Military Chaplains’ COVID-19 Prayers Censored on Facebook
May 1, 2020
Based on the alleged complaints of eight active-duty service members in the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade, Mikey Weinstein from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) sent a complaint demanding that the division take down four videos from its main Facebook page that feature chaplains encouraging soldiers to pray during the coronavirus pandemic.
Weinstein said that the “illicit proselytizing videos” violated the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause and suggested the videos should have been posted to the Fort Drum Chapel Facebook page, which has about 400 followers, and not the brigade’s main Facebook page, which has 7,800 followers. He noted that he made the demand “on behalf of aggrieved Army personnel who justly fear reprisal, retribution, revenge, and retaliation for taking their grievances up the chain of command.”
Within hours after the filing of the complaint, the videos were taken down.
“At a time when our nation is hurting and many feel hopeless, why on earth would Mikey Weinstein attack prayer?” First Liberty Institute attorney Mike Berry responded in a statement to Fox News. Berry added, “I cannot believe the legendary U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division raised the white flag of surrender to an anti-religious freedom zealot. Every president, from Washington to Trump, has publicly prayed for our military. If the commander in chief can pray, then our soldiers can, too.”
LifeSiteNews
Army brigade removes chaplains’ Facebook videos on prayer during COVID-19 following complaints
Christian Post
Army chaplains' prayer videos during coronavirus removed from Facebook after complaints
FOX News
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
Weinstein said that the “illicit proselytizing videos” violated the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause and suggested the videos should have been posted to the Fort Drum Chapel Facebook page, which has about 400 followers, and not the brigade’s main Facebook page, which has 7,800 followers. He noted that he made the demand “on behalf of aggrieved Army personnel who justly fear reprisal, retribution, revenge, and retaliation for taking their grievances up the chain of command.”
Within hours after the filing of the complaint, the videos were taken down.
“At a time when our nation is hurting and many feel hopeless, why on earth would Mikey Weinstein attack prayer?” First Liberty Institute attorney Mike Berry responded in a statement to Fox News. Berry added, “I cannot believe the legendary U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division raised the white flag of surrender to an anti-religious freedom zealot. Every president, from Washington to Trump, has publicly prayed for our military. If the commander in chief can pray, then our soldiers can, too.”
News Source
Secular org gets military chaplains’ COVID-19 prayer videos removed from Facebook pageLifeSiteNews
Army brigade removes chaplains’ Facebook videos on prayer during COVID-19 following complaints
Christian Post
Army chaplains' prayer videos during coronavirus removed from Facebook after complaints
FOX News
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
