ICC Note: As previously reported, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) recently issued a letter of complaint and requested disciplinary action after a US Air Force major displayed an open Bible on his desk. Despite the MRFF’s claims of constitutional violations, a Lieutenant Colonel reported that no “abuse of liberties” took place in the matter. The Air Force major has since been cleared of all wrongdoing.
By Heather Clark
08/24/2016 United States (Christian News Network) – An Air Force major who had been criticized by a church-state separation activist who wanted him “aggressively punished” for long displaying an open Bible on his desk has been officially cleared of wrongdoing.
“We have concluded that no abuse of liberties has occurred,” Lt. Col. David Fruck told reporters on Tuesday. “Therefore, Maj. Lewis is allowed to have his Bible on his desk if he wishes.”
As previously reported, Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) recently sent a letter to Col. Damon Feltman, the commander of the 310th Space Wing at the Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, to issue a complaint about the Bible displayed by Maj. Steve Lewis, a supervisor at the Reserve National Security Space Institute.
“For years, [Lewis] has kept an open, yellow-highlighted Christian Bible displayed front and center, quite prominently, on his official USAF work desk in an open office work environment,” Weinstein said.
“The egregious constitutional and DoD regulatory violations of such a brazen display of sectarian Christian triumphalism and exceptionalism have been noted by many USAF members through the years,” he asserted, but none have expressed objection due to “fear of reprisal and retribution.”
Weinstein demanded that the Bible be moved out of sight, and kept to his own personal use.
“MRFF now demands that you order this Major Steve Lewis to immediately take down his Christian biblical display from his official USAF desktop,” he said.
