CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY February 3, 2015 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org or call (571) 293-2427
Chaplains to Air Force: Wrong again!
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty together with Alliance Defending Freedom issued a letter Tuesday to senior Air Force officials who are reportedly reviewing an article about Senior Master Sgt. Larry Gallo of the 433rd Airlift Wing, who spends his Christmas holidays doing medical mission work in Guatemala and Mexico.
The review came as a result of a complaint from an outside organization and is the second time in recent months that the Air Force has put such an article under scrutiny despite new rules that reinforce the ability of service men and women to express their faith.
“This non-commissioned officer should be commended for his humanitarian work, not have his work maligned just because his faith motivates him,” said Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USA Retired, executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “There is absolutely nothing for the military to review concerning this article. Congress already addressed this issue in the Right of Conscience Clause of the National Defense Authorization Act, and the Air Force has recently issued revised guidelines that permit Air Force personnel to speak about their faith.”
In October 2014, the Air Force removed an article written by Col. Florencio Marquinez titled “A Spiritual Journey as a Commander.” Another article, “Atheist Ponders Spiritual Fitness,” remains posted without any comment from Air Force officials.
“The Air Force should not impose a double standard that censors expressions of faith,” said ADF Legal Counsel Travis Barham. “Every American, especially those who wear the uniform and fight to protect our freedoms, should be allowed to live out their faith without fear of recrimination.”
The letter to Air Force Reserve Command urges it “to allow the article about SMSgt. Gallo to remain available on the AFRC’s website. In so doing, you will fulfill the best of our nation’s history of accommodating religion and avoid manifesting the viewpoint discrimination and hostility towards religion that the First Amendment prohibits. You will also faithfully implement the Air Force’s newly revised policies governing religious expression.”
Members of the public who wish to voice support forretaining the article regarding Gallo can contact the office of Col. William Whittenberger, Jr., at (210) 925-4330 or e-mail the Public Affairs Office 433aw.pa@us.af.mil.
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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