-Caveat Lector-
Begin forwarded message:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: August 3, 2007 9:36:57 PM PDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Onward Christian Soldiers: Are Five-Cross Generals in
Charge of the Pentagon?
DoD Inspector General Finds
Misconduct by Pentagon Generals
Promoting “Christian Embassy”
http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/press-releases/
christian_embassy.html
At last, truth to power. As Mark Twain so presciently said, “A lie
goes half-way around the world before truth gets its boots on.” The
Military Religious Freedom Foundation’s (MRFF’s) (http://
www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org) long diligence in requesting
investigation has now resulted in the US Department of Defense
Inspector General’s determination of misconduct on the part of high-
ranking Pentagon personnel. For four years, MRFF Founder Mikey
Weinstein has worked to ensure the Constitutional guarantees of
religious freedom to which all Americans are entitled.
In response to the DoD Inspector General’s Report (http://
www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/press-releases/
christian_embassy_report.pdf), the Military Religious Freedom
Foundation Founder and President Mikey Weinstein released the
following statement:
“This U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General’s (DoD/IG)
report confirms the intentional dismantling of the Constitutionally
mandated wall separating church and state by some of the highest
ranking officials in the Bush Administration and the U.S. military.
Embarrassingly feeble excuses proffered by senior U.S. Army and Air
Force generals and other senior officers reveal long and deep
collusion with a fundamentalist, religious missionary organization,
the ‘Christian Embassy’. That these senior Pentagon officials
control the world’s largest nuclear, chemical and biological
arsenal should eviscerate the American public's trust and
confidence in their military and civilian leadership. The shocking
allowance of unrestricted Pentagon access to fundamentalist
Christian missionaries through the official ‘badging’ process is an
outrageous national security breach of the highest order.
Therefore, MRFF now demands immediate Congressional oversight
hearings on this breach. Inexplicably, the DoD/IG failed to fault
Secretary of the Army (and former Acting Secretary of the Air
Force) Preston M.(‘Pete’) Geren, even though his role in the
‘Christian Embassy’ video clearly led the way for other senior
officers’ participation. MRFF intends to file expeditiously a
comprehensive Federal lawsuit that will rapaciously pursue legal
remedies to the multitude of horrific Constitutional violations
this DoD/IG report reveals.”
The 46-page report dated July 20, 2007 found that:
Pentagon Chaplain Colonel Ralph G. Benson obtained limited approval
for the non-profit, non-Federal religious organization “Christian
Embassy” to film in the Pentagon by mischaracterizing the purpose
and proponent of their new, fundraising video. He had stated that
the video was to document the Pentagon’s own ministry rather than
that of a non-Federal entity, when it was actually intended to
attract new supporters.
Benson thus provided “Christian Embassy” a selective benefit,
including permission to film and unescorted access to Pentagon
areas and personnel that other organizations would not have received.
Seven high-ranking military officers, including major generals and
brigadier generals were filmed in interviews with “Christian
Embassy” during the duty day with rank clearly displayed in
official and often identifiable Pentagon locations.
None of the officers had sought or received approval to participate
in official capacity or uniform.
The officers’ remarks conferred approval of and support to
“Christian Embassy”, and some officers’ remarks implied that they
spoke for a group of senior military leaders.
The officers defended their actions by asserting that “Christian
Embassy” had become a “quasi-Federal entity”, since the Department
of Defense had endorsed the organization to General Officers for
over twenty five years. “Christian Embassy” is in fact affiliated
with Campus Crusade for Christ, a worldwide evangelical missionary
organization.
Chaplain Benson defended his actions by asserting a First Amendment
Establishment Clause right in connection with his professional status.
Mr. Robert Varney, Executive Director of “Christian Embassy”,
testified that the new video was used for his organization’s
fundraising; indeed the new video covered exclusively the non-
Federal organization, but did not mention the Pentagon’s ministry.
The new, 2004 video updated “Christian Embassy’s” prior promo video
of 2001 and included endorsements of the organization and its
“services” from supporters working on Capitol Hill, other Federal
agencies and embassies, wholly unconnected with the
