Weinstein Launches Military Religious Freedom Foundation

March 16, 2006

Source: AU

http://blog.au.org/2006/03/military_maneuv.html

On March 16, 2006 Americans United for the Separation of Church and State reported, "Albuquerque businessman Mikey Weinstein yesterday announced the launch of a new non-profit group called the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF). Weinstein’s son, Curtis, attends the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Curtis Weinstein reported incidents of anti-Semitism and official bias toward evangelical forms of Christianity to his father. While investigating the matter, Mikey Weinstein uncovered troubling evidence of a too-close-for-comfort relationship between branches of the military and Religious Right-style evangelicals... Weinstein, an Americans United member, was further angered when the Air Force, under pressure from Religious Right groups, backed away from guidelines that would have cleared up some questions about proselytizing by chaplains and superior officers. To rectify matters, Weinstein says his new group will work full time to make certain that religious and philosophical freedom is respected in the military. A press release from the group reads, 'The Military Religious Freedom Foundation will serve as a watchdog organization – educating the public and the media on issues related to the separation of church and state within the Armed Forces, and litigating when necessary.'”