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Woke Warriors at the Pentagon Labeling Religious Service Members as “Extremists”

Written by Jorge Gomez

Once upon a time, the LAST place you would expect to find attacks on our constitutional freedoms would be inside the U.S. Military.

However, over the last several months, there’s been an alarming surge of anti-religious bias and censorship against military chaplains and service members who express or live out their religious beliefs.

Hiding behind the guise of combating so-called “extremism,” high-ranking officials in the armed forces are going “woke”—embracing the new culture of political correctness over our nation’s tried-and-true founding principles.

What’s most appalling is that religious service members—whose faith and beliefs inspire them to serve and risk their lives in the first place—are paying the consequences of this disturbing shift towards discrimination and silencing. Wokeism has infiltrated the military to the point of labeling people of faith as “extremists” and even threatening the destruction of their distinguished careers just for peacefully acting in accordance with their religious convictions.

Our armed forces should not be a place for political games. If the radical Left does succeed at turning the military into an experiment of its policy preferences and orthodoxy, the results could be chaotic. It’s possible that we could soon see a day when people of faith in the U.S. Military are forced to choose between their faith or serving their country.

Religious Freedom: Essential to Our Military’s National Defense Mission

A military that’s focused more on promoting popular political ideologies than protecting the fundamental religious liberties of America’s service members could end up doing a disservice to our country’s national security.

Consider how wokeism is a deterrent in recruitment on the front end. Department of Defense (DOD) data show that that nearly seventy percent (70%) of military service members identify as people of faith. But if the woke brigade’s anti-religious agenda gets implemented, it would essentially send a message discouraging a significant portion of religious Americans from volunteering and enlisting to serve.

What’s more, this toxic cancel culture is already taking a toll on men and women currently serving in uniform.

Recall the recent example of First Liberty’s client, Andrew Calvert, a decorated Army Chaplain of sixteen (16) years who recently used his personal social media account to express support for then-existing DOD policy banning those diagnosed with gender dysphoria from serving in the military (in keeping with his religious beliefs).

Because he expressed his own religious point of view on a private page, the Army relieved him of duty and accused him of “illegal discrimination.” These adverse actions would effectively bring Chaplain Calvert’s military career to an end.

Chaplain Calvert is by no means the only one to face career-threatening punishment.

First Liberty clients U.S. Army Chaplain Scott Squires, U.S. Navy Chaplain Wes Modder and U.S. Air Force SMSGT Phillip Monk all had their lifelong careers thrown into jeopardy for exercising their faith.

So, instead of helping the DOD focus on its national defense mission, the woke commissars on the far Left are doing more to distract our military by using the armed forces as a testing ground for social policy experimentation.

And if any service members of faith dare to object or express opposition based on their faith, the Left will promptly bring down the hammer and ruin their reputation, career and their livelihoods.

This is truly a recipe for disaster. America’s external enemies want nothing more than to see us distracted by playing politically correct games rather than focusing on defending our nation against the very real threats to our freedom around the globe.

It is our mission here at First Liberty to protect the freedom of those who protect ours. Our military heroes deserve nothing less.

We have a stellar track record of defending people of faith in the armed forces. Headed by our General Counsel Mike Berry—a former active-duty U.S. Marine Corps officer—First Liberty’s military division has won victory after victory on behalf of service members facing religious hostility.

In fact, of the chaplains we’ve defended in recent years—such as Chaplain Wes Modder, Chaplain Scott Squires and Chaplain Joseph Lawhorn—First Liberty has won every one of their cases to restore their constitutional rights.

The increasing wave of attacks that’s surfacing like never before means we need your financial support like never before to continue deliver victories for America’s military heroes.

Together, with your faithful support, we will save America’s armed forces from the “woke” brigade and preserve the timeless bedrock of religious liberty for future generations.


This article was originally published by FirstLiberty.org.




Another Bakery Faces Attack as Sweet Cakes Story Gains National Attention

From First Liberty

Last week, First Liberty Institute attorneys announced their legal representation of Aaron and Melissa Klein—owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa who were forced to pay a $135,000 penalty to the Oregon government for declining to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding.

In addition to widespread media attention from news outlets across the country, Aaron and Melissa shared their story with America last Friday night on FOX’s The Kelly File.

“[I]t’s not something I ever thought I’d have to fight with the government over,” Aaron said of his faith-based stance on the issue of marriage. “This was something I believed should never be happening in this country.”

But it is happening—and not only in Oregon to Aaron and Melissa Klein.

