Former Air Force Grad Offers a Settlement in a Lawsuit Brought Against Air Academy

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Former Air Force Grad Offers a Settlement in a Lawsuit Brought Against Air Academy

By Josh Montez, Focus on the Family, October 21, 2005

After filing a lawsuit alleging chaplains were forcing Christianity on cadets, Mikey Weinstein says he wants to settle if the Academy will only change its ways.

Mikey Weinstein a 1977 Jewish graduate has accused the Air Force of illegally imposing Christianity on cadets. Now he's trying to get the Air Force to agree on a settlement. Sam Bregman is an attorney for Weinstein and says Air Force chaplains have been pushing religion.

"As late as July on the front page of the New York Times, a Brigadier General of the United States Air Force said that 'we reserve the right to evangelize the unchurched.' "

Bregman says Air Force chaplains are violating the Establishment Clause and he's asking a judge to say the Air Force can't promote religion. Bregman's latest move is a letter asking the Air Force to settle. The Air Force has referred the offer to the Department of Justice. Retired Lieutenant Colonel, Bob Maginnis says it's obvious what this is all about."

"It's another attempt by those outside of the military really impose their secular agenda."

He says Weinstein is using the Air Force Academy as a mechanism to push an anti-faith message throughout the Air Force.

"The offer to withdraw the lawsuit is gratuitous. I don't think they would have won anything in this particular lawsuit - even Mikey Weinstein says he doesn't want to waste time, effort, sweat, blood, tears and money of the United States government in order to uphold the Constitution. Well the Constitution is not being violated here."

This lawsuit caused the Air Force to reconsider their 'code of ethics' for chaplains to share their faith, and Maginnis says it has put the Academy in a state of limbo. The complaint was filed on Oct 6th and Bregman says the Air Force has 20 days to respond.

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