I’ve had several posts noting the problems the Air Force has had with its academy in Colorado Springs permitting — and in some cases, encouraging — religious intolerance and harassment against minorities. It’s only fair, therefore, to note that the Air Force seems to be making a concerted effort to make things right.
The Air Force has told its top commands worldwide to make sure officers don’t use their positions to advance religious beliefs, following criticism of religious intolerance at the Air Force Academy.
An Air Force task force spent several days at the academy two weeks ago looking into allegations that Jews and others were harassed by evangelical Christians. A new values statement was sent to all major commands on Tuesday.
“From an Air Force perspective, one of the reasons we did that is because we are taking what is happening at the Air Force Academy seriously,” Air Force spokeswoman Jennifer Stephens said Thursday from the Pentagon.
The statement, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, said that “climate surveys at our Air Force Academy have pointed out instances where respect may be lacking or where declaring one’s religious beliefs may be perceived as imposing on others.”
Also worth noting is an investigation into retribution against an Air Force chaplain who was punished for telling the truth.
The Department of Defense inspector general’s office is looking into accusations that a chaplain at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs was dismissed from her administrative job and given orders to transfer to a base in Japan because she had criticized the religious proselytizing of academy cadets.
An Air Force spokeswoman said Monday that the service had asked the inspector general to investigate the case of the chaplain, Capt. MeLinda Morton, who went public this month with her criticisms of the religious climate at the academy.
Credit where credit is due. The charges against the Air Force are serious, and it’s encouraging to see the military treat it that way.