House Passes Amendment Supporting Religious Freedom and Tolerance at U.S. Air Force Academy

House Passes Amendment Supporting Religious Freedom and Tolerance at U.S. Air Force Academy
July 1, 2005

Recently, I have participated in several Congressional debates about religious freedom and tolerance. These discussions were prompted by incidents at the Air Force Academy that were first reported in the fall of 2004 but became more widely reported by major news outlets this past spring.

The Los Angeles Times reported that as a result of student complaints about religious insensitivity, "military officials warned teachers not to promote their religion in the classroom, while telling cadets to be careful how and when they share their faith. Further special classes on respecting religious diversity have become mandatory for students and employees."

Congress became involved in the matter during the debate on the fiscal year 2006 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. Several amendments to the Defense appropriations bill were offered in response to the allegations regarding the Air Force Academy. I supported an amendment offered by HASC (House Armed Services Committee) Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-CA). The amendment was agreed to by voice vote.

The amendment supports the freedoms and protections guaranteed by the Constitution. More specifically, the amendment reaffirmed that the expression of religious faith is welcomed in the U.S. military; that the military must be a place where there is freedom for religious expression for all faiths; and that the Secretary of the Air Force and Department of Defense Inspector General have undertaken several reviews of the issues of religious tolerance at the Air Force Academy. The amendment recommends that the Secretary of the Air Force develop recommendations to maintain a positive climate of religious freedom and tolerance at the U.S. Air Force Academy and submit to Congressional Defense committees (including HASC, which I serve on) a report providing those suggestions.

Opponents of the amendment would have denied First Amendment rights, including freedom of religion and expression (when it's religious expression) to members of the military. They offered a different amendment that called for a ban of proselytizing. Webster's Dictionary defines "proselytize" as "to induce someone to convert to one's faith." Unto itself, there is nothing coercive about proselytizing.

There are three scenarios to consider: In the first, one professes their religion. This is a personal statement about ones faith. In the second, one encourages another individual to consider adopting their beliefs. In the third, the first individual goes beyond encouraging the other person to adopt their beliefs and threatens to take action or retaliate if they do not. Clearly, the third case is outright discrimination and wrong in all circumstances.

It is very important that we protect individuals from discrimination, either coercive efforts or out-and-out instances where people are disadvantaged because of others discriminating against them based on their religious beliefs. These are the rights given in the First Amendment of the Constitution. We have taken great lengths in this Congress, and our country, to protect individuals from being discriminated against based on their religion.

When we get into issues such as the experiences Air Force cadets can share, it is important that we don't overact and actually lessen the rights that we have in the United States. The right for us to speak about our faith and share it with others, because we believe that it has importance or because we have gained from it, is incredibly important.

It isn't clear which scenario has occurred at the Air Force Academy but the report Congress asked for in the amendment should shed light on the matter. Further, the recommendations should provide rules for protecting freedom of religious expression and preventing religious discrimination.

America has freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. The amendment the House added to the Defense appropriations bill helps protect our religious freedoms.

http://www.house.gov/miketurner/news/columns/7.01.05.shtml