New Air Force rules:
No religion
Guidelines respond to concerns about pushing of Christianity

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Posted: August 31, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

New religion guidelines issued by the U.S. Air Force warn commanders against promoting any particular religious faith in official capacity, at events, proceedings or sports events.

According to The New York Times, the new rules serve as a cautionary reminder to commanders to abstain even from discussing or promoting "the idea of religion over nonreligion" and even discourage the recitation of prayers at any Air Force-related events, other than worship services.

Saying the issue is thought to be a highly contentious one for many commanders, the paper quoted portions of the new guidelines, which include approval for the recitation of "a brief nonsectarian prayer" during special ceremonies like promotions, or in "extraordinary circumstances" such as "mass casualties, preparation for imminent combat and natural disasters."

The nation's military air branch developed the new guidelines following a controversy at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., in which some non-Christian students complained they were being "coerced" into faith by Christian cadets.

Lt. Gen. John Rosa, academy superintendent, commissioned a survey that found some pressure was being exerted on cadets according to their religious beliefs, and that half of the survey's respondents said they had heard religious slurs, comments or jokes while at the academy.

"Some students had a feeling that 'If I'm not a Christian, I feel like I'm having Christianity crammed down my throat,'" Rosa said.

The new guidelines, however, apply service-wide, throughout the Air Force, and not just at the service's military academy. The Times reports the new guidelines will be completed later this year when a group of Air Force generals will meet to hear recommendations from commanders and finalize the rules.

"We support free exercise of religion, but we do not push religion," Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, a Navy veteran, told the paper. He said he was hired earlier this year to assist the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force with writing the guidelines.

The new rules come on the heels of criticism of the academy by a pair of congressional Democrats, Reps. Steve Israel of New York and Lois Capps of California. The Times said both were taking a cautious approach to the new guidelines.

"It's actually a refreshing acknowledgment by the Air Force that it had real problems that needed to be corrected. It's a good step forward," Israel – a member of the House Armed Services Committee – told the paper. According to Congress.org, a legislative site, Israel's profile says he's Jewish and does not list any previous military experience.

The guidelines appear to draw a balance between the Constitution's First Amendment protection of freedom of worship with its limits on government sponsorship of a particular religion.

"Supervisors, commanders and leaders at every level bear a special responsibility to ensure their words and actions cannot reasonably be construed as either official endorsement or disapproval of the decisions of individuals to hold particular religious beliefs or to hold no religious beliefs," say the guidelines.

They also remind commanders to allow cadets the freedom to worship as they please, in terms of religious services, dress, food choices and the observance of holy days.

Resnicoff offered that some commanders may have mistaken the service's encouragement of "spiritual strength as a pillar of leadership" as a license to push their own belief in Christianity with impunity.

In Rosa's survey, one-third of non-Christian respondents said they believed Christian cadets receive preferential treatment – a perception shared by only 10 percent of Christian respondents. But more than half of the non-Christian participants indicated they had "not felt pressure to be involved in religion."

Following the August 2004 survey, the academy instituted a new training program, "Respecting the Spiritual Values of People," to teach the cadets, 90 percent of whom are from Protestant or Catholic backgrounds, tolerance toward non-Christians.

FAITH UNDER FIRE
Chaplain faces punishment for gospel message
Navy officer already subject to court-martial for 'praying in Jesus name'

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Posted: June 28, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Art Moore

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© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt
The Navy chaplain who went without food for 18 days to protest the service's prayer policy has submitted a whistleblower complaint to Sen. Hillary Clinton and other lawmakers, charging top naval officials with violating the Constitution by affirming the actions of officers who barred him from praying "in Jesus name" and quoting certain Bible passages during an optional worship service.

Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt's complaint to Congress was issued Monday after an admiral and top Navy lawyer capped an 18-month investigation by ruling the chaplain's superior officer, Capt. James R. Carr, had grounds for punishing him.

Military Judge Anita K. Baker, designated by Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter, endorsed a decision by Rear Adm. F.R. Ruehe, commander of the Navy's Mid-Atlantic region, to dismiss Klingenschmitt's original complaint as being "without merit."

