Defense Department Asked to Examine Officers’ Acts Supporting Christian Group
By Alan Cooperman, Washington Post, 11 December 2006
A military watchdog group is asking the Defense Department to investigate whether seven Army and Air Force officers violated regulations by appearing in uniform in a promotional video for an evangelical Christian organization.
In the video, much of which was filmed inside the Pentagon, four generals and three colonels praise the Christian Embassy, a group that evangelizes among military leaders, politicians and diplomats in Washington. Some of the officers describe their efforts to spread their faith within the military.
The Progressive Secretary suggests sending this letter to Congress.
Congress demand “Christian Embassy” stay out of Pentagon
Dear _________________:
A group of high-ranking Army and Air Force officers appeared in a religious promotional video for the “Christian Embassy”. They were in uniform, the video was filmed largely in the Pentagon, and several asserted that they use their official positions to advance their religion with colleagues.
This appears to be a clear violation of military regulations that bar uniformed personnel from appearing in uniform when engaged in activities that would imply that the military Services sanction a specific cause. It also raises First Amendment questions by appearing to provide government endorsement of a particular religion.
I urge Congress to tell the Defense Department to investigate, and discipline the officers appropriately.
Sincerely,
[Jim Harris founded the indispensible Progressive Secretary. Read more about it here.]