Interfaith Alliance

Subscribe

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ari Geller - Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications  202-265-3000

Washington, DC – Interfaith Alliance President Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy issued the following statement today following the supreme Court’s decision overturning large portions of the nations campaign finance laws. Interfaith Alliance became involved in campaign finance issues following the 2000 election based on the principles of equality, integrity and fairness which are fundamental to the vast majority of faith traditions.

Today’s campaign finance ruling by the United States Supreme Court should be of great concern to anyone who values freedom of religion. Interfaith Alliance has been a long time supporter of campaign finance reform based on the idea that equality, integrity and fairness are fundamental to the vast majority of faith traditions. Today’s ruling dismisses those principles in favor of unregulated spending by corporations and special interest groups.

Given that the court based its ruling around a misguided understanding of free speech, I am also concerned that this ruling may foreshadow the direction of the court on a church/state issue like clergy endorsements from the pulpit.

I urge Congress to take corrective action as soon as possible

 

# # #

The Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, the Interfaith Alliance has 185,000 members across the country from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition. For more information visit www.interfaithalliance.org.

Subscribe

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ari Geller - Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications  202-265-3000

January 21, 2010

The Honorable Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

I write to you out of deep concern regarding the recent revelation that a military contractor has been placing coded biblical references on gun sights used by soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.  While I was happy to hear that this incident will be scrutinized, I remain concerned that this episode is only the latest in a long line of violations of the boundaries between religion and government within the military.  I respectfully ask that you direct the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct a thorough investigation aimed at creating guidelines that ensure that religion no longer plays an inappropriate role in our armed forces.

The Bible verse-inscribed telescopic gun sights clearly violate a government rule prohibiting proselytizing.  These weapons are being used by American soldiers not only to root out terrorists but also to train Afghan and Iraqi soldiers; images of American soldiers as Christian crusaders come to mind when they are carrying weaponry bearing such verses.  This incident simply adds to the perception that religion rather than national security is at the heart of our military’s presence abroad.  In recent years, we also have seen Department of Defense reports using biblical verses as cover pages and soldiers stationed in Afghanistan distributing Bibles.

The original response of U.S. Central Command did nothing to raise my confidence in this matter.  A spokesman likened this incident to the presence of “In God We Trust” on our currency.  The comparison between a New Testament inscription and the more universal phrase found on the dollar bill is deeply troubling.  The verses chosen by Trijicon for their telescoping sights are testaments to the saving power of belief in Jesus Christ, and are clearly sectarian in nature.

One of the greatest, and arguably most unifying, aspects of being an American is that we are not all members of the same religious tradition or, indeed, of any religious tradition at all.  The same holds true for the men and women serving in our armed forces. Trijicon’s actions should be of concern to people of all faiths including Christians, but it is particularly appalling that soldiers who do not practice Christianity have been unknowingly wielding weaponry in service to their country that preaches the merits of a religion to which they do not adhere.  It is equally troubling that these men and women will continue to have their beliefs ignored and belittled in this manner until this situation can be rectified.

As our Commander-in-Chief, I hope you will:

• •Direct the Secretary of Defense to institute policies that ensure national security while continuing our historic, constitutional mission to protect freedom – not promote religion.
• •Review and revise the military’s procurement process to ensure that contractors are told they may not imbed religious messages in military equipment.
• •Ensure that the government will halt purchases from Trijicon until assurances have been given that the equipment will be free of any sectarian statements.
• •Direct the Secretary of Defense to ensure that telescopic sights manufactured by Trijicon with these engravings are rapidly phased out in favor of weaponry that does not promote religion in any way.

Unfortunately, this is just the latest in a long list of ways in which military leaders have promoted the perception that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are “us vs. them” conflicts on a religious level, and of the sad state of religious freedom in our military.  The investigation would benefit the nation best if it goes even deeper than this most recent incident. 

Sincerely,


Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy

cc: The Honorable Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense
Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Honorable Carl Levin, Senate Armed Services Committee Chair
The Honorable John McCain, Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member
The Honorable Buck McKeon, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member
The Honorable Ike Skelton, House Armed Services Committee Chair


 

# # #

The Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, the Interfaith Alliance has 185,000 members across the country from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition. For more information visit www.interfaithalliance.org.

Subscribe

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ari Geller - Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications  202-265-3000

Washington, DC – Interfaith Alliance President, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy issued the following statement today following a report from ABC News that U.S. military weapons have been inscribed with coded biblical messages by their manufacturer, Trijicon. The issue was brought to the attention of ABC News by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. According to the report, the inscriptions on the weapons were done without the knowledge or permission of the military.

Reports that coded biblical verses have been inscribed on gun sights used by the U.S. military by their manufacturer are extremely disturbing and should be investigated by military authorities and the practice stopped immediately. Religious undertones have all too often been a part of military rhetoric and actions in recent years. Following reports in the last year that biblical verses regularly were printed on a defense department documents and accounts of proselytizing by military personnel in Afghanistan, this latest incident adds to the perception that religion rather than national security is at the heart of our military’s presence abroad. 

Obviously, Trijicon, the defense contractor, knew they were doing something wrong and trying to get away with it or they would not have encoded messages that, when used appropriately, need no disguise.  The company should be ashamed of its actions, which do no favor either to the United States military or to Christianity; just the opposite.  Messages of life and peace should not be prostituted by placing their imprint on instruments designed for death and war.

As a Christian, I am offended by Trijicon’s dismissal of the criticism saying that the organization raising the issue is “not Christian.”  This is not a time for attacking critics, it is a time for Trijicon to clean up its behavior.  As a patriot of this nation, I am outraged at this corporation’s lack of appreciation for our first freedom—religious freedom—and its corollary of separation between institutions of religion and institutions of government.  As an advocate for inter-religious cooperation, I am saddened by this insensitive effort to minimize people who do not embrace Christianity.

I call on the Department of Defense to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation of this incident, and take appropriate action if any laws were broken. Once again I repeat my call from last year for Commander-in-Chief Obama to direct the Secretary of Defense to institute policies that amid efforts to assure national security he also ensures protection for our nation’s Constitution and its promise of  protecting freedom and not promoting religion.

For more information on Interfaith Alliance’s call last year for the Secretary of Defense to institute new polices visit: http://www.interfaithalliance.org/news/293-interfaith-alliance-statement-on-bible-verses-in-bush-era-intelligence-reports
 

# # #

The Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, the Interfaith Alliance has 185,000 members across the country from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition. For more information visit www.interfaithalliance.org.

Subscribe

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ari Geller - Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications  202-265-3000

Washington, DC – Interfaith Alliance President, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy issued the following statement today in response to Pat Robertson’s comments on the 700 Club that the earthquake in Haiti was a result of a pact its people had made with the devil. 

Pat Robertson has once again labeled a tragic situation as an act of God blaming the tragedy on the victims of the tragedy – in this case the Haitian people. Enough, please! At a time when the rest of the world is coming together to aid recovery and to provide relief, Robertson’s comments are inexcusable. We don’t need anybody claiming to be able to hear the devil and speak as God.

# # #

The Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, the Interfaith Alliance has 185,000 members across the country from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition. For more information visit www.interfaithalliance.org.