is a misconception of contemporary culture. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the discussion of religion as long as people do so with respect.

Williams, Aviano

5/5/2013 9:33:49 PM ET
Perhaps they should get Amb. Susan Rice to draw up some suitable and cdredible talking points for them. Then pick any politically connected General or Admiral to deliver them or certify their voracity in an investigation. Better yet let the Generals and Admirals try to enforce these rules on the front lines

Rich, Wisconsin

5/5/2013 3:26:02 PM ET
Brian why is that not applied to one's sexuality then. What is the purpose for bringing that into the workplace. At least religion is the source of many people's values which obviously do have a large place in our workplace in particular due to the nature of our job. I'm not saying that it's not best to keep both out of the workplace I just don't understand the hypocrisy of encouraging one and forbidding the other.

Lt Col, Home for a change

5/4/2013 11:11:49 PM ET
We don't need new regulations to tell commanders or anyone they should not push religion on any one. In 1991 I told a squadron commander to have a weekend religious session was not only stupid but leading to the younger members of the squadron. Knock it off or we shall see base legal. Ended that crap right there. Bottom line apply the rules as they are and knock off the stupid stuff.

bob Oliver, El Paso

5/4/2013 12:56:08 AM ET
If a Christian wants to talk aboout his faith with you and you don't want to hear it he should stop. No one however has the right nor the reason to prevent him from speaking about his faith in the first place. If Brian thinks religious people should be silenced he stands within arms reach of anti-Christians like Weinstein. Brian that's just too close man.

Jonaton Beaver, Colorado Springs

5/3/2013 10:31:56 PM ET
Sexual orientation worked why not religion Both of which should NEVER be an issue ANYWHERE but you know everyone needs something to lean on to be special.

Brian, FL

5/3/2013 9:38:23 PM ET
The article notes Mr. Weinstein asked for and was granted a meeting with LtGen Harding the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force and legal advisor to the Chief of Staff.Wonder what one has to do to to merit granting a request for a private audience with top AF leaders.

ViperMech, CONUS

5/3/2013 9:13:12 PM ET
Ad can we stop mentioning in the name of 'Jesus Christ' during invocations at official ceremonies.

Andy, Yokota

5/3/2013 8:40:31 PM ET
Jesus did serve on active duty. He might be reserve but I never saw him at the gedunk

Christinmilne, Est

5/3/2013 3:46:30 PM ET
A cursory search of any of Weinstein's speeches will reveal that he is about as vocal an anti-Christian bigot as they come. Paid or not why would the DoD support a meeting with him I suppose next we will hear that a white-supremacist was consulted on the Air Force's new diversity policy

Ben, VA

5/3/2013 2:26:26 PM ET
Everyone should just keep their religion to themselves. It has no place in the workplace.

Brian Taylor, Livermore CA

5/3/2013 1:46:14 PM ET
DoD doing the CYA.

Scott, Eglin

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