
Conservative Christian boycott of the U.S. Army
Free Congress Foundation's boycott

Sponsored link.

The boycott was organized by the Free Congress Research and Education Foundation. 1 A total of 13 conservative Christian groups were said to initially support the boycott
when it was announced on 1999-JUN-9:
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60 Plus (a conservative alternative to the American Association of Retired
Persons (AARP), |
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American Association of Christian Schools, |
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American Council for Immigration Reform, |
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American Family Association, |
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Christian Coalition, |
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Christian Action Network, (One of their 5 goals is to educate the public to
("Protect the religious beliefs of a free people.") |
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Home School Legal Defense Association. (Their advertising banner states that
they are "Advocates for Family & Freedom.") |
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I Love Jesus Worldwide Ministries, |
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The Madison Project, |
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Religious Freedom Coalition, |
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Traditional Values Coalition. (The "Coalition focuses upon issues such
as...religious freedom.") |
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Tradition, Family, Property Inc. |
However, there were some conservative groups which disagreed:
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Marc Levin, vice president of the American Freedom Institute commented
that the boycott is an act of political suicide. "This brings back the
specter of the Salem witch trials. In addition to being wrongheaded, conservative calls
for a boycott of the military are politically suicidal. Support for the military is a
bedrock conservative principle." Hal Seimer, president of the American
Freedom Institute said: "What's insane about it is that we
fight for the freedom to practice religion in public, and now the conservatives who seek
to deny these groups their right to worship are espousing the philosophy of 'freedom of
religion for me and not for thee'...As long as a religious group does not advocate an
illegal or unpatriotic position, which Wiccans do not, they should be allowed freedom on
worship on U.S. military installations."
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The American Family Association originally supported the drive to ban
Wicca from army bases. However, they had been unaware that the Free Congress
Foundation was also calling for an enlistment boycott. Pat Trueman, director of
governmental affairs for the AFA commented: "We were totally blindsided by this." 2The AFA has since withdrawn its support for the boycott.
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Free Congress Foundation does not seem to have placed information about their boycott on
their web site as of 1999-JUN-28. By the year 2020, www.freecongress.org was no longer online.3 |
We wrote each of the 12 remaining groups, asking for their comments on the boycott. We
have received only three replies:
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60 Plus (a conservative alternatibe to the American Association of Retired Persons
(AARP): No response. |
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American Association of Christian Schools: No response |
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American Council for Immigration Reform: No response |
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Christian Coalition: The Christian Coalition has stated that
their organization "is not involved in this matter." 4 |
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Christian Action Network: No response |
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Free Congress Research and Education Foundation: Their press release was
titled " 'Satanic' army unworthy of representing United States." 1 They
appear to equate Wicca with Satanism throughout their essay. It stated in part: "The
official approval of Satanism and witchcraft by the Army is a direct assault on the
Christian faith that generations of American soldiers have fought and died for." [We have difficulty understanding this point. The U.S. Army's most recent
battle, in Kosovo, was largely against Serbian Orthodox Christians, and motivated by a
desire to bring human rights to the Kosovars - who are mostly Muslim. If the U.S. Army was
fighting to preserve Christianity, they would have helped the Serbian Orthodox folks
exterminate the Muslims.] |
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Home School Legal Defense Association: They responded on
2000-MAY-31, stating that: "HSLDA has never participated, nor
is currently participating, in a boycott of the military. An
early draft of the Free Congress Foundation letter listed HSLDA as a
supporting organization, but it was listed without our consent.
We asked to have our name immediately removed as soon as we learned
that it had been added to the list of organizations.
HSLDA has nothing but the utmost respect for the men and women who
make the ultimate sacrifice for their country by choosing to serve in
the military to protect our nation's freedoms. |
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I Love Jesus Worldwide Ministries: We were unable to find their web site or
E-mail address. |
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The Madison Project: Unable to send fax or Email. |
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Religious Freedom Coalition: No response |
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Traditional Values Coalition: No response |
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Tradition, Family, Property Inc.: No response |
Only three agencies responding to our 10 inquiries may seem like a small percentage
return. Actually, it is higher than normal. We have averaged about 5% response in some previous
inquiries to conservative Christian groups.
On 2000-MAR-1, we Emailed Robert McFarland of the Free Congress Foundation to learn the current status of this boycott. He did not respond. We wrote back
on 2000-NOV-29. Steve Lilienthal responded that the boycott is not
currently being actively pursued by either Free Congress Foundation or any
other groups who were initially involved in the effort." 7

Sponsored link:

