American Atheists press release regarding Naval Academy prayer - Sep 03

AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
Office of the Director for Military Affairs
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.atheists.org/mil
http://www.americanatheist.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 01, 2003

For more information, please contact:
Kathleen Johnson, Military Affairs Director, kjohnson@atheists.org
Bart Meltzer, Director of State and Regional Operations, 973-885-9501, bmeltzer@atheists.org

MILITARY ATHEISTS PROTEST DECISION TO CONTINUE PRAYER RITUAL AT NAVAL ACADEMY, CALL FOR INVESTIGATION


Atheist Civil Rights Group Charges Decision Ignores Federal Court Rulings and Violates Naval Trainees’ Civil Rights

Officials at the Naval Academy have decided chaplain-led prayers before lunch will continue, despite federal court rulings that have struck down similar practices at other military academies. Attendance by all 4,000 midshipmen at the weekday lunches and prayer rituals is mandatory and the Naval Academy is now the only U.S. service academy that coerces prayers before meals.

Military Atheists were vocal in their condemnation of this practice. Kathleen Johnson, American Atheists’ Director of Military Affairs and Founder of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, stated “it is shameful that future sailors in training to defend our country and the Constitution apparently have no civil rights themselves”.

“This practice violates Department of Defense Directive (DODD) 1350.2 in that it gives preferential treatment to midshipmen with monotheistic religious beliefs.” said Johnson. “DODD 1350.2 strictly requires the chain of command to intervene immediately.”

Bart Meltzer, the Director of State and Regional Operations for American Atheists, and a retired US Navy veteran stated: “It’s sad that theocrats in the Navy have not been kept in check by the command.” Meltzer added: “Violating the rights of Atheists to be free from theistic beliefs is common place in the Navy. The practice of forcing theistic beliefs on everyone clearly displays disregard for Navy core values, a lack of leadership, and lack of accountability by the chain of command.”

Meltzer also stated: “This practice violates Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Instruction (OPNAVINST) 5354.1E. OPNAVINST 5354.1E, Paragraph 6.d states that any violation of this instruction is punishable by the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).” Johnson and Meltzer are calling for an investigation as to why this divisive practice has not been stopped.

American Atheists called on the Naval Academy to reestablish all midshipman’s civil rights by following the lead of the other U.S. service academies and immediately stop this divisive practice that negatively impacts troop morale and fleet readiness.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for nonbelievers, works for the total separation of church and state, and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.


American Atheists, Inc. P.O. Box 5733 Parsippany, NJ 07054-6733
Tel: (908) 276-7300 Fax: (908) 276-7402