To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
Air Force Changes Policy on Religious Speech: A Major Result of Religious Freedom "Focus Day""This is an important step in the right direction for people of faith serving in the Air Force. Before these changes, the Air Force had the most problematic policy regarding religious accommodation for its members. Now they have a policy that, in writing, protects religious freedom to a greater degree than previously. -Mike Berry, Senior Counsel and Director of Military Affairs for Liberty Institute (Washington, DC) - On November 10, just in time for Veteran's Day, the United States Air Force changed its policy regarding religious speech and freedoms in its ranks. (Photo via Arlington Cemetery) The U.S. Air Force announced the change on their website saying: Air Force officials approved Air Force Instruction 1-1, Air Force Standards, Nov. 7, to clarify guidance on Airmen’s religious rights and commanders’ authority and responsibility to protect those rights. The changes come as a result of a Religious Freedom “Focus Day” earlier this year when leaders in the Air Force’s chaplain corps came together to discuss Air Force policy regarding religious freedom as directed by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. At the Focus Day, chaplains discussed Air Force law and policy, the complaint process and how to educate and communicate with Airmen about their rights. “We provide, or provide for, the free exercise of religion and we advocate its free exercise for every member of the Air Force and the joint environment and their families,” said Maj. Gen. Howard D. Stendahl, the Air Force chief of chaplains. Several changes were made to the Air Force policy to clarify guidance for how commanders should handle religious accommodation requests or when Airmen’s rights to free exercise are questioned. Chaplain corps officials also clarified policy language to assist commanders in balancing the constitutional protections for their own free exercise of religion or other personal beliefs with the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. “We trust our commanders with the great responsibility of caring for our Airmen," Welsh said. "That includes Airmen’s physical, mental, social and spiritual health. We owe them clear guidance on what their responsibilities and rights are to protect and care for their Airmen.” Airmen who feel their leadership has failed to accommodate their religious expression appropriately or whose behavior infringes on the prohibition against governmental establishment of religion should first attempt to resolve the conflict through their chain of command, said James Carlock, the Air Force director of equal opportunity. Civilian and military Airmen should also be informed of their rights to discuss their concerns with an equal opportunity advisor in the local EO office. “We are committed to creating an environment in which Airmen can realize their highest potential, regardless of their personal religious beliefs or lack of beliefs,” Carlock said. “Taking care of our Airmen is our number one concern.” Liberty Institute released the following statements in response to the Air Force's revised policy: "This is an important step in the right direction for people of faith serving in the Air Force. In January, the Department of Defense stated that all military service branches must accommodate the religious expression of service members unless the DOD can prove why it cannot accommodate the religious speech or practice," said Mike Berry, Senior Counsel and Director of Military Affairs for Liberty Institute. Berry refers to DOD Instruction 1300.17, which was amended in January of 2014 to implement the same legal guidelines all other federal agencies must follow regarding religious expression in the workplace. "We waited nearly a year for the Air Force to change its very restrictive policy to be consistent with the DOD policy. We are pleased that the Air Force has at last taken this positive step to protecting religious freedom for its Airmen." "Our brave Airmen took an oath to defend the Constitution. In so doing, they voluntarily gave up many of their freedoms. But they did not give up their religious freedom," said Berry. "Before these changes, the Air Force had the most problematic policy regarding religious accommodation for its members. Now they have a policy that, in writing, protects religious freedom to a greater degree than previously. But only time will tell if this written policy is put into practice."
To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News Courageous: Worship Leader Sean Feucht Prepares to Confront Anti-Israel Evil, Darkness, and Horror New Emails Expose Biden's Connection to Whistleblower Who Got Trump Impeached Tennessee Passes Bill Letting Teachers Carry Guns at Schools Transgender Movement Is Losing Its Influence on Social Media to Shut Down Debate Ohio Attorney General Breaks Down Leftist Legal 'Trick' to Block GOP Efforts to Protect Kids Nearly 2,000 Minnesota Students, 15 Teachers Walk Out of LGBTQ 'Indoctrination' Lesson 'Just a Disaster': Biden's Title IX Rule Empowers LGBTQ Movement, Erases Women and Justice United For Israel March Happening on the Columbia University Campus, April 25th As Anti-Israel Activists Vandalize Texas Congressman's Office, He 'Stands With Israel' Did Letitia James Accidentally Reveal the Real Reason for Her Trump Witch Hunt? Report: the WHO Makes Major Changes to the Pandemic Treaty, and They're Good Ones; But Will It Last? Israelis Remember Hostages, Fallen Soldiers, Terror Victims as Passover Begins She Survived a Death Camp. Facing Biden DOJ Charges, She Is Prepared to Die in Prison Planned Parenthood Committed 392,712 Abortions, Received $699.3 Million in Taxpayer Funding in 2023 Student Loan Forgiveness: Morally Reprehensible and Legally Invalid Columbia Classes Go Virtual Before Passover Amid Protests Search the Articles Archives |
All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.
Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.
Home | Store | Subscribe | Facebook | Article Archive |