Posted on 01/06/2014 2:24:08 PM PST by jazusamo
Full title: DOD Will Review Training Materials That List Evangelical Christianity and Catholicism as ‘Religious Extremism’
(CNSNews.com) – The Department of Defense will review its military training materials following a coalition of religious liberty advocates expressing outrage in a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel that Christianity is described in the materials as “religious extremism” based, in part, on categorization provided to the government by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The letter, signed by a large coalition that includes the Family Research Council, American Values, Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty (CARL), Judicial Watch and the Media Research Center – the parent organization of CNSNews.com – is the culmination of a sequence of events that began with a non-commissioned officer telling CARL about the training materials.
Following a Freedom of Information Act request and further reports of those materials being used at U.S. military bases, the coalition sent Hagel two letters – the latest on Dec. 6.
“As your Department considers a review of current DOD training resources, it is imperative that the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) ensure future materials do not rely on information from organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) or any others that engage in groundless and highly pejorative mischaracterizations of long-standing ministries and organizations for their own political purposes,” the Dec. 6 letter to Hagel stated.
Orthodox Judaism is also on the “extremism” list, along with the Klu Klux Kan, the Muslim Brotherhood and al Qaeda.
CNSNews.com asked DOD if the secretary would respond to the letter and received an email response from Nathan Christensen, DOD spokesman who began by saying that it would be “inappropriate” for him to speak for Hagel.
“However, I can tell you that the Department is taking four actions,” Christensen told CNSNews.com. “First, the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness has directed the Services to complete a review of their MEO training programs to ensure it comports with policy and guidance.
“Second, the Department is now reviewing the DEOMI education and training materials for Equal Opportunity Advisors (EOAs) to make certain that, when it applies to DOD policy, it is accurate,” Christensen said.
“Third, DEOMI is developing, with coordination by OSD and the Services, standardized training templates for training topics such as extremism in order to stop individuals from developing their own training materials that are neither approved nor endorsed by the Department or their component.,” Christensen said.
“Fourth, OSD is working with DEOMI to determine whether DEOMI should refer to private organizations in DEOMI's training materials and, if so, what disclaimer is appropriate,” Christensen said. Christensen said the department anticipates completing all four actions by mid-January, 2014.
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William “Gerry” Boykin, executive vice president of FRC, praised the decision with a caveat.
“I’m glad to see that they are taking this seriously,” Boykin told CNSNews.com. “But I reserve my final judgment until I see what action they take.
“Actions they take will speak louder than any words,” Boykin said, adding that the SPLC was itself linked to terrorism after a man shot a security guard at FRC’s Washington, D.C., headquarters in 2012.
Floyd Corkins, who was convicted of domestic terrorism and sentenced to 25 years in prison, told authorities that he targeted FRC after finding the organization on a “Hate Map” on SPLC’s website.
“We want the DOD to no longer use the SPLC as a source in any of its training materials,” Ron Crews, executive director of CARL, told CNSNews.com.
“[SPLC] is a politically charged organization that has no place in the military,” Crews said.
The DOD response to CNSNews.com’s inquiry also included the boiler plate statements about DEOMI, including its goal of training personnel to be an “Equal Opportunity Advisor to commander and senior leaders.”
“The Department of Defense strictly prohibits military personnel from advocating or participating in supremacist, extremist, or criminal gang doctrine, ideology, or causes, including those that advance, encourage, or advocate illegal discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, religion, ethnicity, or national origin or those that advance, encourage or advocate the use of force, violence or criminal activity,” the statement said.
“Diversity is a source of the strength for the Department of Defense, and is key component to maintaining our highest state of readiness,” the statement added. “Diversity encompasses more than race & gender – we seek to include diversity of thought, background, language, culture and skills,” the statement said. “Our force comes from a diverse populous, and certainly our military is better served when it reflects the nation it serves.”
The letter to Hagel clearly stated the coalition’s hope for DOD’s review of its training materials.
“Our coalition believes OSD should issue clear guidance to DEOMI and instructing installations to stop relying on SPLC and other non-governmental sources as approved resources for equal opportunity training or other purposes – especially, those dealing with such topics as hate crimes and other politically charged activities,” the letter stated.
To be hated for the love of Jesus is a blessing.
Not surprised or afraid.
[:-)=====================================
An Orthodox monastic beard. (Our monks follow the old Nazarite practice of not cutting their hair or beard.)
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