Air Force Academy Changes Backing Of Christmas Project

The Colorado Springs Gazette reported Thursday that the U.S. Air Force Academy has withdrawn its general solicitation of cadets by cadet leaders to support Operation Christmas Child. The program, sponsored by an evangelical Christian group, sends toys and toiletries to children around the world in boxes that also contain religious messages. The Academy has instead turned participation in the project over to Academy chaplains who can recruit support for religious activities. The change was made after a complaint was filed by Mikey Weinstein, head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. The Air Force Academy has been embroiled in numerous controversies in recent years accusing it of promoting Christianity to its cadets. (See prior related posting.)