Ruehe, meanwhile is convening a special court-martial against Klingenschmitt for the chaplain's participation in a March 30 event with former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore in front of the White House. The special court-martial, considered a misdemeanor court, will take place in August or September. The maximum punishment is a reprimand and a fine of up to two-thirds of his annual salary, but Klingenschmitt believes the trial will lead to a review board that could dimiss him from the Navy.

Klingenschmitt, a minister in the Evangelical Episcopal Church – which split from the liberal mainline denomination in the 1990s – says he is being punished by his superiors for praying in Jesus name, in uniform, at the event.

Now, based on Ruehe's ruling, the chaplain says the complaint against him also includes preaching the gospel at an optional service – a memorial for a sailor.

Klingenschmitt said his line-by-line explanation of Romans chapter 8 during the memorial service was the same message given to the sailor before he died from a motorcycle accident.

The sailor responded, the chaplain said, by "dedicating his life to Jesus Christ."

But after the sermon at the service, which "included references to Jesus Christ as the way of salvation," Klingenschmitt said he received complaints from Carr and others, who claimed they were offended by the "exclusive" message.

Klingenschmitt argues the Romans 8 text was approved by the command and attendance at the service was voluntary.

"I was preaching at a memorial service, honoring the Christian faith of the deceased sailor, saying he's in heaven today because of his faith in Jesus Christ," Klingenschmitt said.

The chaplain says the Navy's objection to his preaching contradicts its public statements.

"This proves that for six months senior naval officials have been lying to the public, claiming chaplains are free during optional worship to preach what their denominations preach," Klingenschmitt told WND.

A spokesman for the admiral, Lt. Com. Robert Mehal, did not respond to WND's request for comment.

Klingenschmitt contends the U.S. Code gave him the right to conduct the service according to the manner and forms of the church of which he is a member.

In the ruling, Ruehe argued:

"In all the material Lieutenant Klingenschmitt has submitted as part of this complaint … he has not submitted any document that establishes he was required by his church to preach, on that occasion, the particular message he did. Presumably, if his bishop requires him to preach all the Gospels, and he's not required to deliver that particular message on that particular occasion, he was free to choose to deliver a message at the memorial service that, while being true to his own beliefs, could also have commanded the assent of the vast majority of his audience. Nevertheless, Lieutenant Klingenschmitt chose to deliver a message he knew to be, by his own description, "exclusive."
Klingenschmitt says this is proof Ruehe affirmed Carr for punishing him because of certain Bible verses he quoted during a voluntary service.

The chaplain also points out he, in fact, submitted to Ruehe a letter from his church expressing its' "grave concern" regarding Carr's "well-documented improprieties" toward "one of our priests."

"Our agreement with the Navy, and our understanding of the Navy's agreement with us, is that when we endorse our priest to serve in the military that they will be permitted to conduct public worship according to the manner and forms of the Evangelical Episcopal Church, and provide for the free exercise of religion for service members of diverse religious traditions," wrote Emily A. Grider, the Colorado Springs-based church's registrar.

Ruehe also responded to Klingenschmitt's complaint about another incident involving the content of prayer. Each evening the chaplain says a short prayer over the ship's PA system. Klingenschmitt said Carr censored his prayers, asked him to pray a "Jewish" prayer so as not to offend a Jewish sailor.

Ruehe argued Carr "legitimately sought to ensure evening prayer had the broadest possible appeal."

The Navy, the admiral said, "must be sensitive to the requirements of the Constitution's Establishment Clause which prohibits official government endorsement of sectarian religious beliefs."

Klingenschmitt said he wants Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to overrule Navy Secretary Winter.

"I've asked for a congressional inquiry as to why the secretary of the Navy is now letting commanding officers punish chaplains for their optionally attended sermons," he said.

Not about prayer?

Navy officials have insisted over the past several months it was Klingenschmitt's attendance at the event with Roy Moore – known for his ouster from the Alabama Supreme Court after refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument – that violated policy, not any specific prayer.

