It is fashionable to argue that the power of the radical right is exaggerated, since Roe hangs on, even if by a thread and even if many women have, practically, too little access to be deemed to have a meaningful choice.
HOWEVER, as we catalogue here and on our primary website, the erosion of the constitutional separation of church state is significant, deeply worrisome, and will be hard to re-assemble after the careful edifice of Madison and other Founders is eroded.
On the jump, disturbing indications that indicate an end of progress in ensuring that Jews, atheists, Muslims, and other religious minorities can attend the Air Force Academy (earlier stories can be found here) and serve their country without risk of efforts by the majority to convert them.
The Air Force, under pressure from evangelical Christian groups and members of Congress, softened its guidelines on religious expression yesterday to emphasize that superior officers may discuss their faith with subordinates and that chaplains will not be required to offer nonsectarian prayers.
"This does affirm every airman's right, even the commanders' right, to free exercise of religion, and that means sharing your faith," said Maj. Gen. Charles C. Baldwin, the Air Force's chief of chaplains.
The guidelines were first issued in late August after allegations that evangelical Christian commanders, coaches and cadets at the Air Force Academy had pressured cadets of other faiths. The original wording sought to tamp down religious fervor and to foster tolerance throughout the Air Force. It discouraged public prayers at routine events and warned superior officers that personal expressions of faith could be misunderstood as official statements.
But evangelical groups, such as the Colorado-based Focus on the Family, saw the guidelines as overly restrictive. They launched a nationwide petition drive, sounded alarms on Christian radio stations, and deluged the White House and Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne's office with e-mails calling the guidelines an infringement of the Constitution's guarantees of free speech and free exercise of religion.
Americans United note,
The guidelines, called “Revised Interim Guidelines Concerning Free Exercise Of Religion In The Air Force,” significantly backtracks from the those the Air Force issued last year following an investigation into allegations of heavy-handed forms of proselytization at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, said the one-page guidelines completely miss the point.
“The document fails to grapple with the real issue of whether our Air Force will be welcoming to a diverse group of cadets, where many views about religion will be allowed,” Lynn said. “Air Force officials appear to be more concerned with appeasing the powerful Religious Right lobbyists who have argued against any guidelines that seek to respect and protect the rights of all cadets, not just those adhering to majority religious beliefs.”
The first set of guidelines issued last year were prompted by the calls of Americans United for Air Force officials to look into allegations of official preference toward evangelical Christianity at the Air Force Academy. A team of Air Force officials that investigated the atmosphere at the Academy recommended the adoption of guidelines regulating religious activity in the Air Force.
Lynn called today’s guidelines especially troubling because they focus heavily on protecting the rights of chaplains, while ignoring the rights of nonbelievers and minority faiths. [. . .]
Lynn noted, “It is shocking that there is no similar provision for regular Air Force personnel who do not wish to participate in prayer or other religious activities.”
FOR A SURPRISINGLY contrarian view, check out the RAC's website.
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