Religious Freedom and the Pentagon

Floor Speech

Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I want to be certain that the administration and Pentagon leadership do not deny our men and women in uniform one of the very freedoms they are fighting to protect.

On Monday, I led on a letter sent to Defense Secretary Hagel demanding details about a meeting between Pentagon officials and anti-Christian extremist, Mikey Weinstein. Weinstein has spent 9 years at war, those are his words, at war with evangelical Christians, who, he says, are committing ``spiritual rape'' against the U.S. military, Christians who are merely exercising their First Amendment right, or primary duties, in the case of chaplains.

Mr. Weinstein exploits freedom of speech to name-call and to label Christians as the ``Christian Taliban'' and ``al Qaeda.'' But he seeks to shut down the religious freedom of expression of servicemembers in the process.

I am troubled with several anti-Christian steps the Pentagon has taken in recent years. That is why my colleagues and I seek answers from Secretary Hagel on this important question now.

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