In April, Terri Davis, public affairs officer at Norfolk, Va., where Klingenschmitt is stationed, pointed out the charge involves his allegedly disobeying a "regulation or an order."

"This stems from his appearance, in uniform, at a press conference," the spokeswoman said. "This has absolutely nothing to do with him praying. This has to do with his conduct as an officer and being there in uniform."

Davis pointed out Navy regulations prohibit an officer from appearing in uniform and expressing political or personal views. Klingenschmitt counters that he did not express a political view at the press conference but simply prayed.

The chaplain points to a Feb. 21 Navy policy that states: "Religious elements for a command function, absent extraordinary circumstances, should be non-sectarian in nature."

A command function is an official Navy event outside the traditional chapel or worship-service setting. By punishing Klingenschmitt, the chaplain contends, the Navy is stretching its "command function" requirement to every public event at which a chaplain wears his or her uniform.

Klingenschmitt believes the March 30 event qualified as one appropriate for wearing his uniform since the Navy Uniform Regulation "permits a member of the naval service to wear his or her uniform, without obtaining authorization in advance, incident to attending or participating in a bona fide religious service or observance."

In April, Capt. Lloyd Pyle presented the charge to Klingenschmitt. The chaplain had a choice of accepting a letter of reprimand or insisting on his rights to a court-martial. He has chosen the latter.

Pyle's letter said Klingenschmitt violated the Navy policy by "wrongfully wearing his uniform while attending and participating in a news conference in support of personal views on political and religious issues."

The event was meant to protest against the Navy policy requiring non-sectarian prayers in all but chapel settings.

As WorldNetDaily reported, in January Klingenschmitt received a letter from his commanding officer recommending he not wear his uniform at an earlier White House event, but not prohibiting it.

"If, despite my recommendation, you choose to participate in this [White House] event in uniform, you should limit your participation, while in uniform, to the 'bona fide religious service or observance,'" stated the letter.

In January, then, the chaplain broke his 18-day hunger strike by praying at the White House in uniform, for which he received no discipline.

"They gave me prior, written permission to wear my uniform, so long as I only said prayers," Klingenschmitt explained. "And that's all I did."

Klingenschmitt said Navy personnel contacted the Washington Post Friday as a sort of pre-emptive PR move. The Post published a story about the charges against him Saturday.

The chaplain described the two White House events, saying, "On 7 January, I wore my uniform in front of the White House and I never got punished. But on 30 March, I wore my uniform in front of the White House and I got punished. At both events, all I did was say prayers."

"All I did was say prayers at a press conference," he said. "I did not make any political speeches. The Navy is characterizing the prayers themselves as political speech."

After the February Navy policy came out, Klingenschmitt filed a whistleblower complaint with Winter, which is part of the reason, he claims, the service is punishing him.

The Truth About "Diversity

by Henry Makow Ph.D. – June 24, 2005

Shaming Whites

We are all affected by "Diversity" but few understand its true nature.

Warning: It isn't pretty.

"Diversity" is a massive long-term mind control program posing as 'equal rights" designed ultimately to disinherit nations of European and Christian origin.

While it pretends to advocate equality, its goal is to use guilt to trick heterosexual White males into passively yielding power and position. The object is to prepare North America and Europe for inclusion in a "world government" run by the central banking cartel based in London.

This private cartel's power is measured by the fact that virtually every major corporation, educational institution and government agency provides "diversity training" (i.e. political reeducation) to its employees. Even though studies show it has zero economic benefit, they spend eight billion dollars a year on it. Toyota alone plans to spend that much in the next ten years.

Here is an example of the shaming that takes place in these sessions. It is from the text, "Seeing Ourselves: Exploring Race Ethnicity and Culture"(1999) by Carl James.

A participant, Greg, tells the group:

"As for my race, I am white but I never really had to think about it before. I don't feel that it ever affected the people with whom I associated or talked to. My two best friends are Black and (Canadian) Indian. I was brought up in a family that didn't believe in prejudice and I'm proud of that. If I don't like a person, it is because of their personality, not their race or heritage."

Now you'd think that Greg would pass with flying colors.

