Seven high-ranking officers, including four generals, could face discipline for what the Pentagon considers their promotion of Christianity.
-
Maj. Gen. Jack Catton of the U.S. Air Force offers a testimonial in a promotional video for the Christian Embassy, a Washington-based Christian group.
The Pentagon inspector general found the seven officers to be engaged in misconduct when they appeared in a promotional fundraiser video for the evangelical group Christian Embassy three years ago, according to OneNewsNow.
Christian Embassy was founded by the late Dr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ and ministers to diplomats, government leaders and military officers. The ministry holds prayer meetings each Wednesday morning at the Pentagon.
The officers were said to be in uniform at the Pentagon when they expressed military approval and support of the evangelical ministry in the video, according to The Associated Press.
The report said none of the officers asked for or received approval from superiors and recommended “appropriate corrective action” to be considered against them, according to AP.
A retired Army officer who had also attended the Christian Embassy Wednesday prayer meeting believes it’s hypocritical for the Pentagon to consider disciplinary action against the officers.
“There have been others in very senior positions, both in and out of uniform, who have gone to some of these Islamic centers and have bent over backwards to accommodate Islamists,” said retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis to OneNewsNow Friday.
He pointed to the Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England who in early June joined the dedication of a new Islamic prayer center at the Quantico Marine Corps Base.
“[A]s far as I’m concerned, [he was] giving tacit endorsement of Islam just by his presence and making a formal visit,” said Maginnis. “And if he can’t tolerate a few generals and admirals stating, because they’re Christians, they think it’s a good idea that you promote Bible studies and Christian speakers into the Pentagon, I find that hypocritical and certainly an unfortunate circumstance.”
Maginnis thinks that the group Military Religious Freedom Foundation might be behind the pressure to investigate the officers.
“This is an ACLU-type hit on the Pentagon insisting that the inspector general conduct an investigation to get to the bottom of whether or not generals improperly used their influence with regard to a particular ministry,” he said.
The officers currently still face potential discipline for violating ethics rules by helping Christian Embassy.
RSS
The Military and Christianity, the American Precedent.
General Washington, took the Lord's Supper at Morristown, N.J. from a Presbyterian minister, and by his executive orders strongly supported a military chaplaincy. Yale College President Timothy Dwight (1795), earlier served as a Chaplain to his Revolutionary War Connecticut Company along with Nathan Strong. These are typical examples from that day, and serve as an Establishment by Gen. Washington himself, of a Christian Chaplaincy.
There are 4 Biblical Theological clauses in the Declaration of Independence: 1. All men created, 2. Endowed by their Creator, 3. Supreme Judge of the World, 4. Protection of Divine Providence.
The Constitution closes with: "in the year of our Lord 1787."
Declaration Signer John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian Minister, and President of Princeton College, trained more American politicians than Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth at the time, and Biblical theology at Princeton was a requirement for graduation. James Madison, architect of the U.S. Constitution was his premier student, along with may others of high government and military rank.
New Jersey's Governor Samuel L. Southard, who also served as President of the U.S. Senate, and Secretary of the Treasury and War, was a Princeton Graduate, (A.M. 1804.)
In an important Address to Princeton's secretive Whig and Cliosophic societies in 1837 he states: "the importance of the study of the Bible, in forming the character of literary and scientific men, of scholars of every guide and every occupation, suggestions, which I hope, will not be inappropriate to the first literey exercise, in this edifice, which has been reaered from its ashes, for the worship of the Author of that Book." (Source: "Governor Southard's Political Discourse at Princeton, 1837). And this, from a 1825 Secretary of War.
It is an absolute disgrace that these servicemen represented themselves in this way while in uniform. I served in the US Marine Corps and it was unequivocally explained to us that while in uniform we represented the United States military, not the church, not the local bar, not ourselves. When in uniform you don’t speak out about any disagreements you may have with your government, you don’t endorse products and if you have any brains at all, you don’t endorse a religion when we are at war with people diametrically opposed to Christian meddling in their affairs. By uniformed men publically endorsing Christianity as the religion of choice we are sending a message to others that we are indeed engaging in an imperialistic crusade to spread our preferred system of belief. Whether the nature of our involvement is a religious one or a matter of survival becomes irrelevant when the perception is that we are engaging ourselves in a holy war. How can a Christian who believes that radical Islamic maniacs trying to spread their message through violence believe that our struggle against them should be clothed in the uniforms of Christ? It’s absolute insanity. Our nation is supposed to be better than that, and as former Marine I believe that we are, and I believe that the only way we can differentiate ourselves from Islamic countries and fanatical organizations is to make it clear that our war is a secular war for survival, not a war to spread Christianity. Would your Jesus approve of spreading his message through men in the uniform of a state, through bombs and aircraft and death? I believe if you actually read the book you subscribe to you will see that in EVERY case where Jesus was asked to be involved with matters of state he refused, it is the very reason he was crucified by the state. So don’t be so hasty to praise the state when they are spreading your message through the vessel of violence. Strong military and a strong government are necessary evils to support our way of life, and anyone who has truly served their country recognizes that we should be constantly wary of both lest they become our religion.
I want to say that I don't have a big problem with the Christian Embassy I'm just wondering if they are getting too far away from the ideals of their founder Dr. Bill Bright? I like his comment: We do not attack the Roman Church. We believe God is doing a mighty work in it and will no doubt use millions of Roman Catholics to help evangelize the world". He was a very good man who would always invite Catholics priests/apologists to participate in his first book in the series, What Christians Can Learn from One Another About Evangelizing Adults, included articles by Bill Bright, Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, and others." Is the modern group as committed to bringing us together or is hate at the root. I wonder also about the current fruits of this group. I think they need to return to watch Mr. Bright's fav. film: The Mission with Robert DeNiro. As he notes: a triumphal film with a life-changing message which will enrich your life for years to come. Let's let love win!