A TEXAS COUPLE UNDER ATTACK FOR THEIR FAITH

In mid-February, a family-owned bakery in Longview, Texas declined to make a same-sex wedding cake—and they are now reaping the same hate-filled repercussions as the Kleins did in 2013 (and still feel today).

David and Edie Delorme own Kern’s Bake Shop, which has been in business in Longview, Texas since 1918. As devout Christians, David and Edie are committed to operating their bakery in a manner that honors God. In the past they have consistently refused to bake alcohol, tobacco, gambling, or risqué-themed cakes.

When two men requested a cake for their same-sex wedding, Edie politely informed them that Kern’s Bake Shop did not make same-sex wedding cakes, and offered to provide a list of other bakeries in Longview that could fulfill the couple’s request.

Nevertheless, the incident soon appeared in a local newspaper, igniting a firestorm of hostility and even death threats toward the Delormes, their family, and their business from places as far away as New York and California.

“Americans value and protect our freedoms – especially freedom of expression and religious liberty,” said Mike Berry, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “In order for America to remain free and prosperous, we must secure the rights of small business owners to operate their businesses according to their beliefs.”

Though no lawsuits have been filed against Kern’s Bake Shop yet, David and Edie heard about First Liberty’s defense of Aaron and Melissa Klein, and preemptively retained First Liberty Institute as legal counsel.

HOPE—FOR THE KLEINS, THE DELORMES, AND ALL AMERICANS

Attacks are spreading against Americans who embrace religious tenets teaching that marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman, as evidenced by the Delormes’ experience just a few weeks ago.

But there is hope for religious freedom, even surrounding this hotly contested issue. For example:

  • The same majority opinion that legalized same-sex marriage in Obergefell last June reaffirmed religious liberty for those who maintain that marriage is between one man and one woman. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote,

The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered. The same is true of those who oppose same-sex marriage for other reasons…In turn, those who believe allowing same-sex marriage is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of religious conviction or secular belief, may engage those who disagree with their view in an open and searching debate.

  • First Liberty’s social media pages prove that the “open and searching” debate Justice Kennedy talked about is increasing, while hate speech and threats are decreasing. The response on social media to First Liberty’s announced representation of the Kleins last week was overwhelmingly positive and consisted of constructive debate—a stark contrast to the barrage of hostile, lewd, or extreme comments that often flood social media in response to controversial issues. According to First Liberty’s social media team, the response was more positive than anticipated—and could mark a change of heart regarding the religious liberty rights of Americans who simply want to run their business according to their faith.
  • The best constitutional lawyers in the country are working with First Liberty to win these cases. First Liberty’s unique volunteer attorney model harnesses the legal firepower of constitutional attorneys from many of the nation’s top law firms. Passionate about defending religious freedom, these lawyers give their time to First Liberty Clients pro bono.

Working on the Aaron and Melissa Klein’s case is The Honorable Boyden Gray, former White House Counsel for President George H. W. Bush, former Ambassador to the European Union, and founding partner of Boyden Gray and Associates.

“America is a great nation because we celebrate diversity of thought,” stated Ambassador Gray. He emphasized:

“Our rights to free expression and religious liberty are some of our most cherished American freedoms. We must safeguard these rights for every American – including Aaron and Melissa Klein.”

Thanks to God’s grace and volunteer attorneys like Ambassador Gray, First Liberty wins over 90 percent of its cases.

IN THE BALANCE—PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE OF FAITH

But while the hope is undeniable, so is the threat. And despite progress in the conversation surrounding religious freedom and marriage, threats and hate-filled messages continue to bombard the Kleins and the Delormes personally.

“If these small business owners can come under attack for their faith, what does that say about our perspective on liberty?” asks Berry. “We need to respect the rights of all Americans to live together peaceably, even if they have a difference of opinion. That’s what freedom means.”

First Liberty’s attorneys are committed to ensuring Americans like Aaron and Melissa Klein and David and Edie Delorme are free to live out their faith, and are preparing for the Kleins’ case to possibly go before the United States Supreme Court.

If the case does go to the U.S. Supreme Court, it will be one of the first cases to answer two new questions America is now facing, said Ken Klukowski, First Liberty Senior Counsel and Director of Strategic Affairs on The Kelly File last Friday:

[I[f someone has sincerely held religious beliefs that are mainstream beliefs on an issue like marriage, can the government punish them for speaking those beliefs, and can the government order them, as [the Kleins have] been ordered to, that they can’t discuss aspects of their beliefs?”

Click here to receive updates from First Liberty Institute as these cases progress

Click here to read more information about Aaron and Melissa Klein’s case

News and Commentary is brought to you by First Liberty’s team of writers and legal experts.