Wednesday, September 10, 2014

AF Atheist Won't Say "So Help Me God" in Oath; Can't Re-enlist Due to Refusal, Sues AF in Court

The U.S. Air Force has told a sergeant he will have to leave the military unless he agrees to take an oath with the phrase "so help me God," the AFP (Agence France-Presse) website reports today (September 10, 2014).

The atheist airman was denied his request to re-enlist last month because of his refusal to swear to God. He will now take the military to court, his lawyer said.

"We have now received word from the Air Force regarding our letter. It has not indicated a willingness to settle out of court," said Monica Miller, an attorney for the American Humanist Association, which has taken up the service member's case.

With the deadline for re-enlisting expiring in November, the technical sergeant at Creech Air Force base in Nevada -- whose name has not been released to the press -- will be forced to sue the government in a federal court, Miller said.

No comments:

Post a Comment