 From left to right: Sgt. Mike Aguilar, Spc. Christopher Carr, Spc. Jeremy Hall, Spc. Tony Hernandez and Spc. Dustin Chalker (photo: Atheists in Foxholes) |
An atheist soldier who is suing Secretary Robert Gates for purportedly violating his religious rights is amending his lawsuit to include allegations of evangelizing in combat.
U.S. Army Spc. Dustin Chalker, a combat medic, claims videos discovered by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation reveal soldiers and Christian missionaries declaring their faith and saying they would like to spread Christianity to Muslims, the Associated Press reports. The recording allegedly shows embedded missionaries distributing Bibles.
“What we’re putting in is shocking,” Military Religious Freedom Foundation President Mikey Weinstein told AP.
He added that missionary efforts endanger the U.S. military because Muslims are convinced the United States is on a crusade to convert them.
Chalker’s attorney, Pedro Irigonegaray, said the grievance against the Department of Defense will be filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., within weeks.
“[The video] has the clear potential to galvanize those who see us as the enemy,” Irigonegaray said. “It’s against the law. It is inconceivable to see this type of behavior and not assume that significant members of the United States military are aware of this behavior and approve of it.”
According to the report, the video was recorded for a Trinity Broadcasting Network program called “Travel the Road” that aired on April 2006. It features missionaries Tim Scott and Will Decker in Afghanistan and also shows members of the Oklahoma National Guard.
Chalker filed suit against Gates and the DOD in October, claiming he was forced to be present for Christian prayers at a Fort Riley, Kan., change of command ceremony, a formation and a barbecue.
The lawsuit cites presentations by “anti-Muslim activists” and a “spiritual handbook” for soldiers endorsed by Gen. David Petraeus.
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Let’s curb the kangaroo court of anonymous sources
Tim Graham