MILITARY CHAPLAINS CENSORED…AGAIN
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MILITARY CHAPLAINS CENSORED…AGAIN
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Several military chaplain videos offering prayer during the coronavirus pandemic have been removed from Facebook after a group complained they amounted to “illicit proselytizing” of Christianity.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRRF) watchdog group is celebrating.
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Four recent videos involving chaplains Cpt. Amy Smith and Maj. Scott Ingram posted on the Facebook page of the Army’s 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade at Fort Drum, N.Y., were taken down after MRFF founder and president Mikey Weinstein sent a demand letter claiming they violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
“These videos belong only on a chapel page, not on a base’s or unit’s main page,” MRFF senior research director Chris Rodda wrote in an op-ed for the Daily Kos, adding the group “has been seeing an uptick in a particular type of complaint — overt proselyting videos on official military Facebook pages.”
The alleged violations include Smith discussing the Fort Drum Spiritual Fitness Trail in a video that was posted April 17, saying, “You are invited to pray, to pray for the family, to pray for the sick, and to pray for our leaders.” In another video, Smith encouraged people to visit the Fort Drum Labyrinth as a great place to hear God’s voice.
Addressing the coronavirus pandemic on April 2, Ingram said, “God encourages us not to be dismayed by what we see around us, things we cannot control. We can, however, with the best intel in this moment, place our trust in him, walk forward in his strength, and treat others with kindness.”
Weinstein told The Christian Post his group had “to make these obviously valid demands to ensure church-state separation…on behalf of aggrieved Army personnel who justly fear reprisal, retribution, revenge, and retaliation for taking their grievances up the chain of command.”
Mike Berry, a lawyer for the First Liberty Institute, said he was shocked to find out the news and questioned why MRFF is focused on this issue.
“At a time when our nation is hurting and many feel hopeless, why on earth would Mikey Weinstein attack prayer?” Berry told Fox News. “America has the strongest military in history, but our brave service members are not immune to the havoc COVID-19 has wreaked.”
He added, “I cannot believe the legendary U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division raised the white flag of surrender to an anti-religious freedom zealot. Every president, from Washington to Trump, has publicly prayed for our military. If the commander in chief can pray, then our soldiers can, too.”
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Father- The battle rages. It is very apparent that the spiritual battle is increasing in intensity in our nation. It is so easy to feel over whelmed when our very constitutional rights are being violated. And I thank you for those rights and the ability to stand on those rights. Along with that I pray that we would have your strength to stand in your truth. Your Word says that we will have persecution. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.”(Matthew 5:11) It says – “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”It also says- Ephesians 6:10-14 “Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,and and having your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” And- you instruct us to pray for our enemies. Lord Jesus- these things are hard. We ask for the chaplains to have your protection and strength. May they find your grace and wisdom for the battles they are currently fighting on behalf of their own religious freedoms and of those they serve. Father- there is so much irony in the fact that they serve to protect us and preserve our freedoms and yet theirs are under attack. Thank you for those who represent them. And in all that has to happen I pray that each one involved would have your grace to not be filled with anger but to be filled with your strength, peace joy and love. Help us to all pray for those who are attacking in this way and to have the power of your Spirit in our responses.We pray for Mikey Weinstein – may he see that you are the living God and that no matter how hard he kicks against that fact he has no power to change it. Please open his eyes to who the Lord Jesus really is. May your Name be lifted up in this situation.
I couldn’t have said it better! AMEN!