From: "Andy Kasehagen"
Subject: Sectarian Religious Proselytizing via 12/8/2022 Spotlight on Pine Bluff Arsenal Veterans
Date: December 13, 2022 at 11:33:18 AM MST
To: (Senior Army Public Affairs official’s name withheld)
Dear (Senior Army Public Affairs official’s name withheld),
This email is a follow up to your earlier phone conversation with Michael L. “Mikey" Weinstein President/Founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF). MRFF is a civil rights organization which seeks to ensure that all members of the United States Military receive the full benefit of their Constitutional rights to, among other things, the separation of church and state in the United States armed forces.
To that end, MRFF is aware of and demands your correction to the amplified ‘force multiplier’ effect of allowing unfettered religious proselytizing via the recently published article on 12/8/2022, Spotlight on Pine Bluff Arsenal Veterans:
Veteran and DoD civilian employee Wes Sparks used the opportunity to proselytize his religious beliefs while displaying utter contempt for his federal civil service employee oath:
Question 3: Why do you like being an Army Civilian? Why or why not?
Yes, I do like being an Army Civilian. In life you must decide what is important to you. So, I chose my Family. Other than my Master (Jesus Christ) they came first to me.
Question 4: Do you consider yourself a Soldier for Life? Why or why not?
Yes, but probably not in the sense asked by this question. As humans we are God’s greatest creation. We were created to live forever. Even after we experience death to this world. It makes me sad that some will be separated from their Creator forever. This is Hell. So, I do fight in the army that belongs to Jesus. To make sure that everyone is aware of this. I will be a soldier in this army until my last breath is given to me.
Article VI of the Constitution says, “The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” For federal civil service employees, the oath is set forth by law in 5 U.S. Code § 3331, which reads as follows: “I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
The Pine Bluff Arsenal has effectively provided a public tax-payer funded forum for Mr. Sparks to both profess his blatant hypocritical disregard to his federal civil service oath and state his intent to continue to do so while continuously proselytizing his Christian Supremacist religious faith to everyone:
“So, I do fight in the army that belongs to Jesus.”
“To make sure that everyone is aware of this.”
DOD INSTRUCTION 1300.17 RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE MILITARY SERVICES
1.2. POLICY.
b. In accordance with Section 533(a)(1) of Public Law 112-239, as amended, the DoD Components will accommodate individual expressions of sincerely held beliefs (conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs) which do not have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, good order and discipline, or health and safety [emphasis added]. A Service member’s expression of such beliefs may not, in so far as practicable, be used as the basis of any adverse personnel action, discrimination, or denial of promotion, schooling, training, or assignment.
While you ponder this oversight in maintaining good order and discipline, let’s consider the impact of this civil servant’s statement with one ‘minor revision’:
Question 3: Why do you like being an Army Civilian? Why or why not?
Yes, I do like being an Army Civilian. In life you must decide what is important to you. So, I chose my Family. Other than my Master (Mohammed) they came first to me.
Question 4: Do you consider yourself a Soldier for Life? Why or why not?
Yes, but probably not in the sense asked by this question. As humans we are Allah’s greatest creation. We were created to live forever. Even after we experience death to this world. It makes me sad that some will be separated from Allah forever. This is Hell. So, I do fight in the army that belongs to Mohammed. To make sure that everyone is aware of this. I will be a soldier in this army until my last breath is given to me.
Not only would such a comment be equally egregious, it would have most likely never been allowed by the Pine Bluff Arsenal Public Affairs division (…due to expected and warranted blowback) while probably also resulting in this civil servant being referred to several watch lists and possible disciplinary counseling. I also wonder what Mr. Sparks’ opinion of his statement would be with this ‘minor revision’.
While MRFF does not seek an adverse personnel action, etc., in this particular matter, we do demand removal of these comments based on adverse impact such statements have to military readiness, unit cohesion, good order and discipline. At an absolute minimum, the following disclaimer should be prominently displayed alongside Mr. Sparks’ religious proselytizing comments regarding his perceived and desired Christian Supremacy within the U.S. Army and DoD:
The Department of Defense and Pine Bluff Arsenal does not endorse, support, sanction, encourage, verify or agree with the comments, opinions, or statements posted. Any opinions, are the views and responsibility of those making the comments and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Defense, the United States Government.
Sincerely,
Andy Kasehagen
Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF)
