Panel Releases Review of Religious Bias at Air Force Academy
Jun 27th, 2005 • Posted in: NewsWASHINGTON
An internal review of religion-related behavior at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs has found that while some authorities have crossed the line, there does not appear to be a deliberate pattern of discrimination against non-evangelical Christian cadets.
The Air Force’s 40-page report comes after rising complaints about on-campus proselytizing. A 16-member group spent a few days in early May interviewing more than 300 cadets.
Last week, the group’s report concluded that while cadets perceive an official religious bias, most of the wrongdoing was the fault of a handful of overzealous officials who felt they were doing trainees a service by pushing religion.
“Some faculty members and coaches consider it their duty to profess their faith and discuss this issue in their classrooms in furtherance of developing cadets’ spirituality,” noted the report by Air Force Lt. Gen. Roger Brady.
Brady, who led the review, said that his group was tasked with taking the pulse of the place, not investigating alleged abuses. He told the New York Times that seven cases of questionable behavior had been referred to the Air Force for further investigation.
U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, last week said that while the report was a positive step, it lacked external rigor.
“Is it a whitewash? No. But it does resemble milquetoast,” Israel complained, calling on President Bush to create a commission on religion in the military.
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