Chaplain Alliance urges Air Force not to give in to hysterics

CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY May 19, 2015 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org or call (571) 293-2427

Chaplain Alliance urges Air Force not to give in to hysterics

‘Constitution protects officer’s speech…period’

WASHINGTON – A two-star general has come under fire from an outside anti–religious-liberty group for speaking openly of his faith.

Major General Craig Olson of Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts spoke at a National Day of Prayer Task Force event on May 7 and openly shared how his faith has helped him in his life and career. In response, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation has called for his court-martial.

“Major General Olson’s speech is protected by the Constitution, federal statute, and Air Force regulations,” said Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USA Retired, executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is up to its typical, hysterical antics in calling for his court-martial. The Air Force should simply ignore his threats.”

In a letter to the Air Force, Mikey Weinstein, president and founder of MRFF, called Olson’s 23-minute speech “unforgivable crimes and transgressions.” Weinstein demanded an investigation and court-martial of this officer.

“Activists with an axe to grind against religion can’t pick and choose whose constitutional freedoms are protected,” said Crews. “A few weeks ago, Mr. Weinstein stood with Humanist and Unitarian sailors at the Recruit Training Center to protect their religious liberty. It’s contradictory to turn around now and seek criminal charges against a Christian Air Force officer forexercising the very same freedom.”

The Air Force has not responded specifically to MRFF’s demands so far.

Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is an organization of chaplain endorsers, the faith groups that provide chaplains for the U.S. military and other agencies needing chaplains. The endorsers in Chaplain Alliance speak for more than 2,600 chaplains serving the Armed Forces.

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