You didn't consider the hidden agenda. The author, a Diversity trainer, chastises Greg for assuming he is "the norm." Greg fails to acknowledge his "race privilege," that "invisible package of unearned assets" that is the "white colonial legacy." Whites like Greg deny "the ways in which they socially, culturally and politically produce relations of domination." (p.44 my emphasis)

In other words, Whites naturally oppress other people. That sounds like racism to me.

Can you see what's happening? These Diversity sessions lay guilt trips on Whites, especially males, so they will yield power to compliant members of "minorities" who have not earned it. This is a scam. Anyone who objects commits career suicide. That's political persecution.

I want to be clear that I think the human race is one family and God loves all people equally. Like Greg, I believe people should be judged on their merit alone, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.I have no problem with "minorities" winning positions of power so long as they do it fairly. I welcome the rich contribution immigrants make.

But "Diversity" is not about fairness or enriching society. It promotes minorities not for their own sake, but as a way to subvert the majority.

Irony

It's ironic that the central banking clique should lay this guilt trip on Whites when it is they who are responsible for imperialism and wars. It is they who grew rich through the slave and opium trades. Their crimes against humanity are unspeakable.

The US population is more than 75% White. The plan is for Whites to become a minority by 2050 or sooner. Whites are expected to stand by and become guests on their own house.

When Whites are a minority, no one will champion their rights. There are two million more females than males at US universities. Have you heard of any affirmative action programs for males?

"Diversity" is practically unheard of in China, Japan, Israel, India and Latin America. These countries are allowed to keep their racial character. But because people of European origin have a sense of material, spiritual and political privilege, they are the hardest to absorb in the New World Order. They are the targets of the Diversity
program.

The central bankers use the tactic of "divide and conquer" to undermine the four pillars of our identity: race, religion, nation and family.

First, they pretended to champion the workers to get rid of the traditional order, e.g. the Tsarist regime in Russia. Then they pretended to champion women and homosexuals to undermine heterosexual values and the family. Finally they are duping Whites into passively accepting discrimination and a greatly diminished status.

They use the same dog-eared play book. (Select one) Workers, Jews, Blacks, homosexuals, women have been oppressed for centuries. Let the bankers put their (select one) front men (or womyn) in power.

Signs of 'Diversity

Understanding Diversity helps us to understand our world. For instance, at the city library. there was a placard on every counter affirming the importance of "respectful behavior."

The signs bewildered me. I wasn't planning to "dis" the library clerk. Now I understand where this weirdness comes from. It means we must show respect for women, gays and minorities. The crippled colored lesbian deserves our respect most. On the other hand, the straight white male is the Rodney Dangerfield of Diversity.

But, you say, don't "white males" run the world? White males are becoming less important. For example, women now account for about half the enrollment in professional programs such as law, medicine and optometry. That is up from 22 percent a generation ago. Women have overtaken men in Commerce degrees.

In general, White or not, success today depends on your willingness to betray your society and advance the central banker agenda. In Communist terms, minorities and feminists are today's "useful idiots."

Similarly I wonder about the recurrent "anti bullying" propaganda. Bullying didn't require legislation when I was growing up. It could be dealt with using common sense. Again, I wonder if the hidden agenda is to create an atmosphere where White heterosexuals cannot resist domination by homosexual and other minority activists.

Conclusion

Malleable and conformist, the masses will usually adopt the norm. When evil people set the norm, the masses will succumb to distorted and self-destructive behavior.

The banking cartel creates money using our national credit. As a result, society has been subverted by an alien power with a anti-human agenda. Our poltical and kultural elites consist of traitors who, for example, allowed 9-11 to take place and covered it up. We are subjected to a constant stream of lies from these sanctimonious self serving pawns.

We live in an increasingly Orwellian society. "Diversity" doesn't mean true diversity. It is doublespeak for discriminating against the majority. "Inclusiveness" doesn’t include celebrating European or Christian heritage.

The founding peoples of the West have a right to maintain their national character and see it flourish. Immigrants expect to integrate, while retaining their heritage. They don't expect to be used to subvert the majority.

