(RNS) Dozens of members of Congress are upset that the Air Force has removed the Latin word for "God" from the logo of an Air Force acquisitions office.
Led by Rep. J. Randy Forbes, co-chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, 36 lawmakers Monday (Feb. 6) sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz objecting to the removal of "God" from the logo of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO).
The logo was recently removed, according to Forbes, after objections by the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers.
Jason Torpy, president of the association, said the word "God" had no place in the logo because not all members of the military are religious. "We just hope (the Air Force) can provide more equal opportunities for atheists and humanists in the military."
"The action taken by the RCO suggests that all references to God, regardless of their context, must be removed from the military," the congressional letter states. "We ask that you reverse this perplexing decision."
According to the lawmakers, all members of the bipartisan prayer caucus, the RCO patch logo previously included the motto "Opus Dei Cum Pecunia Alienum Efficemus" (Doing God's Work with Other People's Money), an inside joke among RCO members. Caucus members say it was changed to "Miraculi Cum Pecunia Alienum Efficemus" (Doing Miracles with Other People's Money).
The letter argues that "courts consistently have upheld the constitutionality of our national motto, 'In God We Trust,' despite the obvious mention of God."
"Obviously the Constitution doesn't treat God like a dirty word," said Luke Goodrich, deputy general counsel of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. "Religion is a part of this history."
A representative for the Air Force could not be reached for comment.
Bart | Feb 8, 2012 | 11:10pm
I suppose if their imaginary god is the warlike, death loving, genocidal beast it is portrayed as in the Old testament , then he’d want his name asociated with military might. On the otherhand wouldn’t the “prince of Peace” wonder WTF his name is doing on or associated with anything militaristic?
But hey… reason doesn’t come easy to the religiously afflcited. Biblical versus on rifles, “spiritual training” in the military, proselytizing in the service academys, army sponsered prayer meetings, persecution of atheists in Ft. Bragg - God, death, war and the military seem to just feed off eachother.
Perhaps emblazing “Allah Akbar!” on the Air Force crest would make a thoughtful substitution…. or at least prompt an awakening of the insanity of this god and guns fixation. .
“prince of peace” my butt.
gilhow | Feb 9, 2012 | 10:52am
Tough! The Air Force is a public institution, just like public schools. It is sectarian even though individual members might be religious—though I saw very little of that in the military. Religious people have no right to use public institutions to evangelize their religious mythology. Anyone who tries to violate the First Amendment of our Constitution by invading the public domain with their religions only proves their homes, their churches, their private places, and their private lives are insufficient venues for their religion. That reflects the weakness and insecurity of religion when noise and numbers are needed to provide any semblance of security.
Bart | Feb 9, 2012 | 12:44pm
Randy Forbes is a religious fanatic; pro-prayer in school, anti-gay, against abortion even for rape and incest; promotes creationism in public schools, is a history revisionist as it relates to the Founding Fathers and their position on religion in government; and thinks of this as a “Christian Nation”.
The mindlessness of fanatcis like Forbes is down right scary. That people still vote for them is an affirmation that we live in Idiot America.
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