I'd love to know what this broad thinks our nation was built upon.
Posted on 05/12/2005 12:41:32 PM PDT by wagglebee
Here’s a story that will throw you for a loop: a "chaplain” at the U.S. Air Force Academy is complaining that the school’s administration has a "systemic and pervasive” problem of promoting religious religious values with a Christian bent.
The chaplain, Capt. Melinda Morton, a "Lutheran minister” spoke out publicly on Tuesday as an Air Force task force arrived at the academy to investigate charges that officers and staff members pushed their religious beliefs on cadets.
And she claimed that a tolerance program developed at the academy, called Respecting the Spiritual Values of all People (R.S.V.P.), was watered down after it was shown to officers.
Maj. Gen. Charles C. Baldwin, chief of chaplains for the Air Force, screened the 90-minute R.S.V.P. film in October, according to Capt. Morton, and asked her: "Why is it that the Christians never win?” in reaction to some of the program’s depictions of cadet interactions.
"Chaplain” Morton’s complaints about too much religion at the military academy is creating waves, and earned her hero status in a report in the New York Times Thursday.
Gen. Baldwin acknowledged in an interview that he felt too many scenes in the film portrayed Christians at fault for excessive evangelical proselytizing.
He also said he asked that the Air Force cut segments on non-Christian religions such as Buddhism, Judaism and Native American spirituality.
The problem in dealing with proselytizing and church-state issues at the academy, he explained, "always is, when is a person crossing the line, or when are they being a positive person of faith, like our president.”
Last year, the Colorado Springs academy invited Yale Divinity School professor Kristen Leslie and six Yale graduate students to visit the school and observe how the chaplains minister to the cadets.
A memo from the Yale team cited the "stridently evangelical themes” at a worship service attended by 600 new cadets.
Leslie said a chaplain urged cadets to pray for those who didn’t attend and "remind them of the consequences ... those not ‘born again will burn in the fires of hell.’”
But academy spokesman Johnny Whitaker disputed that account, saying several other chaplains told him that no one mentioned burning "in the fires of hell.”
Morton, a 48-year-old "Lutheran minister," said she was removed from her post as executive officer to the chief chaplain, Col. Michael Whittington, last week. She claimed the dismissal came after he pressured her to deny details of what happened at the religious service.
But Whitaker said Whittington sent Morton an e-mail on May 4 saying he was removing her "to ensure a smooth and complete transition” for new leaders.
Morgan said she had stepped forward because "it’s the Constitution, not just a nice rule we can follow or not follow. That includes not using your power to advance your religious agenda.”
She acknowledged that after speaking out, "I don’t think I have much future in the Air Force.”
I always condssidered the Marin Corp to be ultra Catholic. I wonder if they are under attack by atheists in cloth.
Not really. There is no official rule encouraging aggressive proselytization.
The fact is, people who are academy age are going to have many spirited conversations with each other about life, faith, values, ideas, etc.
And this woman is trying to create an atmosphere in which cadets will be intimidated from sharing their beliefs with other cadets.
It's a speech code.
Show of hands:
How many read this with a puzzled frown, UNTIL they got to the sentence, "The chaplain, Capt. Melinda Morton"?
How many then said, "Ohhh"?
Dan
I agree. The introduction of women into the ministry has made it effete. This woman is a LINO and probably has more in common with the pagan movement then Christianity.
(ladylike patting of correctly-gloved hands)
I would have said NJ or NY.
All I can say is that I've never been closer to God then when I was flying and one of the warning lights went on...
Yeah, but if you're the Jewish student and instructors, staff and officers at the academy are telling you to accept Christ or go to Hell, it's got to be a little intimidating.
Frankly, I don't care what the students do. It's the staff that bothers me. When it's staff and officers doing it, then it becomes semi-official. That just isn't right.
That wording is just like the polls on the net. The pollster can word the questions to get the desired results.
Like the one about
"changing the Senate rules to end filibusters"
rather than asking
"to continue the Senate traditions of the past 214 years of allowing an up or down vote".
"Reporter" interviewing General Patton; "Is it true that you like to read the Bible?"
General Patton to "Reporter"; "I sure do. Every goddammed day!"
Elmendorf was a popular choice for assignment during rhe time of my career, which ended in 1972.
I'd love to know what this broad thinks our nation was built upon.
No. They are the Northerners. They were once one group, but split, IIRC, shortly before the Civil War.
Ironically, the church that was on the wrong side way back then, is on the right side of the theological and culture wars nowadays.
>>She acknowledged that after speaking out, "I don’t think I have much future in the Air Force.”<<
She?!?!
Well, that little issue aside, maybe if she actually READ a bible, she would have a different take on this. There is something in there about Jesus saying He is the truth and the life and nobody comes to the Father but through Him.
Then again, maybe she skipped that part.
THATS A WOMAN!
You got to be kidding.
I suspect this thing gets it's kicks NOT on Route 66 but at just about any "Y" available.
Sounds like this Air Force "Chaplain" doesn't have a history as Lutheran minister, let alone a future.
Next, she'll be offering fruit to the cadets.
Send her on up to White Alice.
Ditto.
Let men take positions of responsibility and leadership. It ain't easy. I'll be glad to follow.
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