So, let's not fall into their "divide and conquer" trap by focusing our indignation on minorities. They are manipulated as much as we. Let's focus on the central bankers and their lackeys, in politics, education, business and the media.

I know this goes against the grain for some. Ask yourself where did you get your attitudes. They were dinned into you by the media and education. We are being manipulated and duped and it's time we awoke.

Ohio Judge Jails Baumgartner For 45 Days For Contempt Of Court
Caught in a corrupt legal matrix, Ohio attorney jailed again, adding to the 244 days already spent behind bars for bogus charges. Observers claim truthseeking lawyer is another political prisoner in the American gulag system.
7 Jun 2006

By Greg Szymanski



An Ohio attorney fighting massive corruption in the state that fraudulently put George W. Bush in the White House was jailed last Thursday for 45 days on contempt of court charges.



Elsebeth Baumgartner arrived in the Erie County courthouse last week for a felony trial appearance, but left in shackles after a private meeting in Judge David Knepper's chambers, being charged with contempt as well as being ordered to submit to her third psychiatric evaluation.



As outrageous as it sounds, Baumgartner faces a total of more than 109 years in jail on other felony charges stemming from speaking out about corruption at a city council meeting, including emailing a high ranking Ohio judge and running a controversial web site accusing high ranking Ohio officials with serious crimes.



Observers who have been following Baumgartner's case said it sadly illustrates just how far down the fascist road America has gone in a relatively short period of time, especially since 9/11.



Angela Caputo, a close friend of Baumgartner, said the respected Ohio attorney is being held and muzzled by high-ranking state officials due to the sensitivity of Baumgartner's allegation first made public two years ago at a Cuyahoga County city council meeting.



Baumgartner's strong allegations of wrongdoing, including judicial misconduct and drug running by a top Cuyahoga Country prosecutor, led to an attack on Baumgartner's personal liberties as officials twisted the law to keep the allegations from the public.



"My first amendment rights have been violated and officials twisted the law to keep me in a legal matrix," said Baumgartner prior to being jailed two weeks ago on Greg Szymanski's radio show, The Investigative Journal.



Baumgartner's story provides a sad glimpse at the clamp down of freedoms in America, as she has already spent more than 244 days in jail, including 10 days "locked in a hole" without right to counsel, clergy or even phone calls.



The Arctic Beacon has covered the story extensively because of its importance as media outlets have ignored the case especially in Cleveland where the press, Baumgartner claims, is complicit in covering up for crooked politicians.



In earlier Arctic Beacon stories, Baumgartner, who graduated first in her class from the University of Toledo Law School, said: "I was essentially put in a hole for 10 days and held incommunicado as a domestic terrorist. I wasn't allowed legal counsel, the right to clergy and even the opportunity to make a phone call."



Regarding Baumgartner's recent jailing, Caputo said she recently spoke with her husband, saying Baumgartner is planning to release a statement, as visitors have been limited to only close family members.



"Her husband told me that last Thursday she arrived for her trial in a related felony trumped up by the state regarding fleeing in a stolen vehicle, which actually never took place," said Caputo. "Elsebeth was called into the judge's chambers before the hearing began and then exited in shackles and taken into custody.



"We also have learned that the subpoenas she tried to issue to prove her innocence where actually denied prior to the June 1 hearing, as the dates of denial from the court were stamped May 31, depriving her of her due process rights. I am trying to get into to see Elsebeth and then have her release a statement. This whole situation is totally outrageous and shows how far down the road to fascism we have gotten in this country.



And if anyone thinks Americans don't already have two feet buried deep into the mud of fascism, pay close attention to how and why Baumgartner was originally jailed for 234 days on a misdemeanor charge.



"I basically was jailed for standing up and speaking at a city council meeting," said Baumgartner about the night in 2001 leading to arrest five days later on technical charges of Falsification.



The charges stemmed from statements she made questioning a huge ferry boat contract awarded to an Ohio businessman, citing affidavits from some of her clients alleging the boats were being used for illegal drug running with full knowledge of state politicians, law enforcement and federal officials.



