Air Force Lt. Col. Kenneth Reyes, a Christian chaplain stationed in Alaska, was censored for a line he wrote in his regular “Chaplain’s Corner” musings that are posted at the base’s online site, and now the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is saying he should be punished.
Fox News reported that Col. Reyes wrote an essay titled “No Atheists in Foxholes: Chaplains Gave All in World War II.” The reference about atheists hails from a 1954 speech by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who said: “I am delighted that our veterans are sponsoring a movement to increase our awareness of God in our daily lives. In battle, they learned a great truth — that there are no atheists in the foxholes.”
Fox News reported that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation requested the base commander intervene and put a stop to Col. Reyes’ “anti-secular diatribe” and said the reference of “no atheists in foxholes” violated military policy. Breitbart reported that the essay was taken down just five hours after the complaint was lodged, but the media group also reported that MRFF wants Col. Reyes disciplined.
“Faith based hate is hate all the same,” the group said in a letter, as Breitbart reported. “Lt. Col. Reyes must be appropriately punished.”
The Family Research Council responded in Breitbart: “A chaplain has been censored for expressing his beliefs about the role of faith in the lives of service members. … Why do we have chaplains if they aren’t allowed to fulfill that purpose?”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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