Written by Don Byrd
A video showing Army football head coach Jeff Monken asking an assistant to lead the team in prayer following a victory has been the subject of intense scrutiny during the last week, and for good reason. The U.S. Army is made up of service members of all faiths, and no faith, and is of course a public institution, funded by the taxpayer in service to all Americans.
An official military prayer in which superiors ask subordinates to kneel and pray offends the rights of cadets and also improperly gives the appearance of religious endorsement by our armed services. It is a questionable activity all the way around. So I was pleased to read that the leaders at West Point heard the criticism, agreed, and understand why the coach’s actions went too far.
The Washington Post reports:
From a legal and leadership standpoint, [West Point Academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert L.] Caslen said, it was incorrect for [Army coach Jeff] Monken to direct or strongly encourage a prayer while serving in a leadership position at a government-funded public institution.
“It creates an atmosphere where it is expected from everybody to say a prayer regardless of their faith or no faith,” Caslen said. “It’s like me as the superintendent of the Corps of Cadets saying, ‘Let’s take a knee and say a prayer together.’ I don’t have the authority to do that. I cannot use my position of authority — my public position of authority — to direct my subordinates to do something that is inconsistent with their rights. So, that’s probably where we crossed the line.”
Read the whole thing, if nothing else to learn about the fascinating relationship that has developed between Caslen (who has been involved in church-state controversies in the past) and Mikey Weinstein, the church-state separation advocate who heads the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Caslen has shown a real willingness to listen to Weinstein on church-state issues in the military and has “shown leadership and nuance in this thinking.”
The coach will issue an apology to his players and the issue will be addressed, according to the Washington Post report.