Paul Weyrich is the president of the Free Congress Foundation. In his article
in the Salt Lake Tribune, a Salt Lake City UT newspaper, he exhorts Christians to
join the army boycott. His strategy appears to dry up the supply of
volunteers enlisting in the army by diverting Christians to the other armed forces. He
feels that this will eventually starve the army of personnel and force them to terminate
the religious freedom of Wiccans on army bases.
Some of the points raised in his article:
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Christians didn't complain when prayer was abolished in the classroom. Actually,
conservative Christians did object and continued to object. Fortunately, public school
students are still allowed to pray at the flagpole, in the cafeteria, before classes,
after classes, in school Bible clubs, etc.
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Christians didn't complain when the NEA desecrated a crucifix. Actually,
it was an artist who desecrated a crucifix, not the NEA.
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If you are a Wiccan soldier, you are given the same rights as Christians and
Jews. This is precisely what the 1st amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires.
Weyrich appears to be opposed to religious freedom for followers of non-Christian
religions.
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There are Wiccan chaplains in the army: There were no Wiccan chaplains
in the army.
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The Army recognizes grottos of the Church of Satan: The Army Chaplain's Handbook does describe Satanism as one of
many religions that chaplains may come across in their pastoral work.
However, to our knowledge, no local Satanic group -- called Grottos by
the Church of Satan -- has ever had been recognized by any of the armed forces. 5
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The Fort Hood Wiccan coven is mounting an "out-and-out attack on our
Judeo-Christian heritage." The Wiccans are not attacking anyone; they
are simply quietly practicing their religion. However, the reverse is true. A small
minority of Christians near Fort Hood have threatened to take action against the Wiccans.
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The Wiccans in the army will recruit Christians: Wiccans do not recruit
members. They do make themselves available so that anyone interested in Wicca can
contact them.
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When will a young lady be ritually sacrificed by the Ft. Hood coven in a Satanic
ritual? The answer to this question is simple: never. The Wiccan rule of behavior
prohibits harming other people. Wiccans do not perform Satanic rituals. Finally, Satanists
are identical to Southern Baptists and Presbyterians in one behavior: they do not
ritually murder people.
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A Christian who becomes involved with Wicca could lose his soul: This
is a theological concept that is foreign to most religions. Presumably he
would believe that a Christian who becomes involved with Islam,
Hinduism, Buddhism, and other world religions would also lose their
soul.
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Neopagan beliefs bring only death: This is another theological concept.
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Believing in the Christian God necessitates the terminating of religious freedom
for non-Christians: That may be Weyrich's belief, but such
action violates the 1st Amendment, and the human rights of citizens. |
We are at a loss to understand why Weyrich is attacking only Wicca while ignoring
Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and dozens of other non-Christian religions. One could
re-write his article, substituting "Buddhism" for "Wicca" and
"Pagan" and it would make as much sense.

Comments by Senator Strom Thurmond:
In late 1999-JUN, Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC) submitted
a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee suggesting that the
religious freedoms of Wiccan soldiers be terminated. He wrote:
"Army
soldiers who consider themselves to be members of the Church of Wicca are
carrying out their ceremonies at Fort Hood in Texas. "The
Wiccas [sic] practice witchcraft. At Fort Hood, they are permitted to
build fires on Army property and perform their rituals involving fire,
hooded robes, and nine inch daggers. An Army chaplain is even present...I
do not dispute that individuals may believe what they wish, and they can
practice their religion in private life. However, limits can and should be
placed on the exercise of those views, especially in the military. I do
not believe that the Armed Forces should accommodate the practice of
witchcraft at military facilities. The same applies to the practices of
other groups such as Satanists and cultists. For the sake of the honor and
prestige of our military, there should be no obligation to permit such
activity. This is an example of going too far to accommodate the practice
of one's views in the name of religion." 6
By way of correction:
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There are no followers of the Church of Wicca at Fort Hood, TX |
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Followers of Wicca are called "Wiccans,"
not "Wiccas." |
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Wiccans at Ft. Hood are allowed to have fires on base,
but only bonfires. Local Boy Scout troops are also allowed to light
bonfires. |
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Nine inch daggers are not permitted anywhere in Texas.
There is a state law forbidding knives longer than 5 or 6
inches. |
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The term "witchcraft" has been used to refer
to at least 17 different and mostly unrelated practices. |
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The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
prevents the U.S. government from discriminating among religions. If
the U.S. Army permits Christians to worship on base, then they must
allow Wiccans to conduct rituals as well. |

- Robert McFarland, "Satanic' Army Unworthy of Representing United
States. 10 Groups Call for Nationwide Recruiting Boycott," Free
Congress Foundation, 1999-JUN-9, at: http://www.freecongress.org/media/1999/990609.asp
- Kim Sue Lia Perkes, "Conservative groups split on Army boycott against
Wicca rituals," American-Statesman, Austin TX, 1999-JUN-11 at: http://www.austin360.com/news/2state/1999/06/11wiccafolo.html
- Free Congress Research and Education Foundation has a web site at: http://www.freecongress.org Their
boycott posting is at: http://www.freecongress.org/media/1999/990609.asp
- Email from Debra, CC E-mail correspondent, 1999-JUN-11.
- "Army Chaplain's Handbook," Department of the Army Pamphlet
#165-13. It is online at: http://www.churchofsatan.com/pages/
- "Senate Republican joins call to end military accommodation of
Wicca," First Amendment Center, at: http://www.freedomforum.org/religion/1999/6/29barrwicca.asp
- Personal communication, 2001-DEC-4

Copyright © 1999 to 2020 by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 1999-JUN-09
Latest update: 2020-OCT-27
Author: B.A. Robinson

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