Further, she questioned the legality of awarding the lucrative Lake Erie contract since it amounted to nothing more than "a political favor" as another company was overlooked who was more competent and provided the same ferry boat service for less money.



"All I did was speak out and use my right as a citizen to question our government," said Baumgartner, adding that she must have struck a nerve that night, leading to corruption at the highest levels of Washington, as well as the Ohio Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Ohio Attorney General.



Baumgartner said five days after the city council meeting she was arrested, the state twisted the law to say she falsified statements at an official public hearing.



However, legal observers say the technical law used in her "illegal arrest and incarceration" was never intended for mere statements made at open forum city council, but rather the Falsification misdemeanor law was intended for official government hearings when witnesses are placed under oath.



"They just twisted the law and I was jailed," said Baumgartner. "As a lawyer, respected in my community, I never thought this could happen in America, but I am living proof it can and it's not over yet."

Great Divide Between Congress And People Indicates The Coming Of A Second American Revolution
Letter from U.S. Senator from Colorado shows how the law of the land and the will of the people are being ignored. Boulder citizens rally around talk radio show to voice opinions on the 'taking back of America' from the criminals in Washington.
16 June 2006
By Greg Szymanski

The great divide between Congress and the people becomes crystal clear after reading a letter sent by Sen. A. Wayne Allard (R-Co) to a constituent who felt President Bush should be impeached.

After six years in office, Bush has displayed the arrogance of an outright dictator, openly violating International and U.S. Constitutional laws numerous times while utilizing a compromised Congress and media as well as an apathetic American public to lead America into outright fascism.

Although long overdue, Bush's true motives have finally been made clear, as his support has dipped to record lows and a restless American public are finally openly calling for a total house cleaning, which some observers are claiming may lead to the second American Revolution.

And the letter sent to Sen. Allard by Boulder, Colorado, resident Suanne Skidd, an activist, truth seeker and Harvard graduate, a well as his response, shows just how completely out of control things have gotten in Washington D.C.

Skidd demanded the Republican Senator become accountable to the people while placing a needed check and balance on Bush's criminality.

But instead of receiving adequate assurances the Bush administration crimes would be dealt with in accordance to the will of the people and the law of the land, Sen. Allard's bootlicking reply indicates just how far down the road of fascism America has gone.

Besides Allard's party line reply, Skidd further voiced her concern to the fascism in America by organizing a two-day live truth talk radio show on the streets of Boulder where many residents took the time to voice their concern on the airwaves, many calling for the impeachment of Bush and the end to the policies of what has become known as a New world Order takeover of America.

Skidd help organize the broadcasts, bringing Americans out of their houses to start talking in the streets, as populist talk show host, Greg Szymanski, brought his Investigative Journal and the Republic Broadcasting Network to Boulder Thursday and Friday, June 15 and 16.

"I was quite surprised by the turnout, as many people who listen to Greg and RBN turned out, to show their support, while telling other Americans it's time to get out on the streets and take back America," said Skidd, adding she is in the process of forming a Boulder truth seekers organization patterned after a similar group that started in Austin, Texas, and spread to other cities like Houston and Oklahoma City.

"True American patriots like Bob McFarland, Chuck Collins, Stan Hess, Terry Graham, Jim Meyers and Ged Thompson all came out to talk on the radio this week in downtown Boulder, hoping to inspire Americans to take action."

The following letter sent by Sen. Allard to Skidd indicates why the entire U.S. Congress should be removed for high crimes and treason, as they all are complicit in Bush crimes for failure to act upon probable cause evidence, placing America's future in jeopardy:

Thank you for contacting me about our country's leadership. I appreciate you taking the time to write.

I do not believe that the President, Vice President, or any members of his cabinet have acted in any manner that deserves impeachment. President Bush and his administration have had extremely difficult decisions to make in light of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and I feel that the Administration has done a good job in leading the country in the War on Terrorism.

Additionally, it is important to remember that within the Constitution of the United States, a system of checks and balances was established to limit the powers of the federal government by dividing the authority of government among the three branches. Therefore, Congress and the Supreme Court provide oversight to what the President and his cabinet members decide to do. These checks and balances have served our republic well over the last 230 years.