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Related: About this forumNow That's Rich: GOP says Air Force is 'hostile to religion'
What fucking gall.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/06/24/gop-says-air-force-hostile-to-religion/
The letter, drafted by Reps. Todd Akin (R-MO), Diane Black (R-TN) and Randy Forbes (R-VA), calls on Panetta to investigate a series of cases where the Air Force succumbed to pressure from outside groups, such as the removal of a paragraph from a Squadron Officer School training document saying, if you attend chapel regularly, both officers and Airmen are likely to follow this example. If you are morally lax in your personal life, a general moral indifference within the command can be expected.
The document was taken out following a complaint by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation that the line creates the inescapable impression that regular church attendance is a requirement for commissioned Air Force officers in order to demonstrate positive morals to subordinates. The foundation said it violates the constitutional ban on religious tests for U.S. office holders.
Cases like this, the letter says, demonstrate that the Air Force is going too far in separating church from state.
In a statement, the Air Force said airmen are free to exercise their constitutional right to practice their religion in a manner that is respectful of other individuals rights to follow their own belief systems.
The document was taken out following a complaint by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation that the line creates the inescapable impression that regular church attendance is a requirement for commissioned Air Force officers in order to demonstrate positive morals to subordinates. The foundation said it violates the constitutional ban on religious tests for U.S. office holders.
Cases like this, the letter says, demonstrate that the Air Force is going too far in separating church from state.
In a statement, the Air Force said airmen are free to exercise their constitutional right to practice their religion in a manner that is respectful of other individuals rights to follow their own belief systems.
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Now That's Rich: GOP says Air Force is 'hostile to religion' (Original Post)
daaron
Jun 2012
OP
Sure, they are free to practice their religion(s), yet any implied or explicit requirement
pinto
Jun 2012
#3
When the Air Force makes their academy off-limits to fundamentalist recruiters...
jmowreader
Jun 2012
#4
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)1. Waaahhhhhh, we're being denied our Gawd-given right to force our religion
on everybody else!!!1!!!11!!!
cbayer
(146,218 posts)2. IMHO, the representatives' complaints are completely without merit.
pinto
(106,886 posts)3. Sure, they are free to practice their religion(s), yet any implied or explicit requirement
is prohibited / unconstitutional. Over riding factor is also that one of the primary oaths taken by the military is to "uphold the constitution"...
jmowreader
(50,557 posts)4. When the Air Force makes their academy off-limits to fundamentalist recruiters...
then I will believe the Air Force is at least slightly hostile to religion.
daaron
(763 posts)5. Links to background: why GOP is full of shit about USAF & religion.
http://www.jewsonfirst.org/airacademy.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/education/12academy.html?_r=1
http://www.njdc.org/media/entry/house_gop_defeats_effort_to_end_proselytizing_at_air_force_academy
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-79061.html
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2005/10/12/835/72403
http://www.christianpost.com/news/air-force-pagan-circle-invites-god-s-judgment-says-pastor-43626/
....
That took all of about two minutes. I just stopped cutting and pasting - there was still more!
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/12/education/12academy.html?_r=1
http://www.njdc.org/media/entry/house_gop_defeats_effort_to_end_proselytizing_at_air_force_academy
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-79061.html
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2005/10/12/835/72403
http://www.christianpost.com/news/air-force-pagan-circle-invites-god-s-judgment-says-pastor-43626/
....
That took all of about two minutes. I just stopped cutting and pasting - there was still more!