MilitaryReligiousFreedom.org

MRFF Newsletter Special Breaking News Edition
October 2011 Fighting for our servicemembers' rights, so they can fight for ours.
Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation today.   A TRIUMPH FOR THE
CONSTITUTION AT THE
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY Thursday, September 29, 2011 MRFF Posts USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Schwartz's
Religious Freedom Edict on Billboard in Air Force
Academy's Backyard. The Next Day, Gen. Schwartz's
Memo is Sent to All USAFA Cadets.

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A Message From MRFF President
and Founder Mikey Weinstein:

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

"Earlier this morning, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) was notified by many of its now 341 Air Force Academy clients, that the Commandant of Cadets, Brigadier General Richard Clark, had sent out to all members of the Academy's Cadet Wing a cover letter (click here to read a PDF of Clark's letter) emphasizing the import of Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz's Sept. 1, 2011 watershed directive of 'Religious Neutrality.' Academy Commandant Clark's cover letter had Gen. Schwartz's letter appended thereto. This mass distribution by the Air Force Academy Commandant is a true victory for the Constitution. It is also a sad lesson to contemplate in that, but for MRFF's plastering of Gen. Schwartz's edict on a giant billboard in a busy area of Colorado Springs just the day before, Commandant Clark's distribution of Gen. Schwartz's directive would NEVER have happened.

"I am certain that the Air Force Academy will fall all over itself denying that the MRFF billboard had ANYTHING to do with this morning's sudden mass distribution to the Cadet Wing of Gen. Schwartz's ground-breaking 'Religious Neutrality' edict. If anyone is either naive or stupid enough to believe THAT 'coincidence,' then they would immediately be qualified to replace Academy Superintendent Michael Gould who, apparently, has STILL not yet distributed the Chief of Staff's directive to either the thousands of airmen who comprise the Academy's 10th Air Base Wing or the faculty at the Academy.

"We note, in closing, that it was NOT Lt. Gen. Gould himself who distributed Gen. Schwartz's directive, and that the person who did distribute it, Brig. Gen. Richard Clark, dated his cover letter as 'Sept. 19, 2011,' some 10 days ago, even though it only went out today. Interesting mystery there? Maybe not. As recently as yesterday, the Academy was responding to press inquiries about the MRFF billboard by saying that the Academy didn't have to distribute Gen. Schwartz's memo because 'it was never mandated' to be done. Meanwhile, MRFF will enthusiastically celebrate this clear victory for our hundreds of Air Force Academy clients. We will await all other Academy personnel being likewise in swift receipt of Gen. Schwartz's 'Religious Neutrality' edict. How much longer will Lt. Gen. Gould make them all wait? I don't know, but right now I'm going to go have a celebratory beer because, as Sammy Davis, Jr. said, alcohol gives you infinite patience for stupidity."

MRFF FEATURED BY
THE HUFFINGTON POST
Air Force Academy Was
Against Chief Of Staff’s
Religious Neutrality Edict
Before It Was For It Thursday, September 29, 2011

by Chris Rodda, MRFF Senior Research Director

Selected Article Excerpts: Coming on the heels of the recent revelation by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) that a mandatory part of the Air Force’s nuclear missile launch officer “ethics” training was a Christian theological presentation, nicknamed the “Jesus Loves Nukes speech” by some nuclear missile officers, General Schwartz’s memorandum — an edict that stated in no uncertain terms that no commander or other leader in the Air Force can promote, or even give the appearance of promoting, their personal religious beliefs to any subordinate personnel — was received by all Air Force commands on or around September 13. General Schwartz’s memorandum quickly made its way down through the ranks at bases throughout the Air Force, as one would expect an important statement of policy from the Chief of Staff would. One notable exception, however, was the Air Force Academy, where the top leadership did not distribute it to either cadets or staff, but kept it confined to a small group of senior officers at a staff meeting. When Academy cadets and staff started seeing General Schwartz’s memorandum in other places, like the September 16 article from the Air Force Times, many started contacting MRFF, disgusted and angry that something this important had not been immediately distributed to everyone at the Academy. So, why the sudden change of heart on the part of the Academy leadership? Why did they finally decide to distribute General Schwartz’s memorandum after weeks of withholding it? Well, maybe it was this nice big billboard, containing the entire text of the memorandum, put up by MRFF on Tuesday at a very busy intersection in Colorado Springs, the home of the Air Force Academy.

Click to read this article
at The Huffington Post

Selected Article Excerpts: When Military Religious Freedom Foundation found out Air Force Academy higher-ups had not distributed a memo on religious neutrality to everyone on campus, the watchdog group took matters into its own hands. It posted the memo of Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, dated Sept.1, on a billboard for all of Colorado Springs to see.

Academy spokesman Lt. Col. John Bryan told Colorado Springs The Gazette that Schwartz’s memo was issued to commanders, so Gould discussed the memo with commanders at a meeting. Bryan told The Gazette that the memo wasn’t sent to the entire academy because it wasn’t mandated. Weinstein cried foul, especially since the memo issues a caution to leaders at all levels. Bryan told the Independent that he didn’t see what the big deal was since, as he understood it, the memo was aimed at those providing Air Force missile training, not the academy. Weinstein, who has butted heads with the academy before, said anyone who doesn’t think such a memo from Schwartz was meant for everyone should look for another job. Weinstein has specifically called for Gould’s resignation. “The minds that got us in this mess are not the minds that can get us out of this,” he said.

Click to read this article
at Military Times

Selected Article Excerpts: If you're driving on Woodmen Road east of Lexington Avenue, you might notice a non-traditional billboard. This one, funded by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, is a reprint of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz's Sept. 1 edict titled, "Maintaining Government Neutrality Regarding Religion." In an interview, [USAF Academy Spokesman Lt. Col.] Bryan says, "I don't know why it's such an issue. Has every cadet seen this? Probably not. Has ever permanent party [faculty and staff] seen this? Probably not. That memo wasn't written for the academy." He says it was aimed at an Air Force missile training program in which Biblical references were used. "[Gould] trusts his commanders to get the word out," Bryan says, stressing that, "From the times these cadets hit basic training, they get religious respect training." THU, SEP 29, 2011 UPDATE: Academy spokesman Lt. Col. John Bryan has called to tell us he misspoke: Bryan now says he doesn't know specifically the impetus for Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz's letter, but that the academy fully understands the message it contains.

Click to read this
article at CSIndy.com

Selected Article Excerpts: Air Force Academy critic Mikey Weinstein claimed victory Wednesday after learning that a memo on religious tolerance was distributed to the school’s 4,000 cadets a day after he unveiled a billboard featuring the 200-word treatise from the service’s top general. “It’s a victory for the U.S. Constitution,” he said. “Lady Liberty is smiling today.” The two sides had been in a standoff over the Sept. 1 memo to commanders from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz that cautioned leaders to remain neutral in matters of faith. Weinstein on Tuesday unveiled a billboard near the intersection of Woodmen Road and Lexington Drive that displays the memo. He said the sign cost “thousands of dollars” and will stay up for weeks. Weinstein said the academy’s move is no coincidence. “This was gigantic victory for the foundation,” he said.

Click to read this
article at Gazette.com Click to read this
article at Gazette.com

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