Maxwell code sparks religion suit

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Maxwell code sparks religion suit

By Mike Linn, Montgomery Advertiser, November 3, 2005

A document outlining a code of ethics for Air Force chaplains and distributed to Air University students at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base has been withdrawn, but that may not satisfy a former Air Force officer who has sued the service alleging "severe, systemic and pervasive" religious discrimination in the Air Force.

Mikey Weinstein, who is Jewish, is asking the Air Force to rewrite its code for chaplains, who are trained in Montgomery.

Sam Bregman, Weinstein's attorney, asked the Air Force earlier this month to agree to a stipulated order in federal court that no one in the Air Force, including a chaplain, will "in any way attempt to involuntarily convert, pressure, exert or persuade a fellow member of the USAF to accept their own religious beliefs while on duty."

Bregman made the request in a letter to Air Force attorneys.

"As you can plainly see, we are asking for nothing more than what the Constitution already requires of the United States Air Force," Bregman wrote.

Maxwell officials, citing instructions from higher authorities, declined to allow a chaplain to be interviewed for this story. The Air Force has said the code of ethics was withdrawn for review Aug. 10, but it did not disclose that action until earlier this month after Weinstein filed his lawsuit.

A Pentagon official issued a statement about the review process.

"We expect a code of ethics will be reissued when that (review) is complete," said Jennifer A. Stephens of the Air Force public affairs office at the Pentagon. "The Air Force believes in equality for all its people, regardless of religious preference."

Derek Davis, director of the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies at Baylor University, said a Christian chaplain is there to represent the Christian faith.

"Proselytism or evangelizing is an intricate part of the Christian faith, and it would be inappropriate for the government to try to curtail that," he said.

He said the argument that the government is trying to sponsor religion carries no weight.

Melvin Cooper, a 77-year-old retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who lives in Prattville, strongly agreed with Davis.

"If you tell Christians they can't evangelize, then evangelical Christians won't join the military," said Cooper, a Baptist.

"They're bound by a higher calling than the Air Force," he said, adding that overzealous evangelism shouldn't be tolerated.

"The days of punching someone in the stomach to get them to believe what you believe are over. People are much smarter now," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to the report.

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