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A Texas lawmaker is asking for a detailed report from the Air Force over revelations that a “Just War Theory” class was suspended because it included passages from the Bible.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley expressing his concern over the suspension of the class taught at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
“Suspending a course like this because of references to religious texts misrepresents the First Amendment,” Cornyn wrote in a letter provided to Fox News Radio. “Although our Founding Fathers rightly included language in the Constitution that precludes the Federal government from establishing an official religion, this language does not, as some have argued, protect them from exposure to religious references.”
The course had been taught by chaplains at Vandenberg Air Force Base for more than 20 years and used scripture from both the Old and New Testaments to show missile launch officers that it can be moral to go to war.
But the Military Religious Freedom Foundation said the course violated the Constitutional Separation of Church and State. The organization was created to “directly battle the far-right militant radical evangelical fundamentalists” in the military.
The MRFF filed a complaint last month on behalf of 31 missile launch officers – both instructors and students, Protestants and Catholics. The group threatened to file a class-action lawsuit had the Air Force not suspended the course.
But Cornyn said he believes the Air Force has a right to teach the course.
“Our military services, like our nation, are comprised of people representing all faiths,” Cornyn wrote. “However, that fact does not preclude military chaplains from teaching a course on just war theory – a theory that has been a part of moral philosophy and the law of war for centuries – merely because it has historically been predicated on religious texts.”
David Smith, the spokesman for the Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command, said the main purpose of the class was to help missile launch officers understand that “what they are embarking on is very difficult and you have to have a certain amount of ethics about what you are doing to do that job.”
“In an effort to serve all faiths we try to introduce none in our briefings and our lectures,” Smith told Fox News Radio. “Once we heard there were concerns we looked at the course and said we could do better.”
Smith said the inclusion of the Bible verses was an “inappropriate approach” in a “pluralistic society.”
“The use of Bible passage and other elements was just inappropriate,” he said.
The Air Force denied that political correctness had anything to do with the suspension of the class.
“The military is made up of people from all walks of life, all faiths,” Smith said. “It’s most appropriate to let folks practice their faith on their own and not try to introduce something else to them.”
Cornyn cautioned the Secretary of the Air Force to “ensure that a correct interpretation of the First Amendment is applied in resolving this situation” and asked for a detailed report.
Senator Cornyn’s entire letter is posted below:
The Honorable Michael B. Donley
Department of the Air Force
1670 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330
Dear Secretary Donley:
I write to express my concern regarding recent reports that the Department of the Air Force has suspended a course entitled “Christian Just War Theory.” It is my understanding that this course, taught by chaplains at Vandenberg Air Force Base, was suspended and is currently under review by Air Force officials after complaints were made that the curriculum referenced passages from the Bible.
As you may know, the reports indicate that a spokesman for the Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command has said that the main purpose of the course was to enable missile launch officers to understand that “what they are embarking on is very difficult and you have to have a certain amount of ethics about what you are doing to do that job.” Our military services, like our nation, are comprised of people representing all faiths. However, that fact does not preclude military chaplains from teaching a course on just war theory – a theory that has been a part of moral philosophy and the law of war for centuries – merely because it has historically been predicated on religious texts.
Moreover, suspending a course like this because of references to religious texts misinterprets the First Amendment. Although our Founding Fathers rightly included language in the Constitution that precludes the Federal government from establishing an official religion, this language does not, as some have argued, protect them from exposure to religious references. The First Amendment is intended to guarantee an individual’s right to the free exercise of religion according to his or her conscience. The Air Force personnel who have taken this course for the past 20 years have been free to determine, according to their own consciences, whether they accept or reject the premises of just war theory.
With these concerns in mind, I strongly urge you to ensure that a correct interpretation of the First Amendment is applied in resolving this situation. Moreover, I ask that you provide me with a detailed report on any actions taken by Air Force officials in response to these complaints.
I appreciate your attention to this request. Thank you for your service to the men and women of the United States Air Force and our nation.
Surely the Air Force has better things to do than help this person who is clearly just trying to get re-elected, and who does not understand "separation of church and state."
And where is exactly is "separation of Church and State " located in the Constitution?
Read some of the 220 years of constitutional case law that has been decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
There is no such thing as seperation of church and state. Our Constatution was based on Our God in heaven. Do your homework.
Did you just tell someone, "Do your homework" while saying, "Our Constatution was based on Our God in heaven."? First, it would be difficult to claim the "a" in your Constitution as a typo as the "a" key is very far away from "i" on a keyboard. Second, please tell me how our Constitution is based on "Our God in heaven?" Especially when the First Amendment prohibits government from creating any law that RESPECTS an establishment of religion.
God is not found anywhere in the Constitution. Its only references to religion explain that it is apart from the federal government. Some of the states still had state religions (legal before the 14th Amendment) but they were dropped before the Civil War.
Even the Declaration of Independence (well before the Constitution) referred to Nature and Nature's God, not the personal, jealous one of the bible, and certainly didn't claim that Nature's God was in any heaven.
Do your homework, The founding fathers did no such thing. Read the book God of Our Fathers by the Bauman Bible Telecasts Inc.
