No Evangelizing At Recruiting Sites

[unhappycamper]

No Evangelizing At Recruiting Sites
December 28, 2008
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

The Pentagon is cracking down on evangelizing at its national network of recruit processing centers, telling religious groups that it won't permit proselytizing at the sites.

A new regulation quietly distributed last month to commanders of the 65 centers says that religious literature and publications produced by other "non-federal entities" may be made available to recruits at the sites but that they cannot show favoritism to any particular faith or group.

"Under no circumstances " will any outsiders "be permitted to proselytize, preach or provide spiritual counseling" to recruits or staff members at the centers, the regulation adds.

Also barred are publications that "create the reasonable impression that the government is sponsoring, endorsing or inhibiting religion generally," as well as secular publications such as "sales flyers or commercial advertising."

The action comes amid complaints from civil liberties groups that some ministries have targeted the centers for their evangelizing and on occasion have tried to gain an advantage among recruits by tying themselves to the military. The civil libertarians argue that such church-state ties are barred by the U.S. Constitution but that some evangelicals routinely try to skirt the rules.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/no-evangelizing-at-recruiting-sites.html?col=1186032310810

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. It is obscene that the Pentagon would have to issue such rules in the first place

I wish I were 20 years younger: it would be rather fun to walk into a recruiting station, chat a bit with a recruiter, then point to the religious literature and say, "It seems you are recruiting Christians. Since I have no interest in becoming a Christian, much less in being pressured into becoming a Christian, I'm afraid I will be unable to serve my country."

Wouldn't THAT cause a few heads to explode. :evilgrin:

[LiberalFighter]

2. All non governmental related brochures and other material should be barred completely

[patrice]

3. "Christian" Predators. I'm thinking it's time for the Lord to throw the Money Changers

out of the Temple.