Religion in the Military

January 20th-- In light of a recent ABC News report that U.S. weapons contactor Trijicon has been engraving citations from the New Testament on equipment used by the U.S troops and U.S. led Iraqi forces, the Secular Coalition for America demands that the military end its $66 million a year contract with Trijicon.
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Representative
John McHugh

Aug. 3 update: McHugh hearing provides one positive response on prohibiting proselytizing, but written responses indicate that additional education is necessary. Read more »

Today the Secular Coalition for America sent a letter to the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee voicing their concerns about President Obama's nomination of Representative John McHugh to serve as Army Secretary. The letter urges Senators on the committee to question McHugh during confirmation hearings on his  unwillingness to address the coercive religious climate in the military. The full text of the letter is as follows:  Read more »

The Secular Coalition for America has voiced concerns about President Obama's nomination of Representative John McHugh's to serve as Army Secretary.  Despite countless media reports on the serious and pervasive problem of proselytizing and religious discrimination in the military, McHugh has shown no indication that he is willing to address the issue.  Sarah Posner of the American Prospect reported on our concerns:

1. Army Secretary Nominee Has Questionable Record on Church-State Separation.

Rep. John McHugh, a Republican from New York who is President Barack Obama's nominee to be secretary of the Army, is drawing scrutiny from church-state separation advocates the Secular Coalition for America and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation because of his congressional voting record on church-state separation issues.   Read more »

Secular Coalition for America and Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers Unveil Proposal on Religious Accommodation at Pre-Veterans Day Briefing

For Immediate Release: November 10, 2008
Contact: Anne Singer, 202-271-4679

Video now online: Watch the press conference below

Also see: Secular Coalition Urges Changes To Religious Accommodation Practices In The Military (.pdf)

Washington, DC - Atheists and others with no religious affiliation make up 21% of the U.S. Armed Forces, and yet they suffer harassment, discrimination and proselytizing in a military increasingly dominated by a powerful minority of evangelical Christians. Other military personnel who do not hold a born-again Christian belief are similarly marginalized. The Secular Coalition for America and the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers held a briefing today at the National Press Club in Washington, DC and proposed a new set of policy recommendations in a memo to President-elect Obama as he considers staffing and policies regarding the military.   Read more »