MRFF and Air Force Academy Faculty Members Sue Over Planned Prayer Luncheon

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation and five US Air Force Academy faculty members yesterday filed suit in federal district court in Colorado seeking to enjoin a National Prayer Luncheon at the Academy scheduled for Feb. 10.  The luncheon is being financed by the Chapel Tithes and Offerings Fund, not taxpayer money, but plaintiffs object to its promotion by the command structure. Attendance is not mandatory. While the luncheon will feature readings by participants of numerous faiths, the keynote speaker is a retired Marine Christian evangelist Clebe McClary. (See prior posting.) The complaint (full text) in Mullin v. Gould, (D CO, filed 1/31/2011) asserts that the planned event violates the Establishment Clause by favoring religion or irreligion, and through the Christian keynote speaker favors Christianity over other religions. It asserts: "The promotion ... of religion in this fashion has an inherently coercive effect upon subordinates or non-believers to fear that their failure to believe as the Defendant commander believes may reasonably be expected to cause career damage to them." Four of the five faculty member plaintiffs filed the suit as "John Does," alleging that they fear serious negative career consequences if identified. Plaintiffs also filed a motion for preliminary injunction and a brief in support of the motion. MMRF announced the lawsuit in a press release, and AP reports on the filing of the suit.