“It is unthinkable that our own military would violate the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religious expression–a freedom that our forefathers sacrificed their lives to provide for us.”For background, read Nativity Banned at Florida School by Obama Dept. of Ed. and also read Under Pressure, Navy Drops Bible Ban at Walter Reed Hospital
-- Robert Jeffress, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas
UPDATE 12/13/13 - Pentagon Takes Orders from Atheists: Removes Nativity Scene at Air Force Base
-- From "Military Atheist Group Forces Naval Base To Remove Live Nativity Scene" by CBS News, Washington, D.C. 12/11/12
It seems that not even the military can fight back against the “War on Christmas.”
“This (referring to the live nativity) is not just support for but promotion of Christianity as the official religion of the base. This violates the Constitution and the mandates of the command to support all belief while privileging none,” the [atheists'] letter states.
The letter also said that the Muslim population in Bahrain could see the soldiers as a Christian force due to the live nativity scene, and not a secular military.
“The event is billed as a ‘holiday’ event but it is nothing but a Christian activity, and it is dishonest for the command to attempt to advertise the event as a ‘holiday’ activity when it is so clearly and exclusively biased toward Christianity. … This event threatens US security and violates the Constitution as well as command policy.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Live nativity scene at Bahrain base scuttled after atheist group complains" by Cristina Silva, Stars and Stripes 12/13/12
The MAAF regularly objects to religious events at military bases and had also complained this year about Christmas events at Army bases in Honolulu and Fort Belvoir, Va. Earlier this year, the group found fault with a gospel concert held at the Navy’s Bahrain base during the final week of Ramadan. None of these events were canceled.
[MAAF president, Jason] Torpy said the atheist group has no problem with Christmas trees, Santa Claus and other secular traditions. But Christmas trimmings directly linked to Christianity, including angels, nativity scenes, prayers and religious-leaning songs “cross the line,” especially when supported by government funding.
Christmas is openly celebrated in Bahrain among its Christian minority population.
The Rev. Fredrick Peter D’souza of the Sacred Heart Church in Manama said the church’s Christmas Eve mass is held outdoors because it draws 4,000 people each year. D’souza said the Catholic church receives permission from the Bahraini government to hold the outdoor mass and has never had any problems with protesters or critics.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Navy Cancels Nativity over Atheist Complaint" by Todd Starnes, Fox News 12/11/12
Some service members in Bahrain told Fox News called the cancellation heartbreaking and children who were supposed to act in the Nativity were devastated.
“It was horrible,” said one officer who asked not to be identified. “It was devastating. Here we are serving in the Middle East, defending our country and other people’s religions and we couldn’t understand why we can’t enjoy our own religious freedoms.”
Crews had already started building the Nativity structure, but orders were given to have it dismantled.
“You can go outside the gate and hear Christmas music, but on the base you can’t have a Nativity,” said another officer. “The sense of hypocrisy is overwhelming.”
Hiram Sasser, of the Liberty Institute, said the law is clearly on the side of the service members.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "US Navy Cancels Live Nativity Scene on Bahrain Military Base" by Alex Murashko, Christian Post Reporter 12/12/12
The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty and others in the armed services community have expressed disappointment over the Navy's decision to "inhibit the religious liberty" of military personnel at the military facility in Bahrain.
"This is another example of the military wrongly yielding to those who promote freedom from religion while squelching the constitutional protections for the free exercise of religion," said Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USAR retired, executive director of the chaplain alliance. "Every American, especially those who wear the uniform, should be allowed to exercise their religious liberties. We are very disappointed in the Navy's decision not to support the free exercise of religion of the personnel assigned to NSA Bahrain."
"To me it's just very sad that we are almost paying homage to the Atheists and Freethinkers' mindset and we are not doing due diligence and equal respect for people of faith," Crews told The Christian Post Tuesday. "Particularly those on the front lines – let's let them worship God."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