You are right it is important to check the fruit...test all things of the spirit...to see if they come from GOD! The Pope was right that Iraq was not a just war and unfortunately the president didn't listen to him and blood is still being spilt there. The president's brother might have converted and went to see the Pope but it's the fruit that matter and what is wrong is wrong, so he didn't change his mind. Thankfully Catholics now make up the majority of the Supreme Court for the first time and values are starting to return to the country. I'm focusing on the fruits and I like what I see. Some convert like Sam Brownback might not win but he ran a strong campaign on values. I also want to point out good people like Huckabee who has a lot of good people around him, not unlike Reagan. The Secretary of Defense invited representatives from both the Jewish and Catholic faith. It seems like these people have a lot of hate in them based on the comments: "have bent over backwards to accommodate Islamists". We need to focus on peace and love at this time not anger.
The American Military personnel have the same Constitutional rights as anyone in this nation. We are free to express our faith, as well as practice our faith whether in uniform or not.
It is refreshing to see men and woman of faith stand up for Jesus Christ!
Ane excuse me citizen, but many of us have ELECTED JESUS CHRIST! We honor Him and we give Him all praise. He alone is worthy of praise. HE is KING of Kings! and LORD of lords!
He isn't elected by us, but by His Father, we choose whether we believe God or not.
The only church that GOD recognizes is the Body of Christ, those who worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Man does not state where the true church is, God does! He tells us to check the fruit...test all things of the spirit...to see if they come from GOD!
Father, thank you for men of integrity who are NOT ashamed to stand up and acknowledge YOU in the public square, may YOU be glorified in all we do and say!
For HIS glory! I pray Lord God that no weapon formed against these 7 will prosper in Jesus Name! AMEN!
No King but King Jesus!!!
Our Nation is in a big bind. Being twisted and soon torn.
Our Nation is founded on "No King but King Jesus"
Our nation needs other No King but King Jesus!!!
Our Lord and Saviour Declared a Spiritual War on His Reserrection.
Our Return of the King--This is His Domain
No King but King Jesus!!!
I praise God through our Lord Jesus Christ that these mean have been so brave, so courageous to potentially sacrifice their carers.
Here are a group of men showing the world their bravery in a world through the PC culture that is being created through out American culture that is increasingly despising and declaring men and boys are ---bad!
. Does your local fellowship give thanks and appreciate men and fathers. I truly hope so.
John 3:16
http://pc-christianity-genovese.blogspot.com/
listener316: When a person is wearing the American military uniform, they are representing the American government, and thus endorsing faith while wearing the uniform is the equivalent of any other representative of the U.S. government endorsing religion, which is a violation of the establishment clause of the constitution.
If you have any evidence of people of other faiths doing what these officers did, I would like to personally request you turn it in to the proper authorities. Otherwise, on what basis do you make the claim that the military is treating non-Christian faiths better?
Since when is a persons personal testimony and expression of faith (any faith) whether in uniform or not an attempt at governmental endorsement of a particular religion? People in any vocation should have the right to express their personal faith (any faith) in a respectful manner. Honestly if it were a faith based video from any other faith & someone in a high, medium or low ranking position was sharing their personal testimony it would be chalked up as "freedom of religion". My message for the ACLU & everone else is to use the same standard of "free speech" accoss the board. Give up trying to silence Christians just because we don't agree with your secular "world religion" & showing a double standard by "protecting the free speech" of non-Chiristians. Christians support freedom rather than oppression. We would welcome healthy dialogue with others. I have not read the other posts to this board so I am not responding to anyone, merely sharing my views on the situation.
it surprises me to no end when american christians are surprised when we face a little bit of resistance to the gospel.Jesus said that the world would hate us just as it hated him.we seem to think that if something doesnt go our way we must be being persecuted,or the enemy is attacking.meanwhile all over the world christians face persecution up to and sometimes including death.and while our christian brothers and sisters face these chalenges, we freely print not just bibles but study bibles,we have whole institutes of higher learning devoted to the Lords work,and we have open churches on almost every street corner.so instead of wringing our hands over some generals that might get a slap on their wrist,we should rejoice that these generals and other officers are doing enough for God that they merit a little turbalence for the Lord.
The Pentagon doesn't need to be disciplined, nor do these soldiers. If they want to call something an embassy that clearly isn't and belong to something that they call a church and perhaps isn't that is their choice. Sure it confuses issues because as I mentioned before there is only 1 church/embassy recognized by the US. If they want to take it to the now Catholic Supreme court that is also their choice. Although I doubt they are going to discipline the pentagon. I personally think they should follow orders and not give orders.
*chuckles* Nobody elected "King Jesus," and kings are against the constitution, anyway
The PENTAGON needs to be disciplined for even thinking of bring charges against these officers!!!
No King but King Jesus!!!
Look the military shouldn't be endorsing countries, religious groups that do not officially have diplomatic ties to the US. Does Islam? No Is this nice sounding Christian Embassy have diplomatic relations? No! You can call something an embassy just like you can call something a church but that doesn't it make it so. There is only 1 religion with OFFICIAL recognition and ties to the US ...The Holy Roman Catholic Church.
theseer01: You take a vague accusation, that he backs up with the example of a CIVILIAN leader appearing at a religious function, seriously? Why?