Cadets attend Catholic services in the Air Force Academy's Chapel
UPDATE:On June 28, the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the religious climate at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Catholic League president William Donohue sent the members of the House subcommittee a letter today outlining his concerns.
Donohue outlined three issues: a) the most-often cited examples of bigotry against non-Christians have nothing to do with bigotry b) robust freedom of speech on religious matters is now at risk, and c) a climate inhospitable to Christians has been created at the institution. He offered specific examples to buttress his case.
Donohue concluded by saying that the criticisms mounted against the Air Force Academy are largely bogus and are driven by those who have an ideological agenda.
The U.S. Air Force Academy faces charges that it has allowed rampant evangelization on campus. (How dare they!!)
This week, after a six-week barrage of allegations, the Air Force is expected to release a report based on more than 300 interviews, addressing charges that the academy is rife with an officially encouraged religious evangelization. Critics say the behaviors violated the Constitution and Department of Defense regulations--and threatened troop unity by teaching future commanders overt religious favoritism. The Air Force has admitted the merit of some of the charges.
They claim that mandatory gatherings often opened with prayers and that some professors actively recruited cadets to join evangelical churches. At Christmastime some senior faculty members would sign religious ads in the base paper, including this 2003 message: "We believe that Jesus Christ is the only real hope for the world. If you would like to discuss Jesus, feel free to contact one of us!"
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