For one thing the AF has now decided to take over policemen duties on our civilian streets in Homestead, Fl and who knows where else? How much better is that? Would you appreciate them arresting you as you walk down the street and hauled off to jail? Is that what our AF is supposed to be doing better? Also, how hard is this country now being forced to accept muslim law, for their faith if that is the correct word for their fanaticism). Our founding fathers did not write Separation of church and State to forbid any form of religion, rather to state that the government could not force any particular religion–as was being done in Europe, and was the reason for so many to come to America to seek religious freedom. There is a difference. And Christianity remains as much a religion as it did thousands of years ago, military politics or not. They can't change it or destroy it. Only forbid it to their members. They are free to suck up the others as they do. and go about their better things as well.
All religious books have words from both God and Satan. Which scriptures are chosen and used to promote a sense of duty tied to a God of Love and compassion is an act of free Will. A gift from a loving God. There is no law that says, one can't follow or quote a law of war, hate and division for that God is Satan. I always say, let the wicked kill the wicked, thus ridding our world of hypocrites and abusers of words. God bless to any who read and understand without being offended. All men have the freedom to choose, pick and decide whether they truly wish to kill another human being. Thus all the teachings of worldly religionists, to "Love thy Enemy." proves hypocrisy has no equal when it comes to worldly truths only taught by worldly men. God teaches his own and the world knows them not.
Love and compassion have nothing to do with any perceived gods. Some religions have no god.
What happened to freedom of thought, speech and press? A passage or a verse should be judged on its meaning and relevance to what is being taught. A religion of nothing is also a religion, ask the Atheist. – If the Air force Hiarchy is to be followed, does it mean we just close all our thought, voice and mind and stop being a free being?
Atheism is not a religion. To say it is is similar to claiming bald is a hair color or to not collect stamps is a hobby.
Nobody has told the religious to stop practicing their religion. The government just can't promote any. Besides, Jesus said not to flaunt it. Matthew 6
Yes. It seems they will interpret any founding document to suit their own agenda.
Maybe that's why the left is so scared of the Tea Party and the Constitutionalists. The rule of law, unless it's their rule of law, must be stopped.
You seem scared since you have no backers.
thank you Senator Cornyn for letting the public know of this. It is another assault on my christian faith. This course has a constitutional right to "stay put". You don't give up a fight by pulling out. You fight for what is right. and just and moral.
What I don't understand is Why, if one does not believe in the Bible, our Lord, WHY are they so rabid with hatred about this? How can something they do not believe even exists arouse so much hatred and venom? For those tolerant of Satan and devil worship–didn't that creature come from the Bible? If something doesn't exist, then how can it do any harm to anyone? Did a childhood of video games with extensive violence become so real their emotions couldn't develop beyond that point to any degree of tolerance and humanity? Attention deficit disorder must be a problem as well. Common sense not ever heard of? I believe but I nor any other believer I know forces that down anyone's throat. As far as the ACLU goes, I can't believe they aren't creatures straight from hell with their determination to so totally eradicate God, Christian religion. If anyone does believe in God—they do! As for the Air Force, our other military forces that refuse the Christian faith, it must be like, " Abandon hope all ye who enter here."
LOTS of Christians support the ACLU. The government is forgidden from promoting religion by the Constitution you claim to respect!
To Foxnews Radio: I have posted two comments as replies to other posted comments. You have not allowed either one that I can find, yet mine were not offensive, and are true. So, if you are refusing them then you are censoring freedom of speech for a very arbitrary reason. Biased and bigoted as well. Thank you for ???
To Foxnews Radio: I have posted two comments as replies to other posted comments. You have not allowed either one that I can find
I get that the AF pulled the course because of the group that was threatening to file suit. However, if the pulled course was called "Christian Just War Theory", it sounds like a corrected curriculum would have to be called "Just War Theory & Religion" or "Just War Theology". In such a revision, you could include multiple faith perspectives. But if the officers filing suit really want to follow this through, they had better be prepared to see their argument (that theology and military strategy don't mix) through to the end. While I don't think military training benefits from indulging in religious connotations, there are a lot of people in the Pentagon and the Capitol who think just that…
If you want to read this story as written by the Investigative Reporter that did the work and broke the story vs Todd Starnes re-printing of it without sourcing despite his being alerted to this oversight in his article see Air Force Pulls Christian-Themed Ethics Training for Nuclear Missile Officers After Publication of Truthout Report | Truthout http://www.truth-out.org/aftermath-jesus-loves-nu…
Actually the catalyst for pulling the course, as the Air Force admits was due to the publicity from the breaking of this exclusive report by Jason Leopold at TruthOut.Org. Despite being contacted and now knowing original reporting, Todd Starnes refuses to properly source this story. Pitiful excuse for a journalist has to depend on the work of others to fill airtime, Air Force Pulls Christian-Themed Ethics Training for Nuclear Missile Officers After Publication of Truthout Report | Truthout http://www.truth-out.org/aftermath-jesus-loves-nu…
I was a military wife for 21 years..and worked on a military base for 22 years. So why don't you explain to me why the army (TX, AK, AL to name 3 I am aware of) had to make provision for the wicca cult, the muslims a prayer room? You can say what you like fellow, but they DO favor certain religious beliefs!
Allowing everyone to practice theirs is not promoting any. Classes in bible verses is. We all pay taxes, not just Christians.