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Americans United Welcomes Air Force Report On Religious Atmosphere At Academy

Air Force Officials Must Follow Up To Ensure Climate Is Changed At Military Institution, AU’s Lynn Says

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today welcomed a U.S. Air Force task force report addressing religious bias at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs as an important first step toward resolving the problem - but the group says more work needs to be done.

At a Pentagon press briefing this afternoon, the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Lt. Gen. Roger Brady and other Air Force officials released a 40-page report on the religious climate at the Academy. In early May, the Air Force announced formation of the Task Force to respond to “lingering allegations from sources such as Americans United for Separation of Church and State” of religious intolerance at the Air Force Academy.

The report denies that overt religious discrimination exists at the Academy but concedes there is “a failure to fully accommodate all members’ needs and a lack of awareness over where the line is drawn between permissible and impermissible expression of beliefs.”

“This report is not perfect, but it is an important first step,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “It acknowledges the extent of the problem and promises changes. It is now incumbent upon the Air Force to make certain that promise is fulfilled.”

On April 28, Americans United sent a letter and a 14-page report to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Air Force officials detailing allegations that Academy staff and cadets have used coercive tactics to promote evangelical Christianity at the institution.

Since the report’s release, Americans United has received more complaints from former and current Air Force cadets regarding the mixing of church and state at the Academy. The allegations have also drawn national press attention. Capt. MeLinda Morton, a former Lutheran chaplain at the Academy, told USA Today of pervasive proselytizing on behalf Academy staff, describing the situation as “malfeasance in the chaplaincy here.”

Lynn emphasized that AU will continue to closely monitor the situation and work with members of Congress to make certain that all religious and philosophical points of view are welcome at the institution.

“I wish the Air Force Academy had been more forthcoming in admitting that religious intolerance does exist at the Academy,” said Lynn. “Members of our military are charged with defending our way of life, which includes religious liberty. It would be ironic indeed if the Air Force failed to protect that basic right for Academy cadets.

“We intend to remain involved to ensure that the basic constitutional rights of all cadets are respected,” Lynn concluded.

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